Herts Runaround
As Mikki wanted to visit a couple of craft shops today, I decided to fit in a couple of sites I've not bothered with before. Having got the shopping out of the way we headed along the A10 to Standon to see the Pudding Stone, in its picture postcard village setting. Back down the A10, then across country through Hertford and Welwyn to Wheathampstead to see the Devil's Dyke.
Just around the corner from the village church, Standon was idyllic on a sunny Sunday morning. Villagers were cutting the lawn and gossiping over the hedge, giving a wonderful picture of rural village life. The stone sits next to a memorial oak on a small green at a junction off the main High Street through the village. The information sign could do with a good clean, and the stone looks as if it's had a bit knocked off the top. It looks for all the world like a piece of modern sculpture in its shape. Interesting texture and well worth seeing if you're in the area.
Popped along to take a look at Devil's Dyke today, and also its continuation in St Albans, Beech Bottom Dyke.
It's an impressive defensive ditch, but I'd be inclined to just walk along to the end and attack at that point!
Of course, it's very overgrown now, with bluebells in abundance, as well as the usual detritus of 21st century living: broken cycles, botles, syringes etc. Apart from that, it'd be a nice short woodland walk alongside the housing estate.
Finally, back towards St Albans to see the other end of the Dyke at Beech Bottom Dyke before heading home to put the shopping away...
This earthwork is in a poor condition, and very overgrown but there is a walkway along the top from which the depth of the original dyke can be appreciated. The sides are very sheer in places, and seem to drop away to a depth of around 50-60 feet.
The earthwork is thought to have originally joined up with the Devil's Dyke to create a defensive earthwork running from the River Lea to the River Ver.
I found the best viewpoint was from the alleyway running between the houses on Beech Road, near the junction with Marshall Avenue.
Just around the corner from the village church, Standon was idyllic on a sunny Sunday morning. Villagers were cutting the lawn and gossiping over the hedge, giving a wonderful picture of rural village life. The stone sits next to a memorial oak on a small green at a junction off the main High Street through the village. The information sign could do with a good clean, and the stone looks as if it's had a bit knocked off the top. It looks for all the world like a piece of modern sculpture in its shape. Interesting texture and well worth seeing if you're in the area.
Popped along to take a look at Devil's Dyke today, and also its continuation in St Albans, Beech Bottom Dyke.
It's an impressive defensive ditch, but I'd be inclined to just walk along to the end and attack at that point!
Of course, it's very overgrown now, with bluebells in abundance, as well as the usual detritus of 21st century living: broken cycles, botles, syringes etc. Apart from that, it'd be a nice short woodland walk alongside the housing estate.
Finally, back towards St Albans to see the other end of the Dyke at Beech Bottom Dyke before heading home to put the shopping away...
This earthwork is in a poor condition, and very overgrown but there is a walkway along the top from which the depth of the original dyke can be appreciated. The sides are very sheer in places, and seem to drop away to a depth of around 50-60 feet.
The earthwork is thought to have originally joined up with the Devil's Dyke to create a defensive earthwork running from the River Lea to the River Ver.
I found the best viewpoint was from the alleyway running between the houses on Beech Road, near the junction with Marshall Avenue.
posted by Alan S. | 16:29
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