Posts tagged London
Telegraph Hill: Kingston-upon-Thames Borough High Point

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Clock House
Historic County: Surrey (of which Leith Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 90m
Date “climbed”: 27th March 2021
Coordinates: 51° 19' 49'' N, 0° 19' 39'' W
Nearest Station: Chessington South (South Western Railway): 3.4 km
On route of: N/A. Chessington Countryside Walk is 2.2 km to the north-east
OS Trig Pillar: TP5774 - Rushett Common (Missing)
Coal Duty Post: 115
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Wikipedia (Kingston-upon-Thames), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

After the under-whelm of visiting High Holborn, this went one step further by both lacking in elevation and being inaccessible. The summit of Telegraph Hill is in private property so you can only get within a few hundred metres of it. You can either pull in by the blue gates on the A423 for a nice view of discarded waste on the shabby driveway or access it via the woods off The Avenue. The latter option gets you slightly closer and at least gives you a walk there from The Star pub on the main road. Look out for the Coal Duty Post in the pub car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Coal Duty Post, London Borough High Point, London, Surrey, EnglandComment
Chessington Countryside Walk
View to Rushett Farm airstrip from the Trig Pillar on the north edge of Ashtead Woods

View to Rushett Farm airstrip from the Coal Post on the north edge of Ashtead Woods

Start & Finish: Chessington South Station, Chessington, KT9 2JR
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 92m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Down Link
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
OS Trig Pillar: TP2145 - Chessington
London Coal Duty Posts: 117, 118, 119, 120
Pubs / Cafes on route: N/A
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Explore Surrey - Chessington Countryside Walk Leaflet, Chessington, Chessington South Station, Chessington World of Adventures, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common, Horton Country Park

This is an easy, scenic walk in countryside to the south of Chessington. It was our latest walk in the Explore Surrey series whose website is a rich source of information about getting out and about in the county. As with all of their routes, their PDFs have all the details so I won’t cover them again here.

Our walk was a slight variation on the route described in the PDF in order to bag an OS Trig Pillar and 4 Coal Duty Posts. You’ll pass 2 of the Coal Posts on the Public Bridleway through Ashtead Woods. It’s a minor diversion off the trail to visit the other 2 which are on either side of the B280 Christ Church Road near the Epsom Common Car Park.

The OS Trig Pillar is right at the end of the walk before returning to Chessington South station. It’s an unloved pillar sitting in a vacant patch of land at the end of a residential cul-de-sac. From the footpath off Green Lane look out for the wooden information sign for Huntingate Walk. Take a right here, through a gate and descend a short, steep bank to cross Hunting Gate Drive. Walk up Vivien Close, keeping to the right to find the Trig Pillar is at the end of the road.

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Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Coal Duty Post, Railway, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
High Holborn: City of London High Point

Significance: Highest peak in the City Of London
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Primrose Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 22m
Date “climbed”: 13th March 2021
Coordinates: 51°31'05.3"N 0°06'49.5"W
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central Line): 0.2 km
On route of: City of London Boundary Walk, Jubilee Walkway
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (City of London), Wikipedia (High Holborn), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, Jubilee Walkway

No great adventure, or even a micro-adventure, for this one. The Wife had an appointment in Central London, so needing something to fill 30 mins after I dropped her off, I headed over to the City to bag this one. It’s one of the lowest London Borough High Points both in terms of elevation and (probably) excitement.

The best way to bag High Holborn is on the route of the City of London Boundary Walk where you can also visit the 14 dragons that guard the city.

Note that The City of London is actually a Ceremonial County not a London Borough. See The English County Tops for details.

Richard gowerLondon Borough High Point, London, EnglandComment
Walks Along The Thames Path National Trail
Maidenhead Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge

I’ve spent a lot of my life living close to the Thames and have done countless walks, runs and rides along it. It’s also the first National Trail that I’ve completed end to end. That was a cycle trip and, as my blog post on it describes, it’s best discovered on foot.

More recently I’ve been returning to the trail to do shorter circular walks containing stretches of the Thames Path. So far it’s been mostly focused on the Chilterns section, but I’ll extend towards the outer ends later. Here’s the links to the walks that I’ve done so far. They’re in order of closest to the source first.

From The Source to The Chilterns: Kemble to Wallingford

Circular Walks including the Thames Path

The Chilterns Section: Wallingford to Staines-upon-Thames


Circular Walks including the Thames Path

The London Section: Staines-upon-Thames to The Thames Barrier

Walks Crossing or Ending at The Thames Path

Richard gowerTrek, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, National Trust, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
Walking The London Loop and Capital Ring
London Loop in Blue, Capital Ring in Red. Base map from OpenStreetMap

London Loop in Blue, Capital Ring in Red. Base map from OpenStreetMap

The London Loop and Capital Ring are long distance circular walks around London. Both were conceived in the ‘90s and completed in the early 2000s. They pass through mostly green spaces around the capital and can easily be broken up into a series of shorter walks. Having cycled both a few years ago, I’m now returning to walk it. I’ve mostly covered the western sections and there’s a long way to go.

The list of sections below are those that I’ve planned but not necessarily completed yet. I’ve also included links to blog posts for other walks that follow or cross over parts of either the London Loop or the Capital Ring. If you would like GPX files of any of these sections please Buy Me a Coffee and let me know which section(s) you are interested in. For a limited time I would be happy to share files for all sections of either collection for 1 coffee plus any feedback on the route (corrections, changes etc.)

