LETS GO FOR A WALK - Free walks

This is one of my latest walks for my new book on "Long Circular Walks in Western Hertfordshire", from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. A delightful walk combining the River Chess & Valley with the Grand Union Canal. Have a lovely walk, John.

RICKMANSWORTH, THE RIVER CHESS AND GRAND UNION CANAL
- 15 miles
- allow 6 hours.

Basic route - Rickmansworth - The Chess Valley Way - Loudwater Lane - Solesbridge Lane - M25 - River Chess - New Road - Holy Cross Church, (Church End) Sarratt - Micklefield Green - Newhall Farm - High Spring Wood (Bucks Hill) - Great Westwood farm - Oldhouse Lane - M25 - Clarendon Park - Grand Union Canal - Locks No 74 to 81 - Batchworth Canal Centre - Rickmansworth.

Map O.S. 1:25,000 Explorer Series No. 172 - Chiltern Hills East.

Start - Rickmansworth Station.

Inns - The Cock Inn, Church End, Sarratt. The Feathers Inn, Rickmansworth.

Teas - Beside Batchworth Lock No. 81.

Ice Cream - Batchworth Canal Centre.

ABOUT THE WALK - A “water” walk in the south western corner of Hertfordshire and what a delight! First you walk beside the River Chess and through the Chess Valley before ascending to Holy Cross church, Sarratt. You have fine views as you ascend and close to the church - about a third of the way round the walk - is the only inn on the walk - The Cock Inn. Following pleasant paths you walk south of Sarratt village before crossing the M25 and gaining the Grand Union Canal. This you follow for five miles back to Batchworth and Rickmansworth, passing several locks. A short walk through the town past an inn returns you to the Underground Station. For those coming by car you can park near Rickmansworth Aquadrome - access from Frogmore Lane - at the northern end of the Colne Valley Park; Grid Ref. 056938. To start the walk follow the Grand Union Canal eastwards to Batchworth Lock, picking up the main route here - you return the same way at the end.

WALKING INSTRUCTIONS - Turn right out of Rickmansworth Station and in a few yards left through the subway beneath the A412. Emerge on the right of the Long Island Exchange and keep ahead. In a few yards bear right and ascend to a footbridge over the A404 road. Cross and keep ahead along an avenue trees on a tarmaced path. You will soon pass a Chess Valley Walk path sign; basically you will follow this walk for the next 5 miles. Pass Rickmansworth Park School on the right and where the drive turns right, keep straight ahead, as path post signed. To your right is he main A412 road and Rickmansworth Roman Catholic church. In a short distance you turn left and follow a fenced path, still on the Chess Valley Walk. First you pass a cricket field on your right before following the path right to the River Chess. Continue on the path, left, by the river on your right. At the top of the slopes on your left is the Royal Masonic School. Soon you come a bridge over the river; do not cross but keep left here on the fenced path as it hugs the perimeter of the school’s boundary.

Approaching Loudwater Lane, your first road, keep ahead to it and cross to the right. On the right is the house, Glen Chess. The path is signed - Footpath No. 32 - Chorley Wood Lane. You are still on the Chess Valley Walk. First the path turns left beneath the lane before turning right and becoming a fenced path again. Pass Timberdene on the right and 5 mins. later the path forks; keep right. Pass houses on the left and reach a road. Go straight across - footpath signed - Solesbridge Lane. Follow the path to a drive and keep straight ahead along it to where it turns right to a house. Here on the left is the fenced path which leads to a stile and on beneath the M25 road. In nearly 1/2 mile reach Solesbridge Lane with Solesbridge Mill Water gardens on the right. Turn left and cross the motorway.

Before the first house on the right, turn right, as path signed - Sarratt Green Mill 1 mile; you are still on the Chess Valley Walk. The path soon becomes a drive as you walk close to the Chorleywood House Estate - you pass a historical information board on your left. Soon after the board the drive bears right to a mill. Here keep ahead on a track in woodland and reach a kissing gate. Bear right to a footbridge over the River Chess and follow the path along the field edge and turn left by the hedge to gain a kissing gate and New Road. Go straight across and continue on a drive with the river and Sarratt Mill House to your left. Reach house No. 2 leave the Chess Valley walk and turn right and keep the fence on your left as you ascend to a stile with views behind of the Chess Valley and Chenies. Continue to a kissing gate and Holy Cross church at Church End, Sarratt.

