Posts tagged Coal Duty Post
Cycling the Staines to Denham Disused Railways

HS2 train parked up at Colnbrook Station

Start / Finish: Site of Staines West Station: The Old Station, Moor Lane, Staines, TW18 4BB
Distance: 22.9 km (14.2 miles)
Elevation: + 99m / -67m. Net +22m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Colne Valley Way, London Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Celandine Route, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, NCN 6, 61
Pubs / Cafes on route: Fat Boys Cafe, Colnbrook (7.8k in), Several as you pass through West Drayton and Yiewsley (~14 km in), Swan and Bottle pub, Uxbridge (18.8k in), Colne Valley Cafe (21 km in)
Maps:
- Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 160
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Staines-upon-Thames, Staines Moor, Stanwell Moor, Poyle, Colnbrook, Harmondsworth Moor, West Drayton, Yiewsley, Cowley, Uxbridge, Denham, Colne Valley Regional Park

This is a short cycle adventure inspired by 3 of Geoff Marshall’s London’s Lost Railways videos. It traces 3 separate disused railways that ran from Staines in Surrey to Denham in Buckinghamshire. Much of the route travels through the Colne Valley Regional Park, an interesting mix of countryside, industry and transport links on the western edge of Greater London. I cycled this route as a part of a 100 km circular tour of the Colne Valley, Chiltern Hills, South Bucks and Windsor. There’s a mix of road and off-road sections so it’s best to take a mountain bike or similar.

Check out Geoff’s videos for each section of the route for more detail on each of the lines and stations.

Line 1: Staines West to West Drayton

The Staines to West Drayton Railway was in existence from 1884 to 1965 and once also connected to the Reading to Waterloo Line at Staines. The Staines West Station building is still intact and now used as offices.

From Staines West Station follow Moor Lane until you reach a footpath on the right hand side just ahead of the A30 Staines Bypass. Follow this path to cross over the old bridge that crosses the River Wraysbury and the route of the old railway. Take a left after the bridge to pass under the A30 and onto Staines Moor. Keep to the south-western edge of the moor and find a gate leading to a bridge in the woods and the route of the old railway. Here you’ll find an information board about the railway and steps up to join the old rail line.

Follow the route of the old railway in a northerly direction to meet the site of the old Yeoveney Halt Station. There’s not much left but you can find some concrete remains in a clearing to the right hand side of the track.

Continue north following the edge of the M25 and River Wraysbury and take a path that passes through Junction 14 of the M25 to reach the western edge of the motorway. Just before you join Horton Road take a track heading south for about 100m to the approximate site of the old Poyle Halt Station. Nothing remains. You’re now also at the most westerly point of Greater London.

Retrace your route back from Poyle Halt to meet Horton Road following it west and then join Poyle Road at the roundabout. Take a right on the next roundabout onto Blackthorne road, following it east to the junction of Blackthorne Crescent where you’ll be at the approximate site of Poyle Estate Halt. As with the previous station, nothing remains.

Retrace your route back down Blackthorne Road and take a right back onto Poyle Road heading north, then a right onto Bath Road. Colnbrook Station can be found on the left hand side of Bath Road just after the junction with Meadowbrook Close. The old building still remains and is now a private house called Station Cottage. After Colnbrook Station the rail line is still in use but now only for cargo and not for passengers.

There was one extra station north of Colnbrook station called Colnbrook Estate Halt. There’s nothing left of it and I couldn’t find a way to get close to the location so we cycled on to West Drayton. To do this continue east along Bath Road over the M25 then take the first track on the left which takes you north to Harmondsworth Moor. Pass under the M4 near the M4/M25 junction and onto a road called The Common. Continue north, then right onto Cricketfield Road, right onto Mill Road, left onto Station Road, right onto Warwick Road where you’ll find West Drayton Station and the end of this section.

 

Line 2: West Drayton to Uxbridge Vine Street

This section follows the Uxbridge (Vine Street) branch line from West Drayton station. The line ran passenger services from 1884 to 1962 and completely closed in 1979. Today nothing remains of Uxbridge Vine Street Station or Cowley Station, the only other station on the route. You can still find evidence of the line in the shape of streets and some road names.