There’s now several guidebooks to either the Loop or the Ring. Note that the sections below and the order of them don’t necessarily match exactly to those in the guides. I use Colin Saunder’s Guides for each route and can highly recommend them for their description of the route and points of interest

The London Loop In Sections

  • London Loop Section 01: Erith Riverside to Bexley. Distance: 14.0 km. Elevation Change: +72m / -67m. Net +6m

  • London Loop Section 02: Bexley to Petts Wood. Distance: 12.5 km. Elevation Change: +134m / -67m. Net +67m

  • London Loop Section 03: Petts Wood to West Wickham Common. Distance: 15.2 km. Elevation Change: +168m / -183m. Net -15m

  • London Loop Section 04: West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green. Distance: 15.1 km. Elevation Change: +285m / -182m. Net +183m

  • London Loop Section 05: Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South. Distance: 10.2 km. Elevation Change: +119m / -201m. Net -82m

  • London Loop Section 06: Coulsdon South to Banstead Downs. Distance: 8.0 km. Elevation Change: +126m / -87m. Net +39m

  • London Loop Section 07: Banstead Downs to Ewell West. Distance: 6.6 km. Elevation Change: +23m / -114m. Net -91m

  • London Loop Section 08: Ewell West to Kingston Bridge. Distance: 12.8 km. Elevation Change: +47m / -72m. Net -25m

  • London Loop Section 09: Kingston Bridge to Hatton Cross. Distance: 16.1 km. Elevation Change: +70m / -58m. Net +12m

  • London Loop Section 10: Hatton Cross to Hayes and Harlington. Distance: 6.8 km. Elevation Change: +36m / -24m. Net +12m

  • London Loop Section 11: Hayes and Harlington to Uxbridge. Distance: 12.0 km. Elevation Change: +55m / -54m. Net +1m

  • London Loop Section 12: Uxbridge to Harefield. Distance: 7.6 km. Elevation Change: +29m / -23m. Net +6m

  • London Loop Section 13: Harefield to Moor Park. Distance: 8.7 km. Elevation Change: +116m / -91m. Net -25m

  • London Loop Section 14: Moor Park to Hatch End. Distance: 7.7 km. Elevation Change: +93m / -95m. Net -2m

  • London Loop Section 15: Hatch End to Elstree. Distance: 15.2 km. Elevation Change: +182m / -153m. Net -29m

  • London Loop Section 16: Elstree to High Barnet. Distance: 18.1 km. Elevation Change: +243m / -238m. Net +5m

  • London Loop Section 17: High Barnet to Enfield Lock. Distance: 14.8 km. Elevation Change: +95m / -176m. Net -81m

  • London Loop Section 18: Enfield Lock to Chingford. Distance: 8.1 km. Elevation Change: +110m / -71m. Net +39m

  • London Loop Section 19: Chingford to Chigwell. Distance: 7.1 km. Elevation Change: +83m / -95m. Net -12m

  • London Loop Section 20: Chigwell to Havering. Distance: 10.7 km. Elevation Change: +175m / -115m. Net +60m

  • London Loop Section 21: Havering to Harold Wood. Distance: 8.1 km. Elevation Change: +29m / -97m. Net -68m

  • London Loop Section 22: Harold Wood to Upminster Bridge. Distance: 7.3 km. Elevation Change: +46m / -64m. Net -18m

  • London Loop Section 23: Upminster Bridge to Rainham. Distance: 7.7 km. Elevation Change: +32m / -43m. Net -11m

  • London Loop Section 24: Rainham to Purfleet. Distance: 8.3 km. Elevation Change: +38m / -38m. Net 0m

Other Walks on The London Loop

London Loop and Capital Ring.pptx.jpg

The Capital Ring in Sections

  • Capital Ring Section 01: Woolwich to Falconwood. Distance: 10.6 km. Elevation Change: +158m / -95m. Net +63m

  • Capital Ring Section 02: Falconwood to Grove Park. Distance: 6.9 km. Elevation Change: +56m / -80m. Net -24m

  • Capital Ring Section 03: Grove Park to Crystal Palace. Distance: 14.2 km. Elevation Change: +151m / -120m. Net +31m

  • Capital Ring Section 04: Crystal Palace to Streatham. Distance: 6.9 km. Elevation Change: +78m / -122m. Net -44m

  • Capital Ring Section 05: Streatham to Wimbledon Park. Distance: 9.4 km. Elevation Change: +49m / -59m. Net -10m

  • Capital Ring Section 06: Wimbledon Park to Richmond. Distance: 12.0 km. Elevation Change: +132m / -148m. Net -16m

  • Capital Ring Section 07: Richmond to Osterley Lock. Distance: 7.8 km. Elevation Change: +44m / -33m. Net +11m

  • Capital Ring Section 08: Osterley Lock to Greenford. Distance: 9.3 km. Elevation Change: +50m / -45m. Net -5m

  • Capital Ring Section 09: Greenford to South Kenton. Distance: 9.2 km. Elevation Change: +137m / -120m. Net +17m

  • Capital Ring Section 10: South Kenton to Hendon Park. Distance: 10.7 km. Elevation Change: +134m / -108m. Net +26m

  • Capital Ring Section 11: Hendon Park to Highgate. Distance: 9.4 km. Elevation Change: +99m / -70m. Net +29m

