London Trip #15: Part 1, Walking the Loop

I never would have expected to be writing about my 15th visit to London, U.K.  If you had asked me 20 years ago I might have guessed 4-6 visits.  But 15?  A big reason for so many visits can be attributed to the London Loop, a 150 mile long distance trail that encircles outer London (Zone 6); and The Capital Ring, a 75 mile trail that encircles Zone 3.  Both trails manage to follow parkland and green ways as much as possible.  As of this journey, we have now completed 60% of the Loop and the Ring.

London Loop:  Fulwell Station to Hayes and Harlington

We walked over 12 miles today (Monday, April 23rd), our first full day in London.  Our jet lag program worked like a charm (it always does!), and we felt up to a big challenge.  We had left off at Fulwell last year (see blog for Trip #14), and marched north towards Hatton Cross and Heathrow.  As we approached Heathrow, the jets came closer and closer, and lower and lower, until we were walking just beneath them on their final approach.  It was a relief to eventually be past the airport and back into some semblance of quiet countryside.  Here are some photo highlights of our first big walk of the week.

Deb heads into wild and mysterious outer London!

 One of two unique benches we came across on our walk.

 The second bench, with insects.

 An old shot tower, where gunpowder was once made.

 The Loop crosses many small bridges.

 Getting closer to Heathrow.  We ate our lunch on a lonely bench amidst Hounslow Heath.  London can be surprisingly inexpensive, especially buying breakfasts to eat on trains at smaller stores, and also buying picnic lunches for later in the day.  Typically we spend about 6 Ls on lunch and breakfast (about $10), for two.  We usually eat out more formally once each day.

 Another bridge across a different dam.

  We encountered a pair of nesting swans on our walk today.

 The nest.

 Two thirds of the way through our walk, we made two long stops.  The first one was a pub!  I will have much more to say about the pubs visited later on.

Our second stop was just across the road from the pub--Super Singh's was a vegan restaurant and take-away!  I only wish they sold tee-shirts.

I'd say we are getting pretty close to Heathrow.  Time to walk faster.  The noise is deafening.

A much quieter place along the London Loop.  The trail passes many old churches and their fantastic and secretive church yards.

Near the church is an old stable, once serving a large hunting community.  The Loop passes beneath this arched passageway.

 This segment of the walk finishes along the Grand Union Canal, ending at Hayes and Harlington Station. 

Another little pub awaited us just above the canal, and after enjoying a long rest and some refreshment, it was time to return to our hotel.  Train, tube, train.  With a pub stop in between.  There is a large upstairs pub at Victoria Station, and we paid a respectful visit before catching our fast train to East Croydon.

Continued in Part 2....