London 2026: Part 4: London Loop Part 10

This is part 4 of a series.

This walk is along the second long distance trail within the boundaries of London, sticking to the far outer areas within Zone 6.  It is 150 miles long, thus the segments are longer then those of the Capital Ring.  This London Loop walk was 11 1/2 miles but we spread it over three days.  The first day we walked 7 miles, the second was 3.1 miles.  Deb was not feeling up to the walk for Part 3 so I walked the final part solo, 4 1/2 miles.  The walk begins at Moor Park Station and ends at Elstree and Borehamwood Station.  Newer versions of the Loop guides shorten some of the segments, but we use an older book and try to keep to the original 15 long segments.

 

The day began with a comedy of errors.  We messed up two of our trains so we ended up starting the walk about 75 minutes later than we should have.  At East Croydon we jumped on a train as the doors were closing.  I thought we had gone down the ramp to Platform 1, so any train we jumped on would have been fine.  Alas, we had tramped downhill to Platform 3 by mistake, so the train we jumped on was going in the opposite direction.  We got on just as the doors closed.  We sat down and heard over the speaker that we were merrily on our way to Gatwick Airport instead of Victoria Station.  It's only a 17 minute ride, but we had no ticket for this mistaken journey.  We got off at Gatwick, crossed the platform and caught the train back to East Croydon and beyond, again with no ticket.  Once back at East Croydon we were fine.  Luckily no conductor asked for a ticket.  So we lost about 35 minutes there.

 

Later in the morning we had to take the Metropolitan Line from Harrow on the Hill Station.  We did, even going in the right direction.  However, the train tracks split one station later, each ending at different destinations.  Our bad luck held and we got on the wrong train.  Noticing the mistake about three stations later, we got off, crossed the platform and headed back to Harrow on the Hill.  We waited for the correct train there, finally arriving at Moor Park Station.  We had spent the entire morning on trains, instead of half a morning.

 

In the old Loop guidebook this is the first part of Section 10.  This sign was outside Moor Park Station. As it turned out this is how much we walked today, ending at Hatch End. But their mileage way short of the truth.

 

Our walk today through outer London. Click on the map for a larger version.

 

The walk began in a wood then onto a golf course and we had to cross open fairways to reach the woods.  Oxley Woods is yet another major deep suburban park that goes on and on.  The walk was about as far from urban as one can find within the boundary of London and we enjoyed it immensely.  Here are a few photos of our walk.

 

It was still very windy and warm, so being in the forest away from the wind and sun felt good.

  

Redhead and bluebells. Oxley Wood.

 

We saw many amazing trees today, including one or two Ents. 

 

 

Early 18th C. Pinnerwood House and its pond. 

A Victorian farmhouse at Pinnerwood Farm.

 

A view back towards Harrow on the Hill.

 

Ah yes.  Grazing horses in a field.  Within London.

 

 We were usually alone on much of this walk. 

 

Hatch End Station was a welcome sight at the end of today's walk, part 1 of 3.  But before that came The Moon and Sixpence Pub, close by the station. 

 

After the walk we were pretty tired, having had four rather strenuous days in a row. A Wetherspoons pub near Hatch End Station revived us for the journey home.  We enjoyed Hobgoblin Gold from Wychwood Brewing (on cask, of course), an above average ale, and a very fine glass of Plum Porter from Titanic.  We also discovered Maude Valerie White, a Victorian female songwriter; Barry Cryer, a comedian and comic writer (remind to tell you one of his jokes next time we meet); and Sir Ambrose Heal, who started a successful arts and crafts furniture company.  The pub celebrated all three who were local to the area at one time.

 

We had to transfer trains at Clapham Junction, but we stayed in the area and visited two other pubs (at 5 pm!), just outside one of the busiest train stations in England.  The Falcon was an old fashioned beauty, while The London and Southwestern was a Wethies.  The Harvey's Best Bitter at the Falcon was top knotch, while the other pub featured an ale from Oakham, one of our favourite breweries.

 

 Near Clapham Junction Station at 5 pm.

 

View of a beautiful old building across from the Wethies pub.

 

The London Southwestern had 10 ales on handpull. 