  • Capital Ring Section 12: Highgate to Stoke Newington. Distance: 9.1 km. Elevation Change: +42m / -112m. Net -70m

  • Capital Ring Section 13: Stoke Newington to Hackney Wick. Distance: 6.7 km. Elevation Change: +26m / -48m. Net -22m

  • Capital Ring Section 14: Hackney Wick to Royal Albert Dock. Distance: 8.4 km. Elevation Change: +31m / -33m. Net -2m

  • Capital Ring Section 15: Royal Albert Dock to Woolwich. Distance: 6.2 km. Elevation Change: +30m / -25m. Net +5m

Other Walks on The Capital Ring

Other Resources

More London Adventures

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Underground, Thames, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment
London's Coal Duty Posts

Having set myself the challenge to visit all Greater London High Points and all Trig Pillars in London, I’m going one step further. This is my new mission to visit all of the over 200 London Coal Duty Posts that are still standing. If you’re not familiar with what these are, Martin Nail’s website is the best place to start.

I’m still working my way round all of the posts and I’ll update this page when I’m finished. In the meantime, here’s some trips that visit some of the posts and my more-or-less accurate map of the Coal Post Boundary

More London posts

Richard gowerCycle, Trek, Canal, Railway, Thames, London, England, Middlesex, Colne Valley, Coal Duty PostComment
Greater London High Points

Greater London is divided into 32 local authority districts called Boroughs plus the City of London. Living relatively close to the edge of London it was natural that I would want to visit all 33 high points. Much like the UK County Tops some feel like a proper summit and others are unremarkable points in flat areas.

Westerham Heights on the Kent border is the high point of both Bromley and the whole of Greater London. It’s also a very short walk from Betsom’s Hill, the Kent County Top. Other than their elevations neither are particularly interesting though. You’ll need to visit Sanderstead Plantation in Croydon for the highest point that actually feels like a hill.

Prior to April 1st 1994 the Greater London high point was on the north-eastern slope of Botley Hill. A boundary change moved this point to Surrey where Leith Hill is higher.

Hampstead Heath, the high point of Camden is also the high point of the old County of London Administrative County. This area came into being with Local Government Act 1888 which split some Historic Counties into new Administrative Counties. The Administrative Counties have since been replaced by the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties plus Greater London.

High Holborn, the high point of The City of London, is not a borough but an English Ceremonial County

As you would expect with high points, several are marked with OS Trig Pillars. Sanderstead Plantation in Croydon has a Trig Pillar nearby at Selsdon Park but it’s not at the summit. Pole Hill, in Waltham Forest is the highest point of a Greater London Borough that has a Trig Pillar on the summit.

By the end of 2021 I had completed the high points of all Greater London Boroughs. Click on the links in the list below to see details on each one. I still have the remaining Trig Pillars and Summits >100m to complete. Let me know if you spot any mistakes in the data below and I’ll donate £1 per correction to one of my causes.

London’s High Points and OS Trig Pillars

Greater London Boroughs High Points

Sanderstead Plantation

Pole Hill, Waltham Forest

Pole Hill, Waltham Forest

Bushey Heath, Harrow

London’s Natural High Points vs its Buildings & Structures

Westerham Heights was the highest point in London until the completion of The Shard in 2012. The Observation Deck at the Shard is at 244m, just 1m lower than Westerham Heights. When 22 Bishopsgate was completed in 2020, it relegated Westerham Heights to 3rd place.

At the time of writing there’s now 17 buildings and structures in London with heights between those of Westerham Heights and Sanderstead Plantation, London’s 2nd highest Borough High Point

Parent Peaks of The Greater London Boroughs

The Parent Peaks of the London Borough High Points have a distinct north/south split. All High Points north of the Thames have Haddington Hill in the Chilterns as their parent. Botley Hill in Kent is the parent for all London High Points south of the Thames. The Nearest Higher Neighbour, according to Peakbagger also keeps to this north/south split with the exception of Heston The Vale.

The graphic below shows the Borough High Points in descending order from left to right with peaks north of the river on the top half and south of the river on the lower half.

More London posts

More County Tops

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Trig Pillar, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment
Walking The London Loop: Cranford Park to Bushy Park
The Pheasantry at Bushy Park

The Pheasantry at Bushy Park

Start: Car Park at Cranford Park, London, TW5 9RZ
Finish: Bushy Park car park, near Diana Fountain, Hampton Wick, Molesey, East Molesey, KT8 9BZ
Distance: 17.5k (10.9 miles)
Elevation change: +60m / -79m. Net -19m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hillingdon Trail, River Crane Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Pheasantry, Bushy Park (TW11 0EW)
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
and OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Guidebook: The London Loop: Recreational Path Guide
Links: London Loop, River Crane, Cranford Park, Hounslow Heath, Bushy Park

For this walk we picked up the London Loop where we finished the Hillingdon Trail at Cranford Park. Up to this point we had covered the Loop all the way from South Oxhey on a combination of several other routes through the Colne Valley. This section is simple if you do a 2-car combo like we did, but a bit more difficult if relying on public transport. We were able to use the free car parks in both Cranford Park and Bushy Park. For a public transport variant you can start at the south end of Cranford Park where there’s a bus service to Bushy.