Turn right along Church Lane, passing six almshouses built in 1821 by M. Ralph Desy of Sarratt Hall. Just after pass The Cock Inn and turn right through the car park - path signed Micklefield Green 3/4 mile. Cross the far lefthand corner and a stile. Follow the path to a stile and onto another before bearing left to continue by the hedge on your left to a road. Before the road turn right and continue by the hedge, with the road on your left, for 200 yards to a stile on your left and path sign - Bucks Hill 1 mile. Cross the road with Woodwalks Cottage on the left. Follow the path to a stile and on along the righthand side of the field to another and hedged track. Turn left and follow the track for more than 1/2 mile to a large barn of Newhall Farm. Keep straight ahead, as path signed, and cross the farm drive and walk along the path on the left of the barn. Beyond keep to the righthand side of the field on the defined path to a valley side; ahead can be seen Bucks Hill House. Descend the path to Bottom Lane and stile. Turn left and in a few yards right - path signed Bucks Hill 1/2 mile. Ascend past beech trees of High Spring Wood to a road with Bucks Hill House on the left and Petherick Pasture on the right.

Turn right along the road and in more than 1/4 mile turn left along Oldhouse Lane. Pass Great Westwood Farm on your left and descend the lane to woodland. Here there is a path on the right but it is not defined in the wood. Continue on the lane and ascend steeply, briefly, before crossing the M25. Immediately afterwards turn right, as path signed - No. 47 - Langleybury Lane 394 yards. Descend steps and reach a stile and then continue by the fence on the right with woodland on the left. The path can be overgrown in places in the summer. Gain the lane with South Lodge opposite. Turn right and cross the Watford link of the M25. Just after turn left to a gate and track - path signed Public Restricted Byway 71 - Hempstead Road 3/4 mile. Pass woodland on your right then Clarendon Park Farm. Keep straight ahead and as you approach the Grand Union Canal the path forks. Keep left to gain the canal towpath close to the M25 bridge.

Turn right and for the next 5 miles you walk beside the canal to Batchworth Lock No. 81 and the Batchworth Canal Centre. First you reach Lady Capel’s Lock No 74 and soon after a crossover bridge, No. 163. Cross the canal and continue now the canal on your right. To your right is The Grove (Hotel) and golf course. Continue to Grove Mill Lane and bridge no. 165. Continue with the canal on the right to bridge No. 166. Here you cross the canal again and for the remainder of the walk the canal is on your left. Pass locks No. 75 and 76 and canal milepost - Braunston 71 miles. 3/4 mile later gain Iron Bridge Lock No. 77. The bridge closeby No. 167 has fine examples of the rope grooves made by the horse ropes pulling the narrowboats. A mile later pass Cassio Bridge Lock No. 78 - Rickmansworth is 3 miles from here! Pass P & S Marina on the left and the canal turns right and in nearly another mile reaches Common Moor Lock No. 79.

Continue on the towpath and in another mile reach Lot Mead Lock No. 80. and the Ebury Way. Just after is your final milepost - Braunston 74 miles. The canal curves right and left to Batchworth Lock No. 81. Here is a Cafe cabin and Canal Centre. Leave the canal here and gain the main road - A404. Turn right and keep right at the roundabout to walk into the town centre. Pass St, Mary’s church on your left - you can walk through the churchyard and cut the road corner off. Continue past The Feathers Inn and turn left along High Street. Partway along turn right along Station Road and at the top turn left to the station.
Happy walking! John Merrill (COPYRIGHT John N. Merrill 2007)

The walk will be included his new "Long Circular Walks in Western Hertfordshire", due out in October 2007.

