Discover Markyate: Ver Valley, Cell Park and Hertfordshire Way

Markyate combines the landscape of the Ver Valley with a remarkable local history and a section of the Hertfordshire Way. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday house can therefore choose the village according to different travel interests: based on ease of orientation on arrival, park and architectural history, or a walk that ends on the High Street. This creates a stay in which you can combine nature, culture and local discoveries.

Between the A5 and the Ver Valley

Markyate lies on the A5, the old Roman road, north of Junction 9 of the M1. At the same time, Markyate is situated in the Ver Valley. Markyatecell Park, which covers around 35 hectares, is located on the northern edge of the village. Those who enjoy switching between local history and landscape during a trip will find two different starting points here for planning their day, without losing sight of the character of the village.

Markyate Cell is listed as a registered Grade 2 park and garden. This classification forms part of the village’s historic character and makes the park and garden context an important topic for visitors interested in designed landscapes and local history. When planning your visit, please bear in mind that the listing alone says nothing about current opening hours or access.

Cell Park and notable buildings

The history of Cell Park dates back to a dissolved Benedictine nunnery. Cell Park is located on the site of this nunnery’s church, which was founded in 1145 by Abbot Geoffrey of St. Albans with Christina of Markyate as its first prioress. The remainder of Cell Park was extensively redesigned in 1825–1826 by Robert Lugar for Daniel Goodson Adey. In addition, the eastern part of Cell Park House was built in 1539–1540 for Humphrey Bourchier. Several historical layers therefore come together in one place: the foundation of the nunnery, the earlier construction phase of the house and the later redesign of the parkland.

The local history also includes the Church of St. John the Baptist in Markyate, which is listed as a Grade II* listed building. The Old Brewers Yard is listed as a Grade II listed building. The building was constructed around 1820 as the brewery building of the former Golden Lion Brewery and is now a private home. This present-day use is just as important to travel planning as its historic function: you can place the building within the village setting and its history, but should not infer that it is open to public visits.

At the south-east corner of 48, 48A, 48B and 48C High Street stands a Coronation Clock dating from 1911. The High Street also has a local bakery; the bakery business was founded in 1928. Together with the listed buildings, this provides a specific reason to explore the High Street attentively. For a trip with varied interests, such a walk around the village can be combined with a focus on the landscape of the Ver Valley or with a section of a hiking route.

Hiking to the High Street

The fifth section of the Hertfordshire Way between St Albans and Markyate is 11 miles long and includes the 1.8-mile “St Albans loop”. The section ends on the High Street in Markyate. This information gives you a clear basis for planning: you can take the full length of 11 miles into account or include the described loop as a separate element in your considerations. Accommodation in Markyate is particularly suitable as a search focus if you want to view the village not only as a historic backdrop but also as the endpoint of this walking route.

When choosing a holiday apartment or holiday house, you can therefore set different priorities. The location on the A5 is a practical point of reference for arrival, while the Ver Valley, Markyatecell Park, Cell Park and the historic buildings determine the discovery aspect. The Hertfordshire Way adds a specific activity to the planning. Those travelling with children can weigh up a culture-focused day, an exploration of the landscape and plans for a longer hike, without limiting the stay to just one type of experience.

Compare other destinations

If you would like to view other destinations from the same selection alongside Markyate, you can visit Sawbridgeworth, Kings Langley, Royston, Baldock, Knebworth, Hitchin, London Colney and Harpenden. For Markyate, the combination of the Ver Valley, park history, High Street and Hertfordshire Way remains the key starting point for your accommodation search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Hertfordshire.