From West Drayton Station cross over High Street and follow Tavistock Road, following the curve of the old railway. Take a right onto Trout Road over the Grand Union Canal, a left through a path onto Chantry Close then a left onto the A408. Taking a right onto Moorfield Road then take a left onto St Martin Close, a right onto New Peachy Lane and a left onto Peachy Lane. Note that in Geoff’s video he found some alleyways between the houses that traced a closer route to the old line.

Take a left off Peachy Lane onto Kingdom Lane, a cycle path that directly follows the route of the old railway. Follow this for 0.5km to Station Road, near the site of the old Cowley Station. Cross Station Road and continue to follow the old rail route up Cleveland Road, Whitehall Road and Kendal Mews. You’ve now arrived at the busy A4020 (Hillingdon Road) dual carriageway that runs through Uxbridge. The Hertz building on the north side of the A4020 is on the site of the old Vine Street Station.

 

Line 3: Uxbridge High Street to Denham

From the site of Uxbridge Vine Street Station navigate round the roundabout to pick up Oxford Road to the site of the old Uxbridge High Street Station at 106 Oxford Road. There’s no remains of the old station and the site is now a building for the Buckinghamshire New University.

Geoff’s video on this section describes a walk along the route of the old line that connected Uxbridge to the Chiltern main line (formerly GWR) from 1907 to 1964. Having cycled through Alderglade Nature Reserve and Frays Farm Meadows before I remember it being a tricky ride and best tackled on foot. This time we opted for a more cycle-friendly route to the west of the old line. Timea (wife) and I went back to Uxbridge a week later to walk the true route of the old railway and you read about that in my next post.

From 106 Oxford Road we followed the Grand Union Canal Towpath from the Swan and Bottle pub to the southern entrance of Denham Country Park south of Denham Deep Lock. From here follow the South Bucks Way through the Country Park, Buckinghamshire Golf Course, Denham Village and along The Pyghtle to Denham Station. This is the end point of the route along the 3 disused rail lines.

The full cycle route from Staines West to Denham

The full cycle route: all 3 lines from Staines (south) to Denham (north)

Elevation plan for the full cycle route between Staines West and Denham

Stations on the Staines West to Denham Lines

Displayed in order of the cycle route from Staines West to Denham. Click on each photo to connect to the Wikipedia article for the station. Includes West Drayton and Denham which are still operating stations.

More Disused Railway Posts

Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Coal Duty Post, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Colne Valley, London, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 5 - Betchworth to Merstham

Reigate Hill Viewpoint at National Trust Gatton Park

Start: Betchworth Station, Betchworth RH3 7BZ
Finish: Merstham Station, Station Rd, Merstham, Redhill, RH1 3ED
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: +206m / -197m. Net -9m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
London Coal Duty Posts: 151, 152
Pubs / Cafes on route: Junction 8 Café in the car park for National Trust Gatton Hill (7.4 km in). The Feathers is at the end of the route before you get to Merstham Station
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Betchworth, Colley Hill, National Trust Reigate Hill and Gatton Park, B17 Crash Memorial, Reigate Fort, Gatton Park, Millennium Stones at Gatton Park, The Royal Alexandra and Albert School, Merstham

This is the fifth of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

For this section we left one car at the end of the walk at Merstham Station and another at the start near Betchworth Station. From Betchworth it was a short walk north up Station Road to rejoin the North Downs Way from where we left it on Section 4. The first 5km is along a tree-lined path gently ascending to the base of Buckland Hill. This is followed by a steep ascent up Buckland Hill to the southern end of Mogador Road. Here you’ll find the first of 2 London Coal Duty Posts, the most southerly in London. Although these posts marked a boundary of London at the time, the North Downs Way never crosses the current boundary of Greater London.

Having ascended back up to the North Downs ridge, the trail stays high for another 2 km. This is an especially interesting part of the trail with several things to see along the way. First up is Colley Hill, a great place to stop for a picnic and look out over the stunning panorama to the south. There’s also the Colley Hill Water Tower, the Inglis Memorial, the Wing Tips Crash Memorial and Reigate Fort.

At 7.4 km into the walk you’ll cross over the A217 on the Reigate hill footbridge and into National Trust Gatton Park. There’s a café, toilets and another great viewpoint here. The trail descents for ~2 km through Gatton Park to the Millennium Stones at the south-western edge of the Royal Alexandra and Albert School. Follow the North Downs Way through the school, through Reigate Hill Golf Club, Merstham Cricket Club and into Merstham Town. This is the end of Section 5.