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/i//WANDLE_TRAIL_01.jpg Here is a fantastic little walk in South London - a real delight! Happy walking!
THE WANDLE TRAIL - 14 MILES
- allow 6 to 7 hours
Basic route - Wandsworth - King George’s Park - Garratt Park - Wandle Meadow Nature Park - Wandle Park - Merton Abbey Mills - Deen City Farm - Morden Hall Park - Ravensbury Park - Watermeads - Watercress Park - Wilderness Island - The Grove - Beddington Park - Waddon Ponds - Wandle Park - East Croydon Station.
Map - O.S. 1:25,000 Explorer Series No. 161 - London South.
Wandle Trail brochure.
www.wandletrail.org
Start - Wandsworth Town Rail Station.
End - East Croydon Rail Station.
On the walk you pass close to the following rail stations - Earlsfield, Haydons Road, Colliers Wood, Morden, Hackbridge, Carshalton and Waddon.
And close to the following tramlink stops - Mitcham, Wandle Park and Croydon.
Amenities - you pass several inns and cafe’s along the trial.
ABOUT THE TRAIL - Personally I think this is among the best “countryside” trails within the confines of London. The trail in the southern half of the city, starts and ends close to Thames and ends or starts near its southern boundaries at East Croydon. You can walk it either way; I prefer walking it from the Thames (Wandsworth Town) southwards. The route is signed with path signs and the Wandle Trail logo on posts. They are not consistent and frequent checking with the route brochure, always ensured I was walking the right way! You can also cycle the trail, but the walker keeps much closer to the river on footpaths and is the longer route. There is much history along the trail and in several places are history boards.
The River Wandle, which the trail keeps close to all the way, starts from Waddon and Carshalton and flows to the River Thames. The river has for centuries been a source of power for water driven mills; as many 90 lined its banks earning it the name of Britain’s, “hardest working river”. You pass several mills, with the Merton Abbey Mills being of particular note with an undershot wheel, opposite the trail. You pass through many attractive parks where you can picnic and I would allow time to wander just off route to see the Merton Abbey Mills, Deen City Farm, the Carshalton Ponds and Croydon church and former Archbishop’s Palace, now a school.
MY STORY - I happened by accident upon the trail, while on a “Buddhist” walk, linking the Tibetan Peace Gardens, near the Imperial War Museum, with the Buddhist Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park and the Thai Buddhist Temple at Wimbledon. While walking in Wandsworth I walked through King George’s Park and saw the trail signs! The following week I was taking part in the Hovis Freewheel Cycle event, and at one stall spotted the leaflet and took one. The following week, in clear early autumn sunny weather, I walked the whole trail.
The first part was along familiar terrain through King George’s Park, before walking close to the river in Garratt Park. Then it was onto Wandle Meadow Nature Park and the first Wandle Park near Colliers Wood. Soon after I reached Merton Abbey Mills, on the opposite of the trail, and was delighted to find a working water wheel and a large market - it was a Sunday. Soon after and again just off the trail was the Deen City Farm, full of farm animals, birds, rabbits and a wandering peacock. Next I was in Merton Hall Park which like Wandle Park was National Trust property. Continuing on close to the now shrinking river it was into Ravensbury Park, Watermeads (National Trust), Poulter Park and Watercress Park. Next the trail passed Wilderness Island and in this area Kingfishers are frequently seen - just a flash of blue.
Next was The Grove, which came as a delightful surprise being most attractive, with the church above the Carshalton Ponds (Grove Canal), just off the route. Then on into Beddington Park, the largest on the walk with Carew Manor at the end, now an impressive school. For 500 years it was the home of Carew family; the 15th. century Great Hall has a hammer-beam roof.
The final stages were now reached as I passed Beddington Mill, a former corn mill, and on past Waddon Ponds, the furthest source of the River Wandle. A final loop round into Wandle Park - the second one on the trail - before reaching the busy shopping area of Croydon. The trail passes the church and former Archbishop’s Palace area, but I looped right around them to have a look around, before heading onto East Croydon Station.

© John N. Merrill 2007