page_title: National Cycle Route 61
section_title: St Albans to Rye House
hierarchical_section_title: National Cycle Route 61 / Route / St Albans to Rye House
caption_attribution_description: English: Shows the partially restored station and National Cycle Route 61, known as the Alban Way on this section.
context_page_description: National Cycle Route 61 is part of theNational Cycle Network managed by the charity Sustrans. It runs for 34 miles from Maidenhead to Rye House via Uxbridge, Watford, St Albans, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Hertford in the United Kingdom.
context_section_description: St Albans | Hatfield | Welwyn Garden City | Hertford | Ware | Rye House
  
  The section of route 61 from St Albans to Hatfield is known as the Alban Way.  It is a former railway line. Just after the route pass the former London Road station, it goes under the Midland Main Line and then reaches a zig-zag cycle route up the hill to St Albans City station.  At Nast Hyde, Hatfield, a local resident has restored the former station platform sign and provided information about the former railway.  
  The cycle route then enters Hatfield, passing east of the Galleria and then curving round to join National Cycle Route 12 just north of Hatfield station.
  The combined routes 12 and 61 then pass over the A414 and pass the hamlet of Mill Green where there is a restored water mill, Mill Green Museum.  Just before Twentieth Mile Bridge in Welwyn Garden City, route 61 leaves route 12 to head east. At Great Ganett, route 61 becomes the Cole Green Way, mostly following the line of another old railway.
  At Hertford, the town is entered at the stadium for Hertford Football Club.  Care needs to be taken when riding through the car park on match days.  Central Hertford is particularly attractive and is a good location to stop refreshments.   Hertford Museum is passed and then route 61 crosses the River Lea (or Lee as it becomes at this point) at the start of the Hertford Arm of the Lee and Stort Navigation, a canalised river.  The section of the route from Hertford to Ware via Hartham Common and then alongside the river is very popular with cyclists and walkers.  Along this section you will pass the start of the New River.  As the information board by route 61 explains, the New River is not new or a river, it being a man made channel opened in 1613 to carry water to central London.
  At Ware there is a choice of route either via Ware station or a narrower section of towpath through the town centre. From Ware route 61 is on the towpath of the navigation until it reaches its end at Rye House.   Here the cycle route makes a junction with National Cycle Route 1.  Turn south to follow the River Lee into London or north for the route via Harlow to Chelmsford.
caption: Shows the partially restored station and National Cycle Route 61, known as the Alban Way on this section.
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