Once out of Cranford Park, the route gets busier, noisier and less pleasant for a while as you navigate around the east side of Heathrow Airport. When you reach the A30 at the south-east corner of the airport, the route takes you on a long diversion east up to The Parkway. This is the safer option than the much more direct crossing of the dual carriageway. We were there on a quiet Sunday morning and chose to cross the A30 instead. Be very careful if you do this too.

Once out of Heathrow the route meanders south east following the River Crane. Quiet, pleasant parkland of Hounslow Heath and Crane Park are interspersed with west-London residential streets. Eventually you’ll reach Bushy Park where it all gets very pleasant again. The route takes you along the Longford River and through the Woodland Gardens to our finishing spot at the car park next to the Diana Fountains.

Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
Cycling The River Ash and Thames Path Circular
The underwhelming source of the River Ash as it splits from the Colne on Staines Moor

The underwhelming source of the River Ash as it splits from the Colne on Staines Moor

Part of the Chiltern Rivers Series
River start: Splits from the Colne on Staines Moor
River end: Confluence with the Thames at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
River length: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Cycle Route Start & Finish: Parking places at intersection of Moor Lane and Colne Valley Trail, Staines, TW18 4YY
Cycle Route Distance: 32.8 km (20.3 miles)
Cycle Route Elevation change: + / - 87 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
London Coal Duty Posts: 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several including The Ferry Coffee Shop, Shepperton TW17 9LQ
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: River Ash, Staines, Staines Moor, Shepperton, Walton-on-Thames, Desborough Island, Hammertons Ferry

In the latest of my Chiltern Rivers Cycle Rides I explored the River Ash at the Southern end of the Colne Valley Regional Park. The Ash splits off from the River Colne next to the A30 Staines bypass North of the town and follows a South-Easterly direction to meet the Thames at Walton-on-Thames. Much of the route is hidden from public access so a cycle or walking trip of the Ash is one for the completists only. That definitely describes me so I had to do it. The reward for tackling it is the return route to Staines via the Thames Path.

The best place to start (if you’re driving there) is some free parking space on Moor Lane opposite the path to Staines Moor. Following this path you’ll pass over the Wraysbury River, the Staines Rivers Aqueduct and the rail line. You’ll need to use the A30 bridge to cross over the River Colne where you’ll find the point where the Ash splits on the Eastern bank. From here you can follow the Ash on a footpath for ~300 into a housing estate. For the next 4 km you won’t see the river as it keeps close to the A308 and cycling options zig-zag through residential areas of North Staines. You could cycle on the A308 to stay closer to the river and shave off some distance, but it’s a very busy road and you won’t see the river anyway.

The Ash, the A308 and the cycle route all come together at the Fordbridge Roundabout. Here the Ash takes a sharp turn right to the South and curves round the Queen Mary Reservoir through Laleham. The best cycle option is to follow the B377 Ashford Road then the B376 Shepperton Road. At Shepperton you have the choice of continuing along the B376 or taking a meandering route through Littleton, Shepperton and Upper Haliford to stay closer to the river.

The confluence with the Thames is tucked away behind a small island. You can get there by taking a private residential road called The Creek off Fordingbridge Road. A rickety wooden bridge stands over the confluence marking the end of the Ash part of the trip.

To return to Staines, go back to Fordingbridge Road and follow it West to the A244 and follow that onto Walton Bridge. Cross over the bridge and take the Thames Path back to Staines. I added an extra 1 km to the trip by taking a diversion along the perimeter paths of Desborough Island. One of the highlights of the trip is taking the small Hammertons ferry to the North side of the Thames. Check that it’s running before you go though as you’ll add a few extra km to the trip to find the nearest alternative crossing by bridge.

When you arrive back at Staines take the B376 heading North away from Staines Bridge. Take a right onto Moor Lane and continue for ~500m back to the parking spot.

Blue = course of the River Ash, Red = circular cycle route

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Colne Valley, Thames, Surrey, Middlesex, London, England, Coal Duty PostComment
Pole Hill: Waltham Forest Borough High Point

Significance: Highest peak on the Greater London Borough of Waltham Forest
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Highgate Hill
Historic County: Essex (of which Chrishall Common is the County Top)
Elevation: 91m
Date climbed: 21st October 2018 (on Tough 10 run) and July 14th 2020 (on Prime Meridian cycle)
Coordinates: 51° 38' 11'' N, 0° 0' 5'' W
Nearest Station: Chingford (Overground): 1 km
On route of: Greenwich Meridian Trail
OS Trig Pillar: TP5486 - Pole Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map (174) Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map
Links: Wikipedia (Waltham Forest), Wikipedia (Pole Hill), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, Epping Forest, Greenwich Meridian Monuments

The first time I found the summit of Pole Hill it was by accident. I was running the Tough 10 Epping Forest Race and spotted the Trig Pillar at the top of a steep climb. As I wasn't up for a PB I took a 30 second diversion to get a photo of my at the Trig. I was intrigued by the other monument next to it and made a mental note to check it out another time.

My return to the Pole Hill monument was on my Prime Meridian cycle trip. The monument is one of several obelisks and other markers that signify the line of 0 degrees longitude. As far as I know Pole Hill is the only place where there's a Meridian marker, a Trig Pillar and a County/Borough High Point.

