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Home , Boston Manor, Capital Ring, Greenford, Hanwell, Wharncliffe Viaduct

Capital Ring section 8 page 1

Section 8 of 15 Lock to

Section start: Osterley Lock Nearest station to start: ()

Section finish: Greenford

Nearest station to finish: Greenford (Central line and National Rail)

Section distance 4.8 miles plus 0.7 miles of station links Total = 5.5 miles (8.9 km)

Introduction This is a very green walk along the towpath, beside the and through a series of parks and open spaces.

It is mostly level walking, on firm towpaths and tracks and grass or earth, but may be muddy in wet weather. There are some short slopes.

The route follows the Grand Union canal and its locks at , passes under the , and crosses Brent Lodge Park and Park.

There are both and cafes at Boston Manor, Brent Lodge Park and Greenford and there are public toilets at Boston Manor station and Brent Lodge Park.

There are public transport links on National Rail at Hanwell and South Greenford as well as buses along the way.

Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring

Capital Ring section 8 page 2

Did you know? Walking directions This part of the Grand From Boston Manor station, on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly line, Union Canal makes use turn left upon exiting the station along Boston Road for 400 yards, then left of the River Brent as again opposite the Royal Harvester along a broad path. There is a much as possible, though some artificial sign showing the left turn for the Capital Ring, also the BRP (Brent River 'cuts' have been made Path) and the Grand Union Canal Walk. to give a straighter route, as here. The Cross a residential road (Southdown Avenue) and keep ahead to pass Grand Union Canal through a gap in the wooden fence, then bear immediately left. Follow this links London with Birmingham, a distance path ahead for 220 yards. The path might be muddy after wet weather. of 145 miles. It opened Ignore turns as the path descends between trees to the Grand Union in 1805 as the Grand Canal where the section starts. Turn right along the towpath to Osterley Junction Canal, but Lock, and keep ahead. gained its present name after a merger, in 1929, with other waterways. Cross a long footbridge, the River Brent flows off to the right.

Updated by members of the Ramblers for In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring

Capital Ring section 8 page 3

Follow the towpath for three quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometres). Just before Did you know? There are six locks Hanwell bottom lock a path to the right leads to the Fox (public house) on altogether in the Green Lane. The Capital Ring continues on the towpath but then leaves Hanwell flight, taking the canal after the first lock. Follow the Capital Ring sign at this point as the canal up 53 feet in a you leave the Grand Union Canal Walk, bearing right to follow the River third of a mile. After 650 yards is the historic Brent, together with the Brent River Park Walk. The River Brent is on your stone Hanwell Bridge. right and the large Hospital on your left. There has been a bridge at this point Continue ahead at the marker post to reach the Road. (It is since at least the 14th sometimes possible to take the right hand path here which goes under the century, but the present bridge dates from 1762, bridge to your right but this is often flooded.) with several later widenings. The route continues across the road. You can cross the road at the traffic lights on the right.

On the far side of the bridge, go down steps and stay beside the river, passing through Brent meadow. Ahead is the impressive Wharncliffe Viaduct.

Follow the path across the Brent, then bear left under the viaduct to enter Churchfields recreation ground.

Break point To leave this section here for Hanwell rail station, follow the tarmac path uphill. At the top, turn right along a broader path and follow this for 160 yards to the road. Keep ahead and turn left along a road called Golden Manor, then right along Campbell Road, which leads to Hanwell station. (About 0.3 miles).

Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring

Capital Ring section 8 page 4

To continue along the Capital Ring, turn sharp left down a slope and follow Did you know? The Wharncliffe Viaduct the left side of the field, with the river now on your left and the spire of St. was built in 1838 by Mary's, the parish church of Hanwell, up to your right. You have now Isambard Kingdom , the great covered 2.5 miles of the route. Victorian engineer, to carry the Great Western Pass into Brent Lodge Park, formerly the grounds of a mansion home of Railway from London to Bristol. It is named after the rectors of St. Mary's. its sponsor, Lord Wharncliffe, whose coat The official path climbs the steps on your left by the signpost, then follows of arms can be seen at the centre. Queen the left-hand side of the field, with the river still to the left. To the right is the Victoria had her royal Millennium Maze, opened in 2000 on the site of a former bowling green. train stopped on top so that she could admire The route now snakes along the field edge, in company with the river the view. bends which it follows closely. This can be muddy in wet weather. The route passes through a copse then descends steps to a wide gap in a fence. Keep ahead then go left across the bridge crossing the river.