The National Trust Sections

The Millennium Stones at Gatton Park

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey Hills AONB, National Trust, National Trails, Surrey, England, Coal Duty PostComment
Banstead Heath Coal Duty Post Circular Walk
Post 144 between Banstead Heath and the golf course

Post 144 between Banstead Heath and the golf course

Start & Finish: The Blue Ball, Deans Ln, Walton on the Hill, Tadworth KT20 7UE
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 147 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
London Coal Duty Posts: 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 144a, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155
Pubs / Cafes on route: Blue Ball Tadworth or The Sportsman, Mogador
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Coal Duty Posts, Banstead Heath, Tadworth, Mogador

This walk follows the old boundary of the parish of Banstead, originally part of London. It’s a great trip for Coal Duty Post collectors as it has a very high concentration of them in such as short space. This one covers 20 in a walk of less than 9 km.

There’s a longer version of this walk on Martin Nail’s website that covers 26 posts over 13.5 km. His one starts at Tattenham Corner station and ends at Kingswood station, making it better for access via public transport. See Martin’s guide to the walk for more detailed descriptions of each post.

My walk starts at the Blue Ball pub at Walton On The Hill. Here you’ll find free road-side parking opposite the pub and the first post, 137. From the pub continue south down Dean’s Lane to Post 138. It’s in the garden of The Rise behind the brick wall facing the street. There’s a spot in the large bush above the wall that’s been cut back so you can see the post without entering the garden.

From Post 138 cross over the right onto the heath and take the Surrey CC Bridleway 87 in a south-easterly direction. This will pass over Dorking Road and along the boundary of Walton Heath Golf Course and the heath itself. You’ll find 11 posts on this path mostly right next to the path or just off.

The bridleway ends at Mogador Lane before a bridge over the M25. Cross over the bridge and follow Mogador Lane, passing 2 more posts (149 and 150) until you meet the North Downs Way. Here you’ll find Coal Post 151 which is both the most southerly Coal Post and has an OS Benchmark on it. Retrace your steps for a few metres and take the first path on the right to follow the North Downs Way to post 152. Retrace your steps again taking a path on the right towards Mogador Lane. Take a right onto the lane and follow it north, back over the M25 and past the bridleway where you previously joined it. Continue north to the junction of Mogador Road to post 153.

From post 153, follow Mogador Road north past The Sportsman Pub. This is a good place for a mid-way rest and a drink, especially in the summer in its busy beer garden. After the Sportsman you’ll re-enter the heath and follow the path in a north-easterly direction to post 154. Here you have a choice about visiting post 155. This post is on the eastern side of the very busy A217 Brighton Road. It’s a dual carriageway without any controlled crossing points at this part. We crossed it at the roundabout near post 154 and followed the pavement on the eastern side to the post which is by the bus stop. To return to the heath we continued north up the Brighton Road and crossed over to the first footpath entrance to the heath. There’s a grass verge between the 2 carriageways which helps the crossing. Be very careful if you do this though. An alternative would be to skip this post from the walk and do it as a drive-by, briefly pulling into the bus-stop.

Whether you include 155 or not, you’ll have visited your last post of the trip. There was another further north on the A217 at the junction with Mill Road and The Warren but is now missing. The final stretch of the walk is a pleasant crossing of the heath in a north-westerly direction back to the Blue Ball pub.

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Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
Walking The Colne Valley Trail and the Colne Valley Way
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The Colne Valley Trail runs the length of the Colne Valley Regional Park from Rickmansworth in the North to the River Thames at Staines at the Southern End. The Southern Sections are sign-posted the Colne Valley Way although it’s effectively one continuous trail. There’s also a spur connecting Langley Park to The Grand Union Canal at Cowley Lock.

We completed the first 2 sections from Rickmansworth to Yiewsley in Spring 2020. The bridge over the M4 was currently closed at the time due to roadworks and we completed the 3rd section in July 2021 when the bridge re-opened.

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.