Richard gowerRun, Cycle, London Borough High Point, Trig Pillar, London, EnglandComment
Cycling The Prime Meridian Part 1 - Peacehaven to Waltham Abbey
Obelisk at Peacehaven

Obelisk at Peacehaven

The Prime Meridian, also known as the Greenwich Meridian, is the line of longitude defined as 0°. It’s the line that divides East and West. It’s also a line that I asked myself last Christmas: “can that be cycled"?”. The answer is “no” as it’s a dead-straight line with buildings inconveniently built along it's path. You can cycle quite close to it though, so that’s what we did.

If you want to walk it, there’s a well-signed path called the Greenwich Meridian Trail. The Trail is also very well described in a series of 4 books by Graham and Hilda Heap. The cycle route that I designed stays as close to the Prime Meridian as possible but avoiding footpaths and opting for quieter country roads over busy main roads. Even if you’re cycling I highly recommend the Greenwich Meridian Trail books as they’re a great guide to the interesting things to see along the way.

For the first stage of our cycle trip we started at Peacehaven, where the Meridian meets the sea at it’s most Southerly point. From there we headed north over 2 days to Waltham Abbey, just above the M25. The rest of it came in later trips covering 6 days. See the main Prime Meridian post for the full route

Day 1: Coast, Downs and Weald

Start: Prime Meridian Obelisk, 96 The Promenade, Peacehaven, BN10 8LN
Finish: The Bakery Restaurant and Rooms, Westmore Road, Tatsfield, Westerham, TN16 2AG
Distance: 75 km (47 miles)
Elevation change: + 1,013m / - 812m (Net +201m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Greenwich Meridian Trail, Newhaven-Brighton Clifftop Path, South Downs Way, Sussex Ouse Valley Way, Forest Way, High Weald Landscape Trail, Mid Sussex Link, Sussex Border Path, Tandridge Border Path, Greensand Way, Vanguard Way, North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2, 21
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but I recommend The Stable Tea Rooms, Heaven Farm, Furner's Green, Uckfield TN22 3RG (at km 34)
Maps:
- OS Explorer OL11 Brighton & Hove Map
- OS Explorer Map (135) Ashdown Forest Map
- OS Explorer Map (146) Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate Map
- OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham Map
Guidebook: Greenwich Meridian Trail Book 1: Peacehaven to Greenwich
Links: Wikipedia: Prime Meridian, The Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Peacehaven, Prime Meridian Obelisk, Tatsfield

Day 2: London

Start: The Bakery Restaurant and Rooms, Westmore Road, Tatsfield, Westerham, TN16 2AG
Finish: Waltham Abbey Church, 4 Church St, Waltham Abbey EN9 1DJ
Distance: 62.5 km (39 miles)
Elevation change: + 377m / - 585m (Net -208m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Greenwich Meridian Trail, Tandridge Border Path, London Loop, Capital Ring, Waterlink Way, Lewisham Promenade, Thames Path, Lea Valley Walk, Jubilee Greenway, The Greenway.
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1, 13, 21, 4, CS2, CS3, CS16, CS23,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots, but I recommend The Breakfast Club, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, 29 East Bay Lane Canalside Here East, London E15 2GW
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham Map
- OS Explorer Map (162) Greenwich and Gravesend Map
- OS Explorer Map (174) Epping Forest & Lee Valley Map
Guidebook: Greenwich Meridian Trail Book 1: Peacehaven to Greenwich and Greenwich Meridian Trail Book 2: Greenwich to Hardwick
Links: Wikipedia: Prime Meridian, The Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich Meridian Trail, Tatsfield, Royal Observatory Greenwich, Waltham Abbey

Prime Meridian markers on the route

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coast, Disused Railway, Thames, South Downs, Sussex, Surrey, London, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Rickmansworth Three Rivers Circular
Salter’s Cut, Rickmansworth

Salter’s Cut, Rickmansworth

Start & Finish: Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, Rickmansworth WD3 1NB
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 59 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Rickmansworth Aquadrome Woodland Trail, Grand Union Canal Towpath, Colne Valley Trail, Hillingdon Trail, Ebury Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 59, 62
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cafe in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Cafe @ Lock 81 (WD3 1JJ)
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Rickmansworth, Ebury Way

This week’s walk was a return to the source of some of our recent Colne Valley trips. In this short circular you’ll pass by the start of the Colne Valley and Hillingdon Trails and the confluence of both the rivers Chess and Gade with the Colne. Throw in a few Coal Duty Posts and a disused railway too and it’s a pretty geeky Chiltern trail. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

If you’re driving the best place to start is Rickmansworth Aquadrome which has a large free car park. If you’re coming in by train, it’s a 1 km walk from Rickmansworth station to the Aquadrome.

From the Aquadrome Car Park follow the Bury Lake Circular Walk round the southern and western edges of the lake. At the north-western corner take a left and follow the path along the northern edge of Stocker’s Lake. After ~2m from the start you’ll reach Springwell Lane. We took a right here to find the Coal Duty Post at Drayton Ford bridge before returning back. If you can live without the Coal Post excitement, just turn left onto Springwell Lane, reducing the total trip length by ~500m.

