The time is the early 50‘s and Norman is just one member of the ‘baby boom’ after the war. As it’s winter. we shall start at the popular sledging hill just off Durrants Lane. Park your mode of transport alongside one of the many kerbs available and we will stroll.

Looking down the hill, the field on the left hand side went from hedge roughly where the ‘s’ bend is, down to the barbed wire boundary of the Lodge and Nissan huts alongside the main road. I know it is barbed wire as you get a fair rate of speed up and is frequently difficult to stop at the bottom - hence remembering the wire. However, climbing the hill, you come to the junction with Shootersway. To our right is Champneys, the Cow Roast and Tring, to the left, is Berkhamsted.

Turning left, we walk along side various fields and the odd house until we get to Shootersway Lane, which is a private road, when even more of the large houses are ripe for development. At the top of Cross Oak Road we can find tadpoles in the pond on the corner of the junction. Turning right here will take us down to the Hockridge Woods, Ashley Green and Chesham. We will continue straight on past the water tower on our left until we meet Kings Road. Down Kings Road is the great metropolis of Berkhamsted Town. For the time being we shall continue straight on past the cemetary shortly afterwards coming across the junction with Chesham Road. The playing field on the left belongs to the Boys School and the woods on the right are called Brickhill Green. You should be able to just see Ashlyns School down Chesham Road on the right. We will continue round to the right towards Chesham.  
 
We will take the road to the left, towards Whelpley Hill, although on this walk we will take the track towards sandpit green which passes between Ashlyns Lodge and Ashlyns Hall. Following the track we enter the wooded area (Sandpit Green) and met Swing Gate Lane at the other end. To our right is a track down to Bottom Farm and the world famous Bourne Gutter. If you are keen, then by all means pop down to have a look. The less hardy of us, will turn left and then right down the Long Green track. After about 10 minutes walk you will come to a junction. Turn right and the footpath will take you down to Bottom farm again. Straight ahead will end you up at the Bourne End end of the original by-pass.

This is the original Berkhamsted ‘by-pass’ as the town got a little muddy during the winter months. The idea was you came along the turnpike, passed through Bourne End and during the summer took the lower road into Berkhamsted. During the winter, you took the higher road from the Bourne End corner (Sugar Lane), up through Long Green, Sandpit Green, along Shootersway and down towards the Cow Roast.

Anyway, returning to our stroll, we will take the left path, called Garden Field Lane although just before going down the steep part a rough track off to the left will take you into the Hall Park Estate, however, by continuing straight on with luck you will end up on the main road, coming out opposite Bull Beggars Lane. Turning left along the main road, we pass the Hall Park Estate on our left, the old mill house on our right followed by the caravan park. Hall Park Parade lays back just after Little Bridge Road which can be driven over (just) by a Morris 8 or similar. Castle Garage is on our left opposite ‘Coopers’ aerosol factory. Shortly we find two greengrocers, butchers, hardware store and barbers. The local ‘chippy’ is just down Holiday Street which is opposite where my ‘nan’ lives. The Baptist church lies between Holiday Street and Ravens Lane. Between Ravens Lane and Manor Street lies most of the ‘Coopers’ cottages, the offices, research and printing departments. Rodwells, the soft drink makers are on our left, and on the right is yet more shops including ‘Bobbys, yet another greengrocers and the co-op.

Looking up Three Close Lane, you should just be able to see the prefab where I lived before moving to one of the new houses built by the Town Council on Durrants Estate. On the bottom corner, is the REX cinema, restaurant complete with shops and maisonettes above. And it continues: