Kingston Bridge to A30 (Hatton Cross Station): 9.5 miles (15.3 km)
I begin this adventure much as I did with The Capital Ring, with a section closer to home. New trail guide in hand, trusty Ramblers notes and overview maps downloaded from their excellent inner London website and last but not least, the fallback gpx LOOP file installed, I put this stage to the test.
Unlike the Capital Ring first impressions suggest there is very intermittent waymarking but I'm hoping that will improve, and so interpreting map scales and comments was invaluable on sections that were already familiar. The entire LOOP (London Outer Orbital Path) is just over 150 miles (240km), now broken down into 24 stages, and with rxtended transit times, I may well complete several sections at times with an overnight stay. I suspect having now started in late-Spring, I would hope to bring this adventure to a close in mid-Autumn, but as always, I greatly look forward to the combination of both partnered comradery and solitary, introspective walking.
Trail landmarks:
Kingston Bridge - built in 1828, sharing the route briefly with the Thames Path, this is the only Thames direct crossing point on the trail. Entering
Bushy Park - (445 hectares) is the second largest of the spectacular Royal Parks. A very popular and picturesque area appealing to walkers, runners and cyclists alike and a delightful haven for bird-life and important home to both fallow and red deer. (Henry VIIIth exploited Bushy Park in the 1530's as a hunting ground to which the deer still belong today). Meandering through the park is the man-made Longford river, now extended with pools with many species of waterfowl, but originally intended to provide channeled water to Hampton Court Palace. The trail crosses Chestnut Avenue, redesigned by Wren in the 1700's, and which actually comprises of both Lime and Horse Chestnut trees. Entering the Woodland Gardens, firstly the Pheasantry Plantation and then secondly onto the Waterhouse Plantation, provide a secluded and very pleasant contrast of ponds, glades and richly planted woodland to the otherwise broad open parkland. Emerging from the formal gates into Hampton Hill, the trail follows a short straight urban section passing Fulwell golf course and onto the Staines road and Crane Park.
Crane Park - turning off Hospital Bridge Road, a shallow descent takes the trail down to follow the river Crane. This area according to the information board at entry, describes the home of James II army encampment which spread across to Hounslow Heath. The path continues via an underpass to a fork which provides the opportunity to walk riverside but could be soggy underfoot depending on the season. With notable bird life including kingfishers and insect life notably dragonflies and celebrated with two benches by Paul Sivell, the Shot Tower at 25m tall and final remains of the Hounslow Powder Mills is the only architecture that punctuates this natural peaceful and mindful backwater.
Hounslow Heath - formerly an area of some 1600 hectares, it is much less today, owing to the construction of Heathrow airport. Gravel paths twist across otherwise grass and bramble meadows, pleasant but until the Crane is reached, fairly unremarkable but nonetheless tranquil (in between aircraft!)
Brazil Mill Woods - the path rejoins the Crane river, once again a pleasant if at times muddy path that bends ribbon like through the woodland. Named after the mill that once extracted red pigment from Brazil trees - sluice gates still evident.
Donkey Wood - yet home to another mill and earthworks in the production of gun powder. The path would have once been very waterlogged here but is now supplemented by a pleasant if slightly rickety boardwalk in the shape of duckboards. Heathrow is now very close and the path passes under the flight path which brings with it unprecedented views of the underbelly of jet liners.
A30 The Great West Road - Hatton Cross - emerging here onto the busy A30 and a reminder of the importance of arterial transportation links into Central London, a short walk finds Hatton Cross Piccadilly underground line, and brings this stage of the trail to a close.
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