Continue South along Springwell Lane to meet the Grand Union Canal at Springwell Lock. Here’s you’ll meet the Colne Valley Trail and the start of the Hillingdon Trail. Follow signs for the Hillingdon Trail over the canal and through farmland uphill to Hill End Road. Turn left here, leaving the Hillingdon Trail and walk north along Springwell Lane, taking a footpath on the right as Springwell Lane curves to the left. Follow this footpath north for ~2 km to Stocker’s Farm. You’ll pass a well-preserved Coal Post about half way along this path. Continue north through Stocker’s Farm to reach the Grand Union Canal at Stocker Lock. Cross over the bridge to the north bank of the canal, to the site of another Coal Duty post on the towpath on the north west Corner of the bridge.

From Stocker Lock follow the Grand Union Canal towpath north east. Soon you’ll pass the gate to the Aquadrome Car Park. This gives you the option of making this a shorter route or pausing for a rest at the Cafe in the Park. An alternative place for a rest is the Cafe at Lock 81 further along the canal. Continuing on the Grand Union, you’ll reach an old railway bridge ~2 km from Stocker Lock. Leave the canal at the bridge by taking the steps up to the Ebury Way. This is a walking and cycling trail that follows the old rail line between Rickmansworth and Watford. I’d previously cycled the whole length en route to find the Middlesex County Top at Bushy Heath.

After leaving the Grand Union take a left onto the Ebury Way, following it back to Rickmansworth. On this stretch of the Ebury Way you’ll pass the confluence of both the River Gade and the Chess as they join the Colne.

Cross over the roundabout and follow a path to the left of the A404 Riverside Drive for ~500m. Before you reach another large roundabout take a left into the playground and follow the footpath over the River Colne and back into the Aquadrome. Follow the path in either direction around Batchworth Lake to return the the car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Disused Railway, Hertfordshire, Middlesex, London, England, Coal Duty Post Comments
Walking The London Loop: South Oxhey to Hill End
Fields near Hill End

Fields near Hill End

Start: Oxhey Woods Car Park, Oxhey Drive South, Watford, HA6 3EX
Finish: On street parking near Harefield Care Home Hill End Road, Harefield, Uxbridge, UB9 6UX
Distance: 10km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: + 93m / - 136 m. Net -43m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hillingdon Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
London Coal Duty Posts: 52, 53, 54, 55
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ye Olde Greene Manne, Batchworth Heath, Rickmansworth, WD3 1QB
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Guidebook: The London Loop: Recreational Path Guide
Links: Cycling The London Loop, London Loop - Transport for London, London Loop - Wikipedia, London Loop - Long Distance Walkers Association
- South Oxhey, Oxhey Woods, Moor Park

In our quest to complete the point-to-point trails of the Colne Valley there was one final part of the London Loop to do. Although I had (kind of) completed the London Loop few years ago, it was on bike and took many road diversions to avoid footpaths. This is one example of a section that is not suitable for bikes, so coming back for a walk gave me a new perspective on it.

I chose the car park at South Oxhey Woods as the starting point. This was mainly designed to give us a 10 km walk that finished at Hill End, where the London Loop joins the Hillingdon Trail. This worked well for us as we were able to take 2 cars and leave one at either end. If you’re relying on public transport, then this section wouldn’t make sense.

As with any trip on the London Loop, Colin Saunders’ book is the definitive guide so I’ll leave it to that book to provide the route description.

elevation_profile (1).jpg

Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, London, Middlesex, England, Coal Duty PostComment
Walking The Hillingdon Trail
Yeading Brook near Northolt

Yeading Brook near Northolt

The Hillingdon Trail is a ~20 mile walking route from Springwell Lock near Maple Cross to Cranford Park near Heathrow Airport. It was another local route that I’d had on the back burner for later and decided to try out as the country was emerging from the Covid lockdown. Hillingdon is the closest London borough to us and I’d only ever visited busy parts of it so had never associated it with nice country walking. As it turned out it took us through some beautiful parts of the area that we’ll be returning to for other walks soon.

SECTION 1 - Springwell Lock To Ruislip Lido

Start: Parking spaces at Springwell Lane, Harefield, Uxbridge UB9 6PG
Finish: Car park at Ruislip Lido, Reservoir Road, Ruislip HA4 7TY
Distance: 10.2 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +143m / -135m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, The London Loop, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Water's Edge, Reservoir Road, Ruislip HA4 7TY (end of route).
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Hillingdon, Harefield, ANZAC Memorial, Ruislip Lido

We had already passed the official start of the trail at Springwell Lock a few weeks ago on the Colne Valley Trail. This stretch of the Grand Union Canal has a lot of trails passing through it and is especially well sign-posted. As we had covered the first 2 km many times before, we decided to start this section a bit further South at Harefield Locks. This is the point where the trail diverts off from the Grand Union and Colne Valley Trail, heading South East.

The whole trail is well sign-posted either with traditional metal arrow footpath signs or short wooden posts with HT marked on them. We were also following a GPS route but found that there were some inconsistencies. All of these were pretty minor and any diversions would come back together pretty quickly. I recommend not completely trusting the signs but take a GPS route or marked-up map too.