Alternative route There is an alternative route in Brent Lodge Park which is recommended. On entering the park continue along the broad tarmac path ahead which leads to a cafe, toilets, a children's zoo and the stables from the former house. Just before the graveyard of St Mary’s church turn left at a footpath sign and go down steps. At the bottom of the steps head towards a small bridge over the river ahead which you now cross. At this point the alternative route rejoins the official path.

After the bridge, turn right, beside a cricket pitch with clubhouse on your Alternative route left. Continue in this direction for 550 yards, as the path leads away from Just before the slope up the river, between bushes and hedgerows through the Brent Valley Golf to Bitterne Field, there Course. is a small path to the left that was the original Soon after the golf course, at a path junction (look out for a marker post), Capital Ring route. It hugs the bank of the bear right to return to, and cross over, the river. Immediately turn left, then Brent and is an follow the path as it winds behind a reed-filled inlet. attractive option if the ground is dry but is Continue by going up a slope which will bring you to Bitterns Field, a liable to flooding. When reclaimed landfill site. Continue along the path following the edge of the you reach the end, turn meadow and at a bench on your left, follow the path as it bends right. At right up a short flight of the far end of the field, bear left, gently downhill and continue beside the steps to rejoin the new path. river to Greenford Bridge at Road East.

Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring

Capital Ring section 8 page 5

Did you know? The Brent is nearly 18 miles long, making it one of London's longer rivers. It starts where the Dollis Brook and Mutton Brook join together in . From there it flows to the Thames at .

From Greenford Bridge, the facilities of Greenford town centre with pub and cafes, lie a few hundred yards to your left. The route continues across the road. (There is a pedestrian crossing 140 yards to the left). Turn left, then immediately sharp right at a grassy area into Costons Lane. There is a Capital Ring sign and the route now leaves the Brent River Path. Follow the road as it bends left, then shortly cross over to enter Perivale Park by a large sign with a map.

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Capital Ring section 8 page 6

Follow the main path through Perivale Park, continuing ahead over Costons Brook and ignoring the first left turn, go straight ahead beside a golf course. Bear left with the path and at a signpost just before a park exit, turn right and pass a memorial bench to local musician Nicky Hopkins in the shape of a piano keyboard. Near the end of the park, bear half left by a large wooden hut along a path leading to a small car park. Cross over this and keep ahead to the road.

The dual carriageway ahead is the A40 Western Avenue, the main road from London to . Cross it by the footbridge - there is a ramp and steps. To the right lies South Greenford rail station. On the far side of the A40 turn left along the small side road of Runnymede Gardens, then right into Cayton Road. At its end turn right along a footpath that follows around three sides of a sports field.

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Capital Ring section 8 page 7

Did you know? The first synthetic dye, mauveine, was manufactured in Greenford by William Perkin in 1856. His factory was beside the canal in Oldfield Lane North beyond the station. This was the beginnings of the modern chemical industry which then used coal tar as its raw material but now uses crude oil and natural gas.

On the far side, turn right along Bennetts Avenue, which leads to the Greenford Road. Turn right, passing under two bridges - the first carries the to Greenford trains, the second is used by the Central line.

Next steps Section 8 ends at the crossroads, with the Westway Cross shopping park on the right, where Section 9 starts. For , turn left across Greenford Road then keep ahead along Rockware Avenue. The station is to the left at the far end.

Updated by members of the Ramblers for Transport for London In this format: text © Ramblers 2020, maps © OpenStreetMap Downloaded from: http://innerlondonramblers.org.uk/capital-ring