SECTION 1 - RICKMANSWORTH TO UXBRIDGE

Start: Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, Rickmansworth WD3 1NB
Finish: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1LZ
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +38m / -50m. Net -12m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 60
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cafe in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome, The Coy Carp at Harefield Lock
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge

If you’re arriving by public transport, Ricksmansworth Station is a short walk to the start of the trail. If you’re driving the Car Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome is best. For either start option I recommend the Cafe in The Park at the Aquadrome for an amazing coffee and cake combo to get you going.

This first section of the walk is very easy to navigate as it pretty much sticks to the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. It’s also very well signposted so the minor diversions off the towpath are unlikely to get you lost.

The end of this section at Uxbridge also offers many parking options and the canal is a short walk from Uxbridge Station. Here you can connect back to Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Line, changing at Harrow-on-the Hill.

SECTION 2 - UXBRIDGE TO Yiewsley

Start: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1LZ
Finish: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Distance: 6.1 km (3.8 miles)
Elevation change: +17m / -23m. Net -6m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop, Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 65, 66
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The General Eliott, 1 St John's Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2UR
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Uxbridge, Yiewsley

From the Swan and Bottle continue South along the canal towpath for ~1.25 km, looking out for signs diverting off the the right (East). The path will take you through a residential area and an unattractive industrial estate for ~500m. This is a minor inconvenience to get you to a much more pleasant narrow stretch of park running South next to the River Colne. After ~1 km you’ll reach the B470 Iver Lane Take a left onto the road then a right onto Old Mill Lane. Follow this for ~1 km to Little Britain Lake. Old Mill Lane runs parallel to the River Frays with a highlight being the Old Mill building which was once abandoned and is now apartments.

At the end of Old Mill Lane turn right, following Packet Boat Lane to the footpath that follows the River Colne. Take a left at the path junction and follow the River Colne South. After ~500m you’ll cross the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal and will join the Beeches Way. Continue for another ~500m watching out for the footpath junction. The Beeches Way continues onwards to Yiewsley but the Colne Valley Trail splits off the the right (South). Given the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge closure further South, this was the end of the trail for us for now. We’ll be back later to continue on to Staines.

SECTION 3 - YIEWSLEY TO STAINES

Start: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Finish: Lammas Recreation Ground, 115 Wraysbury Road, Staines, TW18 4UA
Distance: 15.3 km (9.5 miles)
Elevation change: +44m / -55m. Net -11m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ye Olde George or The Ostrich in Colnbrook High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Yiewsley, Colnbrook, Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor, Staines-upon-Thames

We were hoping to return to the Trail later in 2020, but the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge didn’t re-open until July 2021. As soon as we got confirmation that there was pedestrian access across it we headed back to Yiewsley. There’s good parking and public transport options in Yiewsley, all about 1 km from re-joining the Trail at Trout Lane.

This section has quite a different feel from the Grand-Union based sections 1 and 2. From Trout Lane you soon cross under the GWR mainline and into Thorney Park. Here you’ll find one of 3 motorway crossings as the Trail navigates around the unloved western end of Heathrow airport. After crossing the A4 you’ll reach Colnbrook, an old village that’s still pleasant in parts but stranded in an island surrounded by the motorways and airport. This is a good place for a drink and a rest or as an end point if you want to split this longer section in 2.

Leaving Colnbrook, you’re now following Colne Valley Way sign rather than the Colne Valley Trail. From Horton the route leaves the Colne Brook stream, heading east past the top end of the Wraysbury Reservoir and over the M25. Here you’ll join the River Colne, following its route through Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor and the western edge of Staines. Be careful after the M25 crossing as the Colne Valley Way signs disappear and you’ll need to rely on a map or GPX route.

The route ends at the Thames near the café at the Llamas recreation ground. From here it’s a 0.5 km walk along the river to Staines Town Centre.