From the Grand Union the trail ascends through fields up to Harefield Village before heading back into undulating countryside. As you leave Church Hill Road in Harefield, take a moment to visit the ANZAC Memorial by St Mary’s Church. From here the rest of this section takes you through Bayslip Woods and Ruislip Woods, ending at Ruislip Lido.

elevation_profile.jpg

SECTION 2 - Ruislip Lido To Yeading Brook Meadows

Start: Car park at Ruislip Lido, Reservoir Road, Ruislip HA4 7TY
Finish: On street parking near Yeading Brook Meadows, Hayes, Northolt, UB4 9JA
Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +29m / - 53m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Celandine Route, Willow Tree Wander, Dog Rose Ramble,
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Home Bar & Kitchen, 16 High Road, Ickenham, Uxbridge UB10 8LJ
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Hillingdon, Ruislip Lido, River Pinn, Yeading Brook, RAF Northolt, Yeading, Yeading Brook Meadows

Following the mostly wooded Section 1, the trail now enters residential areas of Ruislip and Yeading. From Ruislip Lido, the trail heads roughly South through housing, re-joining the countryside near the River Pinn. Watch out for signs here as we took a wrong turn immediately after crossing the Pinn and started following the Celandine Route.

Once back on track we crossed what were once quiet meadows and have now become a building site for HS2. At the time of writing there is still a fenced off path through the site. Check before you attempt this section as the building will go on for years and may be diverted in future. Once through the building site you’ll cross under the existing GWR mainline and into West Ruislip. After some more housing you’ll cross over the Metropolitan underground line and back into the countryside.

With West Ruislip behind you, the trail curves round to the Western perimeter of RAF Northolt, continuing to follow the Yeading Brook. Unless any planes are taking off overhead you wouldn’t know that the airport is there. The growing rumble that you’ll hear is the A40 Western Avenue. A small tunnel takes you safely under the dual carriageway where the path follows a South-Easterly direction. Continuing on you’ll pass through Gutterage Wood, then Ten Acre Wood. The path will change direction again and head due South continuing to follow the Yeading Brook.

This section finishes at the start of Yeading Brook Meadows as you cross Kingshill Avenue. There’s no car park here, but lots of free on-street parking on The Greenway that runs along the Eastern border of the Meadow.

elevation_profile.jpg

SECTION 3 - Yeading Brook Meadows To Cranford Park

Start: On street parking near Yeading Brook Meadows, Hayes, Northolt, UB4 9JA
Finish: Car Park at Cranford Park, London TW5 9RZ
Distance: 7.4 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +29m / - 31m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Paddington Branch Towpath, Grand Union Canal Towpath, The London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: N/A
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell and
- OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Hillingdon, Yeading, Yeading Brook Meadows, Southall, River Crane, Cranford Park

Picking up from where you left off at the end of Section 2, continue South-East through Yeading Brook Meadows. Cross over Yeading Lane and under the A312 into Brookside where you’ll join the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal. Cross over the bridge and follow the towpath in a South-Westerly direction. After ~3 km the canal meets the main channel of the Grand Union at Bulls Bridge. Take a right and follow the canal for approx 300m until you get to the A312 Parkway overpass. Use the zig-zagging footway to climb up to road level and follow the footpath to the side of the road South over the bridge. By now you’ll be missing the quiet countryside of section 1 as you walk through the busiest, ugliest part of the trail.

At the roundabout to the South of the overpass take a left onto North Hyde Road and a left onto Watersplash Lane. Here you’l enter Cranford Park and the home stretch of the trail. You’ll now be following the River Crane which splits off from the Yeading Brook a bit further North at Minet Country Park. After ~500m cross under the M4 via St Dunstan’s Subway and into the main part of Cranford Park. You’ll pass by St Dunstan’s Church and the remains of Cranford Manor.

As we were using 2 cars to get to the start and end points of the trail, the car park next to St Dunstan’s Church was the obvious place to end our walk. If you’re using public transport, continue South through Cranford park to the A4 Bath Road where there’s several options servicing the Heathrow area. This final section of the trail from the Grand Union canal also follows the London Loop which continues South towards Kingston.

Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, Colne Valley, Canal, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
The Chiltern Rivers

Here’s a Tube-style map of the rivers of the Chiltern Hills AONB and “Greater Chilterns Area”. Let me know if you spot any mistakes and I’ll donate £1 per correction to one of my causes. If you would like a printable PDF version, please Buy Me a Coffee and send me your e-mail via the Contact page. All copies for personal, not commercial use.

It started in 2016 with my Winter Solstice walk along the River Chess. I loved the walk and soon my mind turned to contemplating how many rivers there were in the Chilterns. More importantly, how many of them could be walked, cycled or ran? Over the following few weeks I went on a desk-based adventure researching the source and mouth of every waterway in the area. Unlike the Chess most of them don’t have a well-signed path following them. For these I started planning cycle trips to discover them. These would be circular routes, one section keeping as close as possible to the river, and the other section a return trip along quiet country lanes.

Each trip took me to places I’d not been to before. It also taught me a lot about the geography of an area that I’d grown up near but knew little about. I could see first hand how the rivers formed the valleys that cut through the chalk hills. I also discovered how many of the towns and villages that I knew so well were named after the river that runs through them.

The tricky part what knowing when the adventure would come to an end. Every time I got close I discovered a new stream that I never heard of and had to find that one too. I also had to make a decision about what would classify as a Chiltern River. The main criteria was that either the source had to be in the Chiltern Hills AONB and / or most of the river’s length had to be through the Greater Chilterns area. Some didn’t quite match this but I included them anyway. The Lea, for example, originates North of Luton in the gap between the 2 sections of the AONB. From here it flows away from the Chilterns to meet the Thames on the other side of London. It still felt like a Chiltern River though so I included it. I’m very happy that I did as the cycle trip along it was one of the most enjoyable of the set.

