1: Aylesbury Station. From the station take cycle route past the car park and along Bear Brook into Friarage Rd. At traffic lights, cross and double back. Turn right at Grand Union Canal sign and follow the Aylesbury arm along the towpath for about 3 miles to the canal junction. The locks and original bridges are numbered back to the junction with the main canal. Just after bridge 9 on the Aston Clinton Rd there are picnic benches. Just before Wilstone Bridge 3, a footpath on right leads to Wilstone and the Half Moon pub. Continue to the junction where the Aylesbury Arm joins the main Grand Union Canal.

2: Junction with main canal. After the canal junction the Anglers Retreat is down the next road on the right (drinks only). Under the bridge lunches are served at the Water’s Edge. Soon come to the Marsworth reservoirs which provide water to the highest point on the canal, the Tring Summit, after three more locks. The “summit” is 395’ high and stretches for two and a half miles between Bulbourne Lock and Cow Roast Lock. Refreshment is available at the Grand Junction Arms at Bulbourne. Continue under two more bridges.

3: Tring Station. At the third bridge the road to the left leads to Tring Station and the Hertfordshire Way to the historic village of Aldbury (about a mile). It nestles at the foot of the Chiltern Hills and has a pub (the Greyhound), a village pond, stocks and a whipping post. Back on the canal the next lock is Cow Roast, the first on the descent. This is the source of the chalk river Bulbourne which accompanies the canal to Hemel Hempstead. Cross to the other bank at Dudswell Lock. After another three locks and two miles there is a very ornate bridge. Go up to the road here and turn left for Berkhamsted Rail Station. For bus back to Aylesbury, turn right for the High St.