Hillingdon Trail

This is a 20 mile path through Hillingdon's countryside from Cranford in the south-east to Harefield in the north-west.

The walk passes through woods, fields, meadows, parks and open spaces - many of them nature reserves with one National Nature Reserve and some designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest - offering a wide range of habitats where the borough's wealth of wildlife can be seen at close quarters

The route runs near to the rivers Crane and Colne; follows the towpath of the Grand Union Canal (in two places) and the Paddington Arm of the canal; crosses the River Pinn; follows the Yeading Brook occasionally, crossing it several times; and the central section is near to the Canal Feeder in many places.

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Springwell Lock to West Ruislip Stn

Sunday 6 March 2011 - 2.5 Miles

ID06032011#2c

Continuing on from The Chess Valley Walk and the Colne Valley Trail (walked same day) - initially coincident(ish) with the Colne Valley Trail, before breaking off sharply uphill away from the Grand Union Canal towards Harefield.  After a brief stop for late late lunch at the church, continuing across undulating fields and woodland, through Bayhurst Wood Country Park, Ruislip Woods National Nature Reserve, then a semi circular route to pass down by Ruislip Lido, where the route then became a bit less celubrious, passing near by many housing estates following by a stream.  It becomes quite pleasant again, just breaking into countryside again before crossing a golf course, passing under the railway and becoming West Ruislip where I peeled off and got a very long journey on the Central line to Bank and thence home to Hastings.

Above the Grand Union.  A branch of the Hillingdon Trail runs away to the left, heading to the London Loop at Hill End

Bearing away from the Grand Union, uphill topwards Harefield

Looking back towards Broadwater Lake

A lovely tree lined path near Harefield

St Mary's Parish Church - and lunch time

Approaching Bayhurst Wood

Ruislip Woods.  The persistant theme was deep mud

In places there were these wooden HT markers instead of fingerposts.  Near Ruislip Lido

Ruislip Lido

The Sign Innit

A lot of passageway action

The best I could do with the image.  It was getting dark and this spooky curved tunnel under the railway was a bit much.  A short walk onwards lead me to West Ruislip Station

West Ruislip to Southall

6.25 Miles - Wednesday 19 October

ID19102011#12

Finishing unwalked sections of Hillingdon Trail.  Some parts were walked previously under the auspices of Grand Union Canal Walk and London LOOP.  A gorgeous sunny autumn day and an unusual mid week walk due to accidently being booked as not available at work.  

Recommencing at West Ruislip in walked a short Loop to bring me back onto the B466 then into Austins Lane.  At the end then open spaces and Ickenham Marsh, then crossing the A40, skirting North Hillingdon and heading East.  passing through Gutteridge Wood, skirting 10 Acres (Joining the Yeading Brook) and South to Westways Farm.  Here the Dog Rose Ramble is Joined - it passes off in two directions, one via Northolt to the Grand Union, but the one I followed is also the Hillingdon Trail, so continued in a South East direction with the Yeading Brook nearby till near the end.  The rest of the walk is a bit drab, with the usual arse ache of grafitti, rubbish and drab neighbourhoods, but still following a wide open space till eventually reaching the Grand Union.  The Hillingdon Trail is quite well marked, although the exceptions would cause someone to get hopelessly lost without GPS/Map.  The approach to the Grand Union is baffling - a waymark points out the route, but has an additional sign marked as diversion - naturally you would follow this presuming the main route had a temporary closure, but it brings you to a dead end on the wrong side of the Grand Union - thanks Hillingdon!   Retracing my steps following the proper route their is yet again another barking mad diversion sign by the Grand Union Bridge (Ignored).  Here I made my excuses and headed into Southall to reach the station - job dun!

West Ruislip - restarting near the station

Near the B466

Indeed

Austin's Lane

Ickenham Marsh

The Aesthetic Pleasure of the A40 underpass

Gutteridge Wood and Meadows - with compulsary graffiti motiffs.  The actual green spaces are surprisingly pleasant but why the local numb nuts have to piss on their own doorsteps is anyones guess...

Nice walking approaching ten acres wood

The lane at Westways Farm where the Dog Rose Ramble and Hillingdon Trail Split

Heading South East near the canal feeder

Warren Park area

Appraoching the Grand Union.  Gas Holder of Southall on right

Do not follow diversion, unless you want to swim across the canal!

Right.  Job Dun.  Carried on walking into Southall for journey home