There’s a few that I didn’t include. The Flit and the Hiz both touch the Greater Chilterns area but originate outside of it. I may explore them later but for now I’m happy to give them a miss. I’m sure that there will be other rivers, streams or waterways that I have missed. If you know of any and have a recommendation for an adventure that includes them, post a note in the comments section below.

Scroll down for maps, links to blog posts for each river-based trip and a section on Chilterns towns that take their names from the rivers.

Click on the linked river name below to see the blog post for each river-based trip.

  • Alderbourne: Source in Fulmer, runs ~5 miles to the Colne Brook at Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire

  • Ash: Splits from the Colne on Staines Moor, runs ~6.2 miles to meet the Thames at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey

  • Assendon Stream: Source in Stonor, runs ~4 miles to the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

  • Bulbourne: Source at Cow Roast, runs ~7 miles to the River Gade at Two Waters, Apsley, Hertfordshire

  • Chess: Source in Chesham Vale, Buckinghamshire, runs ~11 miles to the River Colne at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

  • Colne: Source near North Mymms, Hertfordshire, runs ~11.2 miles to the the Thames at Staines, Surrey

  • Colne Brook: Splits from the Colne at Uxbridge Moor, Greater London, runs ~9 miles to the Thames at Hythe End near Staines, Surrey

  • Ewelme Brook: Source in Ewelme Village, runs ~2 miles to the Thames near Benson Lock, Oxfordshire

  • Frays River: Splits from the Colne at West Drayton, Greater London, runs ~5.5 miles and rejoins the Colne near Staines, Surrey

  • Gade: Source at Dagnall, Buckinghamshire, runs ~16 miles to the Colne at Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

  • Hambleden Brook: Source at Skirmett, runs 4.1 miles to meet the Thames at Mill End, Buckinghamshire

  • Hugenden Stream: Sourced from springs near Hughenden Village, runs ~2.2 miles to meet the Wye in High Wycombe

  • Lea: Source in Leagrave, Bedfordshire, runs 42 miles to meet the Thames at Leamouth, Greater London

  • Mimram: Source near Whitwell, runs 12 miles to the River Lea at Hertford, Hertfordshire

  • Misbourne: Source at Great Missenden, runs ~17 miles to the Colne at Denham, Buckinghamshire

  • Ouzel: Source at Dagnall, runs 20 miles to join the River Great Ouse at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire

  • Pinn: Source at Pinner, runs approx, 11.4 miles joining the Grand Union and the Frays at Yiewsley, Greater London

  • Wraysbury: Splits from the Colne at West Drayton, runs ~5.5 miles and rejoins the Colne near the confluence with the Thames at Staines, Surrey

  • Ver: Source at Kensworth, Bedfordshire, runs ~15 miles to the Colne at Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire

  • Wye: Source at Bradenham, runs 9 miles to the Thames at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire

Canals & other man made waterways

Wendover Arm Canal

Wendover Arm Canal

 

Chilterns Towns Taking Their Name from the Rivers.

  • Ashford - River Ash

  • Bricket Wood - Rivers Ver and Colne: "Bright-coloured small island or piece of marshland"

  • Bourne End (Buckinghamshire) - River Wye

  • Bourne End (Hertfordshire) - Bourne Gutter, a short stream that flows into the Bulbourne near Hemel Hempstead

  • Chalfont St. Giles - River Misbourne. Chalfont means "spring frequented by calves"

  • Chalfont St. Peter - River Misbourne. Chalfont means "spring frequented by calves"

  • Colnebrook - Colne Brook (obviously)

  • Colney - River Colne. Also London Colney, Colney Heath

  • Fordbridge - River Ash

  • Fulmer - Alderbourne. Means "Mere or lake frequented by birds", possibly due to the small lakes feeding the river at the end of Framewood Road

  • Gadebridge - River Gade

  • Great Gaddesden - River Gade

  • Great Missenden - River Misbourne

  • Halliford (Upper and Lower) - River Ash. Means “holy ford”

  • Little Missenden - River Misbourne

  • Leagrave - River Lee (possibly - alternative meaning exist that are not connected to the river)

  • Longford - River Colne and Wraysbury: "Long Ford across the river"

  • Loudwater - River Wye

  • Luton - River Lee: "Farmstead on the River Lee"

  • Pinner - River Pinn

  • Redbourne - River Ver: "reedy stream", reedy could be a derivation of Reade who owned the manor in the 16th century

  • Ruislip - River Pinn (could also be Yeading Brook): "leaping place across a river where rushes grow"

  • High Wycombe - River Wye

  • St Albans (Roman name = Verulamium) - River Ver

  • Stanwell - River Colne - "Stoney spring or stream"

  • Two Waters - Rivers Gade and Bulbourne

  • Watford - River Colne - "Ford used when hunting"

  • Wooburn Green - River Wye

  • Wraysbury - Wraysbury River. River could be named after the town. Strangely the river doesn't go through the town, although the Colne Brook Does

  • Uxbridge - River Colne: "Bridge of the tribe called the Wixan"

Primary sources: A Dictionary of British Place Names (Mills) and Wikipedia

Tube-style Maps

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Canal, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Middlesex, London, Surrey, EnglandComment
Cycling The NCN Route 4

ConnectING Routes

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Canal, Disused Railway, Thames, Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Middlesex, London, Wales, EnglandComment