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Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Coal Duty Post, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, EnglandComment
Potter Street Hill: Hillingdon Borough High Point

Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Hillingdon
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Bushey Heath
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 134m
Date “climbed”: 5th June 2021
Coordinates: 51° 36' 47'' N, 0° 24' 15'' W
Nearest Station: Northwood (Metropolitan Line): 1.9 km
On route of: N/A. The London Loop is 0.6 km to the north-west
Coal Duty Post: 51
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (Hillingdon), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The high point of Hillingdon is marked by a well-maintained Coal Duty Post. It’s a 0.6 km diversion from the London Loop via Oxhey Woods. Alternatively it’s an east drive-by, accessible from either the south end of Woodside Walk or the North End of Potter Street Hill

Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, London Borough High Point, London, Middlesex, EnglandComment
Walking The London Loop: Stanmore Common to South Oxhey
View to West London and the Wembley arch from Bentley Priory Open space

View to West London and the Wembley arch from Bentley Priory Open space

Start: Stanmore Common Car Park, HA7 3HQ
Finish: Oxhey Woods Car Park, Oxhey Drive South, Watford, HA6 3EX
Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: + 103m / - 120m. Net -17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Bentley Priory Circular Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
London Coal Duty Posts: 50, plus 49 and 51 are just off the route
OS Trig Pillar: TP6393 - The Kiln
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Case is Altered, Old Redding, Harrow, HA3 6SE
Map: 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
- Stanmore Common, Bentley Priory Museum, Harrow Weald Common, Grim’s Dyke, South Oxhey, Oxhey Woods

The latest of our short walks along the London Loop took us from Stanmore Common to South Oxhey. 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.

Of particular interest to us (well me, the wife comes for the walk) were the additional things to bag along the way:

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Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, London Borough High Point, Coal Duty Post, Trig Pillar, London, EnglandComment
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
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.

As of the January 2021 I’ve visited 26 posts and plaques on previous walking and cycling trips. With the Covid lockdown looking like it will go on for it a bit, it may take me a while longer to visit the rest.

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
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
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
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 Beeches Way
Lord Boston’s Folly, Hedsor

Lord Boston’s Folly, Hedsor

For a well signed route very close to my home, it’s odd that I’d not completed this one years ago. At 27km (18 miles) this would have made for a good training for an ultra marathon so I kept it on the back burner for when I needed it. When the Covid-19 Lockdown came and all races cancelled, it was time to bring it forward. So, as soon as it was acceptable to travel a small distance from home, we decided that it was time to tackle it.

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.

SECTION 1 - COOKHAM TO STOKE COMMON

Start: The Ferry, Sutton Road, Cookham, Maidenhead, SL6 9SN
Finish: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +118m / -69m. Net -49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Buckinghamshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blackwood Arms, The Beeches Eco Cafe, several in Farnham Common
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Cookham, Hedsor, Burnham Beeches, Farnham Common, Stoke Common

The best place to start is the Ferry, a lovely riverside pub and restaurant next to the road crossing on the Thames at Cookham. The car park is for customers only but there’s other parking options nearby if you’re driving to the start. For the rail-return option (see below for details), Cookham Station is a 1.3 km walk to the Ferry.

From the Ferry, cross the road bridge and look out for the footpath on the right hand side of the road past the county sign for Buckinghamshire. Here you’ll cross a field and rejoin the Thames for a short distance. After passing through a small gated estate you’ll cross Hedsor Hill Road and onto a track that passes St Nicholas Church on the right and Hedsor Folly on the left. The 1km from Hedsor Lane to Broad Lane is pretty steep but once you get to the top the rest of this section is fairly flat.

As you continue along the Beeches Way you’ll notice that there’s a lot of signage to assist you. Be careful though as the Beeches Way signs are poorly maintained and many have faded or have moved, pointing in ambiguous directions. As the route also follows Shakespeare’s Way, you can look out for that route’s stickers, but a map or GPS route would be very helpful.

At approx 5.5 km in you’ll pass the Blackwood Arms, location of some Midsomer Murders episodes and a good place for a rest at approximately half way in. From here you’re only 1 km from the section than runs through Burnham Beeches, a well maintained country park and nature reserve. From Burnham Beeches you’ll pass through Farnham Common and woodland before reaching the end of this section at Stoke Common.

There’s a bus stop at the B416 Gerrards Cross Road with connections to Amerham, Wycombe, Gerrards Cross and Slough. If you’re driving the parking options are extremely limited here so an alternative end point would be Farnham Common. This would reduce section 1 by just over 2 km and add it to section 2.

