Linear walks take a fair amount of planning, not least because they usually involve some public transport. Rosie has a particular interest in the Colne Valley because the proposed HS2 route cuts across it on a viaduct in the stretch between Rickmansworth and Uxbridge. As the Xerox Uxbridge office (with free car parking) is alongside the Grand Union canal that runs between the two towns, and there's a hourly bus service to Rickmansworth, we had ourselves a plan.
We happened to wake very early, so were able to get to Xerox, put our boots on (new ones in my case) and walked to the bus stop in plenty of time for the 8:32 bus. It was sunny, but still cold, so we weren't too impressed that the bus was 15 minutes late. We eventually got off the bus one stop too early, and almost immediately came across one of Alan's colleagues out for his morning run.
It was a lovely mid-March morning - bright and sunny, but a bit chilly, with pale green buds forming on the canal-side trees. It's a shame that we had to wait until mid-April for it!
It wasn't too far to get to the start of the planned walk at Rickmansworth Aquadrome - a local nature reserve formed around two lakes. These lakes were formed by the extraction of gravel for the original Wembley Stadium. We hadn't been aware of this place before, but would certainly have taken the boys they when they were young if we had.
We were soon at the Grand Union Canal, and remained on it for the rest of the walk. Like parts of the Kennet and Avon, many of the moorings are occupied by residential boats. These seem to be gathered in groups, forming small alternative communities. In some of these, narrow gardens have been planted on the other side of the towpath.
A fair amount of flora was in evidence, notably Butterbur, Marsh Marigold and Ladies Smock. There were plenty of birds too. In particular, we could hear a cuckoo very clearly. There was also a very tame heron that almost seemed to pose for photos.
We made very good progress (and saw relatively few anti-HS2 signs), and were back in the Xerox car park by around 11:45.
We happened to wake very early, so were able to get to Xerox, put our boots on (new ones in my case) and walked to the bus stop in plenty of time for the 8:32 bus. It was sunny, but still cold, so we weren't too impressed that the bus was 15 minutes late. We eventually got off the bus one stop too early, and almost immediately came across one of Alan's colleagues out for his morning run.
It was a lovely mid-March morning - bright and sunny, but a bit chilly, with pale green buds forming on the canal-side trees. It's a shame that we had to wait until mid-April for it!
It wasn't too far to get to the start of the planned walk at Rickmansworth Aquadrome - a local nature reserve formed around two lakes. These lakes were formed by the extraction of gravel for the original Wembley Stadium. We hadn't been aware of this place before, but would certainly have taken the boys they when they were young if we had.We were soon at the Grand Union Canal, and remained on it for the rest of the walk. Like parts of the Kennet and Avon, many of the moorings are occupied by residential boats. These seem to be gathered in groups, forming small alternative communities. In some of these, narrow gardens have been planted on the other side of the towpath.
A fair amount of flora was in evidence, notably Butterbur, Marsh Marigold and Ladies Smock. There were plenty of birds too. In particular, we could hear a cuckoo very clearly. There was also a very tame heron that almost seemed to pose for photos.
We made very good progress (and saw relatively few anti-HS2 signs), and were back in the Xerox car park by around 11:45.
View Rickmansworth to Uxbridge in a larger map
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