Category: London Loop

Muddy mate ?

The London Loop Part 5: Elstree to Cockfosters

October of course it’s muddy! Good job my trusty walking boots were on my feet, despite the urban feel to the western section of the route and the dry conditions in September this is proper country walking requiring the appropriate footwear !

A full afternoons walking covered the 10 miles from Elstree to Cockfosters across many of North London’s commons.

Once again the route of the path and the rather vague green diamonds on the OS Maps did not always agree requiring a little bit of back tracking and improvisation here and there especially along the Dollis Hill Green walk section – beware !!

I had never visited the rather upmarket neighbourhoods around Hadley Common before, very smart houses and cars – it’s not often you sees a Ferrari 250 TR drive past !

This section finished at Cockfosters the northern end of the Piccadilly Line, the name of which causes much amusement to American tourists for some reason 😉 It is also a classic Charles Holden design, with lovely art deco features …

So this is roughly quarter of the route complete already, could be finished by Christmas ?

Blog London Loop

Despite the clouds..

The London Loop Part 4: Northwood to Elstree

It did not rain !

I had planned to spend the weekend in the West Country, but this time bad weather rather than COVID-19 changed my plans, so despite some at times ominous looking clouds I walked another section of the loop.

This section heading East from Northwood through woodlands and the occasional golf course is very rural despite starting and finishing at Stations were you oyster card is accepted !

To be honest there is not a great amount to see on this section of the route and it is mostly easy to follow, despite a farmer near Pinnerwood doing their upmost to ignore the existence of the right of way !

The route passes just to the South of Bentley Priory, famous for it’s role during the Battle of Britain, a return to visit its museum is something to add to my list of places to visit !

Another 14 miles completed !

London Loop Thoughts

Heading East..

The London Loop Part 3: Uxbridge to Northwood

A short section this, as expected getting to and from the start and end points on public transport took almost as much time as walking the route. The first section from Uxbridge continued North along the banks of the Grand Central Canal although this is a beautiful rural section all the way.

At Harefield West the route turns right and finally starts heading East, the route leaving the Canal and passing through some proper countryside and woodlands.. this is proper country walking with the first stile of my walk !

There is nice contrast on this section with open countryside and then the quite dense woodland of Bishops Wood

It’s in the woodland than the need for a map and some basic navigation skills become obvious, spot the direction marker in the picture below.. Miss it and you are heading off in the wrong direction !

Look very carefully the direction sign is at the centre of this image..

Just before entering the wood I came accross the walk’s most interesting / unexpected sight… I pointed out the route was heading East but I did not expect to see a Chinese Police Car parked on a farm track!

Conspiracy theory anyone ?