Grand Union Canal Walk

147 Miles between London and Birmingham, following the Towpath of the canal.  From the centre of London at Little Venice the canal heads to Slough and then through Hertfordshire and the Chilterns to Tring. Apart from the stretch through Milton Keynes the route is then largely rural passing the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne to Leamington Spa and Warwick. The final stretch is through the suburbs of Birmingham.

Little Venice to Brentford Via Bulls Bridge

Saturday 25  October 2008 - 16 Miles

ID25102008#45

Something different, a bit of urban walking again.  Very interesting, but maddening amounts of graffiti and rubbish tarnished the pleasure of this walk.  Ended up linking back into the Thames Path at Brentford to complete this walk, finishing the Paddington Arm and the connection at Thames Lock.  Just got to walk to Birmingham now...

Little Venice (Paddington) - Been here before walking the Regents Canal

One of many, many bridges

Near Park Royal

Impressive Aqueduct over the A406 (North Circular) - Wembley stadium white arch barely visible far right.  I wonder what affect a breach would have at this point!

Bull's Bridge (Hayes Town) - where the Paddington Arm joins the main canal.  The Thames is a few miles to the left, and 'Brum' a long way to the right.  Graffiti really helpful :-(

Nice bridge

First lock towards Thames - at Southall

Aqueduct taking canal over Railway

Attractive series of locks at Hanwell

Fingerporst Hanwell - A meeting of Grand Union Canal Walk, Capital Ring and Brent River Path

Brentford

Thames Lock

Rickmansworth to Berkhamsted

Saturday 12 November 2011 - 14.5 Miles

ID12112011#17

Right - on with the Grand Union.  The interverning section from Bull's Bridge to Springwell Lock and Rickmansworth to Springwell Lock were walked under the auspices of the London Loop and Colne Valley Trail respectively.  As I have rellys in Milton Keynes I am keen to get on and push this walk northwards, although there are several branches to complete first - wendover and Aylesbury.  The Slough Branch I will probably do as an extension to the Celendine Route.

From Rickmansworth Station I walked through the Aquadrome (again!) and to Stocker's Lock.  On the Colne Valley Trail I had turned Right, but this time I turned left.  Walking through the edge of Rickmansworth  and at Batchworth Locks there is a short navigable section where the river Chess connects at a side lock.  Soon passing under the Ebury Trail and the Metropolitan Railway.  The River Gade is always in attendance  until Hemel Hempstead, occasionally as part of the Canal instelf.  Passing by Croxley on your left, passing under the disused bridge of the mothballed Croxley Network Rail Line, and under another branch of the Metropolitan leading to Watford Station.  Soon passing by Cassiobury Park soon passing under the M25 Watford Spur and Main Motorway and on to King's Langley.  All along the walk there are regular locks as the canal 'climbs'.  From Kings Langley on to Apsley where I had lunch at 1200 sitting by the pleasant marina development watching a really sweet scruffy pint sized terrier type thing looking really sorry for itself until its owner on the narrowboat fed it and gave it some fuss....ahhh!

After lunch a bit scruffy and grim (the scenery not me!) through Hemel Hempstead with the A41 and tower blocks and constant sound of trains roaring by, before a more rural scene on to Berkhamsted but still with these travel methods in close proxmity.  Berkhamsted was quite pleasant, and instead of carrying on to Tring I chilled while watching a geezer get through the locks and in a bit of pain decided that the station here would be the end of this little adventure, as this was also the longest walk I had done since March - although I am working on my fitness level after letting myself go for sometime!

Rickmansworth Aquadrome Again - all a bit spooky and misty

Stocker's Lock again - but turning left this time

Ubiquitous Teskyz - With mooring facilities - every little helps!

Batchworth Locks - The River Chess leads off to the left, GUC to the right

looking back to Batchworth Metropolitan Line Bridge

Narrowboat thinks it's a submarine - Fail

Quite Idyllic just before Watford

Lots of Mooring at Watford.  A lot of long termers use the area beyond the towpath as an informal garden/workshop etc

Shrek stands guard.  Makes a change from the usual doggie!

Very nicely restored Grove Bridge

Sheherazade - a lovely bit of music - courtesy of Rimsky Baby - even a peasant like me can appreciate a dose of the classics

Approaching M25 bridge near Kings Langley

Kings Langley - I presume this is a feeder reservoir - I am more puzzled as too why a dinosaur appears to be about to swallow a gnome!

Apparently 'only 800 yards to go' - Reckon!  This was part of the marking of the towpath in preperation for a mini marathon the next day

Apsley seems to be rejuvenating this section of the GUC - or 'poshing it up' - a nice place for half hour chill and scoff

'Beware Of Trolls' - bridge 183 - I like the humour, but am saddened by the complete disrespect of such a wonderful historic corridor that the GUC provides

The concrete reality of Hemel Hempstead - tower block vs lock

Just past Hemel Hempstead all a bit rural again - except for the roar of trains first to the left then further on, to your right

Winkwell Spring Bridge and nicely named Narrowboat - 'A Narrow Escape'

Overflowing Lock Gates Berkhamsted

Port Of Berkhamsted - a nice stretch by the canal.  I dumped my carcass down on a bench and decide that Tring was not gonna happen today as I was feeling a bit munky by this point and headed off to the very close station

Humourous sign at station buffet, or it would have been if I wasn't gagging for some caffeine!  A dose of Lucozade had to substitute