Current status: Legally created, physical works completed. Campaigning for new paths and safer road crossings costs money in postage and copying. Help us do more, so that more paths can be created! Strategic significance: This path forms part of the H25 London Orbital Bridleroute, and one of the community circuits planned by the Trust and BHS for the area: the Shenley Parish Ride. It is shown in red on the plan. This path was created as part of a planning gain associated with adjacent development works. The photographs were taken on 9 Jun 11 and show the view travelling southwards along the route starting at the junction with Shenley 13.

Part of the route was previously available as a permissive path. This is how the British Horse Society reported the opening of that part on 30 May 99.

30 May 99: Ridge/Shenley Path Opening

After the opening of the path, Bob Ritson and Sam Gee, the first riders along the route, are greeted by Sue Harrington.

The British Horse Society officially opened another section of the London Orbital Bridleroute ('H25') near the old A6 in Hertfordshire today. The route, which is about a third of a mile long, removes all but a hundred yard stretch of the road from a link between a quiet lane and a bridleway.

At the opening, Phil Wadey, local Access Officer for the Society, paid tribute to the farmer, Mr Legerton, and the owners, the Trustees of the Tyttenhanger Estate, without whose help the path would not have been possible.

Phil added, "There were three deaths of horses on the roads of Hertsmere in 1998 and we are committed to doing all we can to prevent more. It is wonderful that landowners and farmers are helping by setting up off road routes for riders. We have also had assistance from local firms like Gristwood and Toms, who kindly removed a tree that was blocking the route. The community support for off road routes has been excellent. This is a great start to our Riders' Charter Campaign."

Thanks for work on clearing the path are due to members of the Patchetts Green Riding Club, the Society, and the North West London Bridleways Association. Funding came from the Society's Hertsmere Bridleways Fund and from the Hertfordshire Environment Landfill Partnership.

The opening coincided with the first day of the British Horse Society’s Access ’99 week. The week is designed to draw attention to the plight of riders on the roads and the need for more bridleways and other riding routes.

After the opening, those present were treated to a barbeque at nearby Wild Farm, courtesy of Mike Burgess, who will be riding the path regularly!

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1 Aug 98: Riders clear soon-to-be opened path

Six riders turned out to clear part of a new route from Salisbury Hall to Ridge Hill, near Shenley, which will form part of the Society's planned H25 London Orbital Bridleroute. This path will open as soon as the rubbish has beeen cleared and the fallen trees removed.

Legal History 20 Jun 1953: The route was not recorded on the original definitive map and statement. 4 Feb 2011: The Tyttenhanger Footpath and Bridleways Public Path Creation Agreement 2011 dedicated the bridleway. It was sealed on 4 Feb 11 and advertised on 30 Mar 11. It came into effect on 15 Sep 2011. 14 Oct 2011: The Hertfordshire County Council (Ridge 40, 42 and Shenley 42, 43, 44) Legal Event Modification Order 2011 recorded the effect of the Tyttenhanger Phase 4 changes on the definitive map and statement.

Draft Statement (30 Mar 11) Path: [Shenley] 42.  Status: Bridleway A public bridleway commencing at TL 2018 0263 running generally north west for approximately 320 metres to TL 1995 0286 then continuing generally north west for approximately 200 metres to cross the track leading to Sailsbury Hall and join the B556, Ridge Hill at TL 1982 0301. Continuing generally north west for approximately 170 metres to a junction with Shenley Bridleway 13 at TL 1968 0311. Width: 4 metres including banks and subject to mature trees from TL 2018 0263 to TL 1995 0286 4 metres from TL 1995 0286 to TL 1968 0311 Limitations: None Maintainability This route is maintainable at the public expense by virtue of s.36(2)(d) Highways Act 1980 as it was created by a Public Path Creation Agreement. [Dedicated by PPCA]

© 2025 Patchetts Green Bridleways Trust. File references: EC663, (Previously ED121, EP031). BHS text © 1999 British Horse Society, reproduced with permission.