Yeti #A01 Traditional Cache

Welcome to my second Geocache Trail. For those who have already done my previous 50-point tail around the village of London Colney, this new trail is located just North of the Village on the other side of the A414. It takes your along and around the southern part of the St Albans and up towards Hatfield through some great countryside that I discovered and explored for the first time myself while laying down this trail. The trail is mainly rural but there are some urban elements, that will take you through woodlands, farmland, and open fields with grassing horses. It will also take you partly along the Alban Way, a cycle path which was previously a train line linking St Albans to Hatfield where you can see the remaining station and platforms.

I let you all know straight off that this is 50-point cache trail designed to get people up and out into the countryside. All the cashes are micro, in fact all the caches are camouflaged 35 mm film canisters, (so no room for trade, swaps or travel bugs) . I understand that there are some Geocahers who like the challenge/variety of puzzle caching, but this is not one those trails.

I’ll also apologise now if the coordinates are out. I use an app on my phone and from previous experience this has not always been accurate due to signal coverage or overhead obstruction. If you able to provide a better more accurate location reference, please do so and I will update accordingly. If you feel the need to moan and whinge about the coordinates being off and urge to leave a useful comment, then please don’t.

I have included photos in the gallery for every location, the photo is not a direct hint as to where the cache is located but more for a reference as to ensure you are in the right location to start your search. As I mentioned before the coordinate may be off. The Encrypted hints are more of a direct instruction as to where to look, so only use these as a last result.

The trail starts just under 500m way from GC87KJ3 “Yeti #A01 - Road out of Town” my original trail I laid down back in May 2019. I have ensured there is adequate parking available (N 51° 43.810' W 0° 18.590') and plenty of toilet and rest spots along the 10-mile trail. The whole trail is child friendly and accessible 24/7, but due to the terrain I would not suggest doing this at night, unless you what the extra challenge.

The Tail

From the car park make your way to the main foot path that runs along the A414 and turn right. Head west and follow the path up the slip road “Napsbury Lane” before the houses there is a footpath off to the right with metal barriers marking the entrance. – Please replace as found

Head back the way you came and walk to the far end of the carpark, make sure you are back on the footpath. Before the next development there turn left down the trail “Birklands Lane” as soon as you enter the lane the next cache is located nearby. – Please replace as found

Continue along the trail “Birkland Lane” pass a gated house, a path split off from the gravel track to the left into a wooded area. Follow the path until you find a “swamp lake”, the cache can be found around here. – Please replace as found

Continue along the path and out of the woods into “Birkland Park”. Heading in NE direction the park exit can be seen. On the approach take care as there is a road on the other side. At the exit to the park the cache can be found. – Please replace as found

Exit the park and turn right along “London Road”, cross over where possible and take the first left turn towards the “A1081”. Once at the “A1081” take your time crossing this road to the other side. Once there, turn right and follow the foot path until you find a gap in the tree line to your left. Dart through the gap and follow the trail. The next cache can be found along this path. – Please replace as found

Continue along the path in the same direction until you reach the end, turn right and head down “Nightingale Lane”. Off to the left you will soon arrive to a bridal way, that takes you into an open field, the cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Enter the field and follow the bridal way round to the right and along the southern part of the field. The bridal way will soon have a canopy of trees overhead, continue along the trail until you are at the next cache. – Please replace as found

Continue along the trail, until you can see what appears to be a cross road in the track. Before heading over crossing the next cache can be found off to the left hand side. – Please replace as found

Keep following the bridal way in the same direction. You will soon arrive at “Highfield Lane” follow the lane on the same bearing until you can see the bridal way entrance off to your right. There should be wooded area and cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Head into the woods and follow the trail along the edge of the field, partway along the path forks off, one trail heads off to the NE and continues around the edge of the field, the other path heads into the woods. Upon entering the woods take your time to search for the next cache. – Please replace as found

Don’t get lost in the woods, you may need to retrace your steps to continue the trail later on.

