Environment and roads

Ayot Green Way

The Ayot Green Way runs between Welwyn Garden City and Wheathampstead centres for around four kilometres and is accessible to all users except motorised vehicles.

The Green Way was once part of the Luton to Welwyn Garden City single track railway line which was finally closed in 1966. This line was a passenger and commercial link, not only for the hat and motor industries in Luton but also for rural passengers including George Bernard Shaw who lived in Ayot St Lawrence. It was also used to transport refuse to the Blackbridge pits just east of Wheathampstead. Most of the rubbish came from the Ashburton Grove Transfer Station in North London, now the home of Arsenal Football Club.

Starting at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City the well surfaced Green Way heads west through Sherrardspark Wood, over the A1(M)to Ayot Green and then on to Wheathampstead through pretty woodland and rolling open fields. At Hunters Bridge the path changes to tarmac for a short distance, the legacy of filming by Stephen Spielberg for his "Band of Brothers" drama.

Just east of Wheathampstead the path turns south into Sheepcote Lane where it then follows a brand new surfaced right of way path to the centre of the village. The connection to the High Street is via Mount Road

For a detailed map of the Ayot Green Way please download the pdf document below.