SECTION 2 - STOKE COMMON to Langley Park

Start: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Finish: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +48m / -65m. Net -17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse Fulmer, San Remo Kiosk Black Park, Langley Park Tearoom
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Stoke Common, Fulmer, Black Park, Langley Park

From the B416 Gerrards Cross Road enter Stoke Common and follow the main North-Easterly path to the footpath exit on Stoke Common Road. Take a left onto Windmill Road down to Fulmer village centre. The Black Horse pub is one of our favourites and a good, albeit pricey, stop for a meal. On the North side of St James’ Church, take the footpath to the right before the bridge over the Alderbourne Stream. The trail follows the stream for ~300m before heading uphill through fields and into the private Fulmer Rise Estate.

Continue through the Fulmer Rise estate to exit and take a left onto Fulmer Common Road. When we got to the big metal footpath gate we found that one of the residents had locked it off with a bike chain. Some other walkers had already turned around and gone back to Fulmer. We asked a nice lady in the nearest house to open the car gate for us and continued on our way. Hopefully that was a one-off incident of public right-of-way blocking but we reported it to the council anyway.

A short way down Fulmer Common Road, take the first right onto Black Park Road and then a path ~400m on the left into Black Park. This is one of my favourite Country Parks and location of my home parkrun event. There’s many trails through the park but you’re basically heading South East to the footpath exit onto the A420 Uxbridge Road. Keeping to the Western side of the park will take you around the lake and past 2 cafes while the Eastern side will give you a glimpse of the back of Pinewood Studios at the North End.

At the South-East corner of Black park you can cross over the A420 Uxbridge Road to enter the North Eastern corner of Langley Park. Be very careful crossing this road as it can be extremely busy with cars travelling very fast. With the noisy road behind you, you can now enjoy the peace of the Rhododendron walks through Temple Gardens. This stage of the walk ends at the Langley Park cafe and car park as you emerge from Temple Gardens.

elevation_profile.jpg

SECTION 3 - Langley Park to West Drayton Railway Station

Start: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Finish: Station Approach, Yiewsley, West Drayton UB7 9DY, United Kingdom
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +29m / -61m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, London Loop, Grand Union Canal, Grand Union Canal Slough Arm, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 69
Pubs / Cafes on route: Langley Park Tearoom, The Swan At Iver, The Rail Road Cafe West Drayton
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Langley Park, Iver, Yiewsley

From the Langley Park car park follow any of several footpaths through the park to the South Eastern corner. Here you’ll pick up a path heading directly East with sign-post for the Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way, Colne Valley Trail and NCN 61. Continue following the Beeches Way for 3 km on an Easterly direction. You’ll cross over Billet Lane, Wood Lane and Love Lane along the way, each of these running North/South. When you reach Bangor’s Road South you’ll turn right onto it, following South-East for ~300m before turning left onto Coppins Lane. Continue North along Coppins Lane and follow it as it turns from a road into a footpath and curves to the East. Watch out for a junction in the footpath and be careful to turn right rather than continuing on the Colne Valley Trail

After leaving Coppins Lane you’ll continue due South for just over 1 km and will reach Iver High Street. Cross over the High Street and continue South along Thorney Lane North. When you see signs for the Beeches Way pointing left down Victoria Crescent DO NOT follow them. A bridge over the canal further down this section has been removed but the signs have not been updated. See this blog post for more details. Instead, continue South down Thorney Lane North until you cross the Grand Union Canal. On the South West corner of the bridge you can walk down to the canal towpath. Walk East along the towpath and you’ll rejoin the Beeches Way.

Follow the canal for ~1 km, crossing over both the Colne Brook and River Colne. When you reach a big metal footbridge crossing over the canal watch out for sign-posts and a Coal Post. Take a right onto the path leading from the bridge and continue South East. After ~1 km you’ll cross the River Frays and across a residential island then over the main section of the Grand Union Canal. Follow the Grand Union South East for ~500m until you reach the end of the route at West Drayton.

Accessing the start and end by train

We tackled the Beeches way by leaving a car at either end of each of the point-to-point sections. If you want to complete the route in 1 day there’s also an option to take a train from one end to the other. Cookham Station is 1.3 km from the start of the route at the Thames river bridge and the end of the route is very close to West Drayton station. From West Drayton you can take a train heading west and change at Maidenhead. From Maidenhead take a train towards Marlow or Bourne End and get off at Cookham.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Thames, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, England, Coal Duty PostComment