The path into the woods is well maintained and there are many routes that twist and turn around the forest. Choose your route carful to locate the next cache. This is a tricky hide as there are so many possibilities. Why not use the photo gallery and the hit on this one! – Please replace as found

Going round in circles trying to get out of the woods and onto the next cache. If you are having difficulties head back to Yeti #A10 and take the path around the edge of the field. At the hedge row the path takes you direct across the field. Don’t waste time here going round the edge take the direct route until you find a different type of crossing. The cache can be located nearby. – Please replace as found

Unlucky for some! This cache will take you off through some tricky terrain, brambles, thorns and ivy galore. This cache is a split off from the main trail to a junction on “Barley Mow Ln”. There are many ways to get there so take your time and be on the lookout for traveller muggles – Please replace as found

Head back along “Barley Mow Ln” when you reach Barley Mow Stable turn left. In the corner of the field the is an exit opposite a farm, the next cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Turn right and head down the path with the farmhouse to your left. You are now heading towards the “A414 / North Orbital Road”. The path opens out and there is a wider maintained path that runs parallel with the road. Turn left and head along the path in a NE direction towards “Hatfield”. The cache can be found off to your left! – Please replace as found

Continue heading towards “Hatfield” the road can be quite busy not much to see along her but this is deliberate as it takes you around the local travelling community, located along “Barley Mow Lane” on the other side of the field. The next cache can be easily found if you look for the right signs. – Please replace as found

Follow the path further along and around the corner onto “Colney Heath Lane”. You will pass a gated community on your left. Ahead there will be two bus stops, one on either side of the road, cross the road when safe and find a footpath in the treeline between the bus stops, the next cache can be found upon entering the foot path. – Please replace as found

Follow the foot path, (when placing this trail this path was narrow and looked like it was not used much) the trail soon opens up into a massive field, there are markers that guide the way along the public footpath. Lookout for the grazing horse and their surprise parcels they leave behind. Partway across the field the cache can be found, look out for an old broken fence hidden among a thorny hedgerow. – Please replace as found

Continue across the open field along the marked public foot path, off in the distance you will see a stile, DON’T head towards this, bear off to the left and follow the path through the small woods. The path soon arrives at “Smallford Lane”, before exiting the woods the next cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Cross the road and head down “Sleapshyde Lane”, this is a nice little village and towards the end the road forks off, take the path to the right along “Sleapcross Gardens”. The paved way takes you back to the “A414 / North Orbital Road”, after you have found the next cache hide nearby. – Please replace as found

Once back on the pathway that runs parallel to the “A414 / North Orbital Road” turn left like before and head NE towards “Hatfield”. Continue along the path, just after you cross the entrance to “Sleapshyde Lane” take time to view the wooden fencing to help guide horses and pedestrians across the road, I’m sure the next cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Do a quick U-turn and head down “Sleapshyde Lane”, follow the path round to the left but then turn off to the right where possible. The path takes you nicely to a location where you can stop and ponder over your achievements so far. Find the cache or take a comfort break the chose is yours. – Please replace as found

Take the foot path at the end the track and follow it through the trees. Once you emerge take the right hand path across the field. The path is nice and straight and well used. At the far end of the field where the path ends, there is a crossing over the “Alban Way”, a cycle path which was previously a train line linking St Albans to Hatfield, watch out for cyclists as you cross over to the next field. The cache can be found before you head on in to the next field. – Please replace as found

Continue on the footpath across the field, you will soon arrive at a patch of wild land, the path is obvious and comes out on “Wikin’s Green Lane” before reaching the lane the cache can be located nearby. – Please replace as found

So “Wikin’s Green Lane” appears to head off into three directions. You need to navigate your way to the north lane and past “Wikin’s Green Farm” there is a black barn on your left and the lane heads towards the “A1057 / Hatfield Road”. The next cache can be found past the farm. Congratulations! you are on the return leg of this trail. – Please replace as found

Continue along “Wikin’s Green Lane” north bound and turn left along the “A1057 / Hatfield Road”. Now heading towards St Albans you will soon come to a convenient place to take a comfort brake and refill your tanks for the homeward travels. But just before you do all the above, the cache can be found on the north side of the “A1057 / Hatfield Road”. Take care crossing and move through the kissing gate to retrieve the cache. – Please replace as found

NB: This may well be the starting location of another trail…

Now back on the south side of the “A1057 / Hatfield Road” there is a foot path that runs along the edge of the field. Follow this path until you see some houses that back onto the field. The cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Follow the path between the houses and wides it way back onto “Wikin’s Green Lane”? turn right and follow the road towards “Station Road”, no need to cross here, turn left and follow the cycle path south parallel to “Station Road” and then turn right onto the “Alban Way”, the cycle path travels under “Station Road” to an abandon train station! The next cache can be found nearby. – Please replace as found

Follow the “Alban Way” west towards St Albans, cycle path follows the trail of an old railway line which linked St Albans to Hatfield. Now used as a popular cycle route for commuters to get to work located on the other side of the fence to the north. Along the trail there are many trees and wildlife, be sure to stop and take a look as the next cache could be located nearby. – Please replace as found

