Elizabethan North Mymms Park

1 Cross the railway bridge from the Brookmans Park side and follow Station Road downhill as far as the left turn, Bradmore Lane. Here a footpath sign doubles back parallel to Station Road.

2 The path descends to the valley floor, an unkempt hedge on the left and a chain-link fence on the right. Here cross a footbridge and stile, turning right alongside a post-and-net fence; a stream, often dry, is beyond. (You may see ponies grazing amid the sheep.) At the corner of the field go right, over a stile, then, in a few paces, go left over another at the corner of Brick Kiln Wood. Keep on the path, the stream now to the left with views of the Royal Veterinary College beyond. Past the woods and near the end of an arable field, the path goes left to cross the stream-bed, then winds through scrub to another bridge, over the Mimmshall Brook.

3 Across the bridge turn left along a lane. Opposite Hawkshead Lane, with its two-arch bridge over the brook, go right. At the main road turn left for perhaps 60yds (55m), before crossing to the footbridge over the A1(M). Over the footbridge descend and turn sharp right to walk alongside the A1(M) on a metalled track, soon bearing left uphill. Over the crest the track descends past a rendered, octagonal structure, a former well-house. Beyond, the metalled track goes right at an ancient oak while our route goes straight on along a green lane. Continue straight over a footpath crossroads, heading to the right-hand side of oak, sweet chestnut and hornbeam woods. Over a stile walk alongside the woods and, over another stile, turn right on to a metalled track which joins an access drive to North Mymms Park.

4 On your left is a dense, holly hedge that prevents anything more than glimpses of the mansion grounds, here something of an arboretum. At the drive junction go left to the church. Here too is the remnant of the medieval village cleared for the park, the timber-framed Church Cottage and the late 17th-century, former vicarage.

5 To the west of the church tower a kissing gate and stile lead into the park. Heeding the warnings about bulls loose in the fields, head right to cross the drive and get good views of North Mymms Park mansion.

6 Retrace your steps through the churchyard to the drive. Turn right and then left through a gate into pasture, aiming for the footbridge over the A1(M). The path skirts the corner of a cricket pitch and then heads for a stile to the left of an electricity pole. Over this, turn right to cross the motorway.

7 Descend to the road and cross to the Waterend Café, turning left past an engineering company on to a tarmac footpath alongside the road. Shortly past a concrete bridge parapet, descend to a stile on the edge of a copse. Follow the path, which winds through a scrubby copse, until you emerge on the edge of an arable field. Carry on along its edge, the field to your left, bearing right, downhill, to a lane gate. Turn left along the lane to a T-junction. Turn right into Station Road and back to Brookmans Park.