 

The next day was a serious pub crawl in Fleet Street, but I will deal with that in the next blog entry.  Part 2 of this Loop segment was two days later.  We began at Hatch End Station and walked just over 3 miles to Stanmore Street, where we caught the 142 bus to Stanmore Station from Priory Hill bus stop.  This was the hottest day, near 80 F so we called an early halt.  There were no cafes or pubs at the tube station, so we boarded a train and Deb did her phone search toward upcoming stations.  We got off at Kingsbury Station and walked the short distance to J J Moon, another Wethies pub.  We shared three half pints that included Red Kite by Vale Brewery (not too shabby), Chestnut Bitter, delicious, and Black Beauty Porter, also by Vale.  Yum!  Closer to home and just outside East Croydon Station we stopped at the Porter and Sorter for Wainright Gold, downright drinkable after a long day and a long ride on a series of trains.

 

Our second segment of Loop 10 crossed a lot of fields, through woods and around another golf course.  Because of the heat we finished early today, catching a bus at a road we had to cross and headed towards home, but slowly.  After all, there were unvisited pubs between us and home.

 

 

Another distant relative of the Ent family of trees.

 

Shrubs and trees everywhere were exploding in colourful flowers. 

 

See above.

 

Ent toes.

 

One of many parks crossed by Loop Segment 10.
 

Look how far we are from central London!  We are gradually making a giant circle around the city, but staying within the boundaries of London itself. 

  

Two days later I finished the walk by myself.  Deb had started out with me but at London Bridge Station decided she was not up to a long walk today.  It was the only day she was unable to keep pace with me, likely needing a rest day.  I resumed the walk where we had left off, at Priory Hill bus stop, crossing field and stream before stopping for lunch at Bhageecha Restaturant.  Once a pub, the place has been given a very expensive makeover and now serves first rate Indian food.  There were a lot of vegan options and I chose a yellow dahl that was quite divine.  A highly recommended stop  for Loop walkers, as the trail passes its front door.  They have some draft and bottled beer.

 

My solo walk from Priory Hill to Elstree and Borehamwood Station.  It was 4 1/2 miles. 

 

Horses are very popular in outer London. 

 

I crossed a field filled with buttercups.

 

After lunch I visited Aldenham Reservoir and Dam. 

The village of Elstree is now part of Greater London, but it still looks and feels like a village.

 

A dead tree covered in flowering vines. 

 

The finest tree of my walk today, and one of the finest I have ever seen.

 

How rural can a big city get?   Nearing the end of my walk, approaching Elstree and Borehamwood Station.  I made a brief stop at the Wellington Pub nearby, drinking half a pint of Old Speckled Hen, the only ale on handpull here.  Oh well, can't win them all. 

 

I was back at the hotel in time for coffee, so I picked up Deb and we went to the George.  We had coffee and shared a half of Orkney Brewery's delicious and recommended ale called Red McGregor Ruby Red.  We followed this up with a visit to our favourite pub in the world, The Green Dragon.  We enjoyed a perfect glass of Mad Squirrel's London Porter, following that up with a draft ale, the unbelievably delicious Viennese Swirl, also from Mad Squirrel, a chocolate vanilla porter that weighed in at 8 % (very heavy for London).  We heard that the pub would be closing for a change in management and a spring cleaning.  We are quite worried, frankly.  We hope it will still be there when we return.

 

On the way home Deb spotted Art and Craft, a tap house for microbrews.  They have an original Banksy on the wall, in addition to some fine brews.  Today we had London Black Nitro Porter fromd Anspach and Hobday brewery, and it was very special indeed!  We finished the day's rounds with New Bristol's Bristol Cider, which was truly delicious.  What an area to have for one's hotel location! 

 

The Green Dragon, Croydon. I called my Mom in Sudbury from here thanks to the phone deal Deb got us on arrival day.

 

Green Dragon beverages.  Yum!!!

 

Tap list at Art and Craft, Croydon, just a few yards from the Green Dragon.

 

to be continued... 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

  

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....

London Nov. 2015, Part 2--London Loop Segment 4

London Loop Segment 4

Tuesday was our longest walk, at 9 miles.  It began at Hayes Station, deep in the suburbs.  We took the Tramlink service from in front of our hotel.  One of the lines terminates at Elmers End Station.  From here we transferred to National Rail.  We crossed a rail footbridge from within the tram station to get to our platform.