Continue following the “Alban Way” west towards St Albans, there are more caches to be found along hear. – Please replace as found

Keep following the “Alban Way” west towards St Albans, the last cache for now can be found just further along. – Please replace as found

Leave the “Alban Way” to the south and re-enter the massive field, there are markers that guide the way along the public footpath. Lookout for the grazing horse and their surprise parcels they leave behind. The next cache can be found off the path located under something which will point you in the direction you will need to travel. – Please replace as found

Continue traveling in SW direction across the field. An exit will soon come apparent which will lead you over a small wooden bridge and along a grave track out onto “Colney Heath Lane”, turn right and walk along the lane. Before you reach a row houses there is a hidden path located on the other side of the road, cross carefully and start you hunt for the next cache. – Please replace as found

Follow the footpath with the hedge on your left hand side, after a while the path with cut through the hedge and continue in the same direction, the hedge will now be on your right hand side. Keep to the foot path as you reach the next cache location. - Please replace as found

The footpath leads of in a more southerly direction, before turning right. Follow the path along the edge of the field before arriving at “Hixberry Lane”, the cache can be found at the exit just before you reach the lane. - Please replace as found

Exit the field and turn left down “Hixberry Lane”, this will bring you out onto “Tyttenhanger Green” When you reach a bus stop begin your search for the next cache. - Please replace as found

Head along “Tyttenhanger Green” in a westerly direction, this small village has some nice places to stop and take in a view, at the far end of the village, there is a bus shelter, this could be a great place to hide a cache. - Please replace as found

Leaving the village turn right along “Highfield Lane” fields are now either side of the road, halfway along the road there is a huge Oak tree, take time to have a search nearby. - Please replace as found

Continue along “Highfield Lane” and before you reach a junction in the road turn right down a dirt track, there are trees lining the track to your right, just before you reach the open playing fields, take a break and search for the next cache nearby - Please replace as found

Keep walking along the track it soon narrows and then splits off into some woods, take the shaded path. As the path wides through the trees, there will be an opening to your right into a field, you don’t need to enter the field to find the cache located nearby. - Please replace as found

Exit the woods at another point and re-join the dirt track, as you walk along you may see small outbuildings, you have arrived at an allotment, take your time and use some stealth to find the next cache. - Please replace as found

Take a new direction along the path beside the allotments, at the end turn left and take a right into the woods, at the other end of the woods there is another allotment, make your way around the edge until you reach the location of the next cache. - Please replace as found

Continue walking around the allotments, you may have to double back on yourself. Along the west side to the allotments there is a woodland trail, follow the trail that runs along the side of the playing field, as the trail heads into the woods look out for some mighty tall trees, there are many paths through the woods but one will soon take you to your next cache location. - Please replace as found

Out of the woods and on a path, follow it along the field, dog walkers, yoga and basketball, it all going on here, at the far end of the park there is a swing gate the cache is located here, not on the street side. - Please replace as found

Cross the road at the crossing and into the Highfield gardens, off to the right there is a hedged maze, stick you the path, as it bends round to the left. There are some beautiful plants and trees located around the park area. After the crossing at the main park entrance the path turns south keep going, the next cache can be found off the beaten track. - Please replace as found

Get back on track and follow the path through the orchard and out onto “Highfield Park Drive” from over and turn right along the path, or enter the woods in front for you and follow the path, as the paths rounds the roundabout the next cache can be found nearby. - Please replace as found

Continue along “Highfield Park Drive” until you reach the end cross over to the other side of “Highfield Park Drive” before the roundabout and head up along the “A1081” towards St Albans City. Before you reach the fire station, use the crossing and start to head into the housing estate. But don’t forget to search for the next cache. - Please replace as found

Once you are in the housing estate there is a path off to the right called “Herons Way” follow the path. There are some wooden sculptures dotted around the woods. At a cross path head right, take time to read the sign. Just inside the field is where you should start your next hunt. - Please replace as found

Work your way around the field, make sure you stick to the path. As the path heads into the woods follow it, the path is slightly overgrown and brambles are everywhere, keep going along the path and the next cache location can be found nearby - Please replace as found

When you leave the last cache there is a hidden path off to the right just a bit further along. This was over grown and not well explored, beat your way through the brambles and make you way back to “Herons Way”, there is an exit off to the right and a road. At the road turn left and follow it up to “Napsbury Lane”, follow “Napsbury Lane” south don’t cross over the “A414” but turn left down the pathed slip road. The final cache in this trail can be found down here. - Please replace as found< /p>