AT 400 feet above sea-level, Shenley was bypassed by the railway and the sprawl of modern urban growth.

A rural atmosphere thus prevails, and this is the perfect place to start a walk, albeit in my case on a dank and gloomy Sunday morn.

As I lingered by the village pond, I might have been forgiven for wondering if time itself had passed Shenley by, for the nearby 18th Century lock-up, which can best be described as bottle bank-shaped, is a relic of a distant time. But the two messages above its windows are relevant still: "Do Well and Fear Not", says one, the other warning "Be Sober, be Vigilant". Good advice, don't you think, especially for anyone who might be incarcerated inside?

Fortunately, I was free to set off for open country. As I left the village, the sun broke through, and wet fields and tarmacadam glistened brightly. Two women horseriders smiled and called a greeting, when in less clement conditions they might have passed by in silence. Everything and everyone is cheered by the sun.

The right of way led across damp fields to the old cemetery at the former parish church of St Botolph's, Shenleybury. Described, unkindly in my view, as an "ecclesiastical barn", the old church is now a private residence. A sun-dial high on the south wall still keeps perfect time. It seems the churchyard contains the grave of one Caroline Howe, the supposed daughter of a king, George II. See if you can locate it.

I headed for Salisbury Hall, a 17th century manor house now home to an aircraft museum. As you turn off the path, part of the fuselage of a De Havilland Comet, the world's first jet passenger aircraft, comes into view. It was here, during World War II, that the famous Mosquito bomber was developed. You may consider the museum a worthwhile stopover.

Here too lived Nell Gwyn, mistress of Charles II. She is said to have held his illegitimate son from a window of her cottage, above the moat, demanding he bestow a title on the child. "Spare the Duke of St Albans!", cried Charles in desperation. Manor house and moat are still there, well worth a look before aiming for the next point on the walk, the slightly more recent M25.

After the motorway, a farm road leads uphill to Redwell Wood farm. Look back for grand views: St Albans Abbey is clearly visible, the traffic on the motorway alongside is clearly audible. Beyond the farm, a bridleway skirts Redwell Wood, a game reserve. A huge brown hare sitting on the path seemed oblivious to my presence and when he spotted me he was off in a flash.

Another bridleway led through woodland, emerging at a long, straight country lane occupying a deep cutting, bordered by trees, hedgerows and nettles, a scene unchanged for generations. It would have looked exactly the same in the 1920s.

The lane led to South Mimms, the most northerly parish in Middlesex. There was a time when the locals dreaded the extension of the "monstrous octopus" (London). What would they make of the M25, which now passes close by?

I walked past the 19th century almshouses, with their enormous chimneys, and entered St Giles's parish churchyard. According to the noticeboard, the address is "South Mymms" (with a Y). Mimms or Mymms? It seems no-one knows for sure, but nearby North Mymms takes a Y.

When the church was restored and re-opened in 1878, there was a large congregation, with people of influence and position occupying the front pews, and the attendance by the working classes being deemed satisfactory by the vicar. The bell ringers were paid in beer. Lucky them.

The old right of way for Ridge is blocked by the M25, which I was obliged to cross by road. More smiling ladies on horses. A stile set in the hedge bordering St Margaret's churchyard affords a grand view of the church, before the right of way leads off for Shenley. Nearing Shenley, I emerged onto a quiet road where a burned out car, stolen, presumably, stands where it has been wrecked and abandoned. A good reason to keep that lock-up in the village. If only they'd make use of it.

Route

Shenley, Shenley Hall, Shenleybury, Salisbury Hall & Mosquito Museum, Redwell Wood Farm, South Mimms, Ridge

Abbreviations

l. = left. r. = right. n. s. e. w. = north, south, east, west. br. = bridge r.o.w. = right of way. PH = public house m. = mile s/post = signpost f/post fingerpost b/way = bridleway ch. = church f/p = footpath

Directions

Proceed along Pound Lane, turn r. at Warwick Cottage, fork l. into Rectory Lane past Shenley Hall, to Rectory Farm.

Cross stile by Rectory Farm entrance, take Shenley Circular Walk & Shenley Circular Footpath 4 to Shenleybury. Turn r. on B5378 100 metres, turn r. Bridleway 13 to Salisbury Hall.

Cross B556, pass under M25, turn r. up farm rd to Redwell Wood Fm. Take r.o.w. n.e. , flank Redwell Wood, turn r. (s.e.) through woods towards The Grange. Follow lane to South Mimms church.

Follow road across M25 to Ridge. Turn r. beyond Old Guinea PH to church. Cross stile w. side over fields w. for Shenley.

Pubs

Shenley: King William IV, Queen Adelaide, Black Lion

South Mimms: Black Horse, White Hart

Ridge: Old Guinea

Reproduced from Limited Edition magazine, exclusive guides to living in Hertfordshire, Middlesex and the London Borough of Barnet (01923 216295).

For a printable map of the walk, please click the image below.