 Another tram arrives at Elmers End Station.  This wonderful service stops at our hotel, and this line terminates here.  Our train to Hayes arrived seconds later.

Today's walk from Hayes Station to Hamsey Green.  We ended at "You are Here."

The Loop crosses 0 degrees latitude near the start of Segment 4, 
marked by this mini-Dalek.

There is about half a mile of linking to do from Hayes before the Loop is resumed.  Though there was some urban walking today, a vast portion of it was across open fields and through deep woods.

 St John the Baptist Church sits high on a hill.

 The Loop soon passes through adjoining woodlands; Spring Park and Three Half Penny Woods.

 Deb tries to find the yellow brick road.

 Just when you think the woods will never end, they do.  What's that up ahead?  Do I see a pub?

     After an hour or more of walking we came to our first pub stop of the day.  The Sandrock was a really nice mix of traditional pub and modern one.  Deb enjoyed a J2O (juice), while I sipped on a glass of Sharps Doom Bar.  We also ordered some spring rolls to share.  This is the kind of cozy pub in which I could spend an entire afternoon.

     After our rather long stop we resumed our walk, soon finding ourselves deep in several more parks and woods.  It is a steep climb to Addington Hills Lookout, but the view that awaits is a splendid one! 

View to central Croydon from our lookout atop Addington Hills.  Our hotel is near the central

dense area of tall buildings, and we could actually see it from here with our binoculars.

 Looking deep towards central London from Addington Hills Lookout.  London now looks like an

American city!

 Sheep, cows, and in this photo, horses; the London Loop has it all!

 London green spaces often include several smaller parcels that combine into one large area.  We entered from the top right (red dot), ate our lunch on a bench in the middle of Foxearth Wood, then continued south and exited at Foxworth Road Entrance.  Our next pub awaited.

     It was raining, cold and miserable as we entered the Julian Huxley Pub, a Wetherspoons.  We got cozy in the back conservatory.  Sir Julian has ties to Selsdon, where we now were.  He helped establish the nearby Selsdon Nature Preserve, and he was a founding member of both UNESCO and the World Wildlife Fund.  It was an honour to toast him with a glass of Adnams Broadside Ale in my hand!  Deb enjoyed espresso.  Our seats gave us views into the lovely back garden, which today was rain-soaked.

     By the time we were ready to depart the rain has turned to a fine mist.  We decided to push on and complete the final one third of the segment, and soon had rejoined the main path.

Another deep, dark woodland awaits. 

The Loop path descends a steep, slippery slope into this beautiful, wide valley.  Way off in the distance we noticed a very large country house overlooking it all.

 A telephoto shot of the house, which turned out to be a hotel and golf resort in Selsdon.  It was a country house many years ago.
 

      Of course after descending into the valley we had to climb out of it on the other side!  Then came some very muddy field crossings before we emerged into a lane which led us eventually to a main road and the end of the segment.  The Good Companions Pub used to stand on a corner here, but no longer exists.  We took a bus a few stops north and came to Warlingham Green.  Once a little independent village it is now part of the London metropolis.  Our travel cards still worked way out here.

      Two pubs awaited our arrival.  The White Lion is a classic old pub, filled with dark wood, low ceilings, tiny snugs, cozy fires, and of course several fine ales on hand pull.  We had a tiny room all to ourselves, down a few stairs.  The room would hold perhaps 5 people, but no more than two were in it today.  We had our own fireplace, but luckily it was not on.  We were plenty warm enough from our walking.

Deb prepares to enter Ye Olde White Lion, Warlingham.

     With our long walk complete we had now finished five segments of the Loop.  One more segment remained for Thursday and Friday (we split it into two because of its length), with ten more needed to complete the circle.  We got a bus from the Green and it took us right to our hotel!  It was a bit of a long ride.  To begin the next segment we would have to catch the same bus and get off where the Good Companions used to stand.

     Tuesday evening was a rest night, a well-deserved one at that.  Tomorrow was our visit to London, and would be a somewhat easier day on our bodies.  We were looking forward to it!

Continued in Part 3....