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Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 24 May 2015, 9:24pm
by PRL
mercalia wrote:For any one living in London ( who has a freedom pass to get there free by train ) I have found a very nice short ride along both sides of the river crane in Crane Parks, Hounslow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_Park

It is only a short ride but can be lenghtened adding Hanworth Park near by or Hounslow Heath ( more walking than riding )

Train stations either Twickenham or Whitton ( the closest )

http://live.data.wt.precedenthost.co.uk/sites/live.data.wt.precedenthost.co.uk/files/Crane%20Park%20map.pdf

It is a really lovely ride one side is tarmaced but with dirt track off shoots that go closer to the river, the other side ( newer I think ) is graveled winding around under avenues of trees. A real bit of wilderness. There is a nature reserve and whats left of the Gunpowder industry ( tower for making musket balls) There is a refreshment kiosk open during the winter in the east end in Kneller Gardens.

I really love this area. Great at any time of the year or day ( never closes ) Great night rides!


To be pedantic the tarmac path is in LB Richmond and has been open for ?20 years. The Gravel one is in Hounslow and is fairly recent but does make a nice circuit.

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 24 May 2015, 10:03pm
by mercalia
PRL wrote:To be pedantic the tarmac path is in LB Richmond and has been open for ?20 years. The Gravel one is in Hounslow and is fairly recent but does make a nice circuit.



I thought it was the other way around but seems not. The parts beyond this circuit that I updated this thread with are clearly very old as I mentioned the neglected boards with information on. The underpass at The Causeway rd has steps up with a rusty cycle channel that hasnt been used in how long. But is a devil to find your way to these paths for any one who doesnt live there. There is also a route to a starting point from the circuit above, past the Royal Mail depot in Godfrey Way further up the road, but this is used by the local kids with their "motor bikes" to gain access to the heath & has a gate with obstacles to deter them & I wonder if it will be locked soon

at end of Godfrey way by side of Royal Mail depot, access to Crane river path
at end of Godfrey way by side of Royal Mail depot, access to Crane river path


at end of  narrow tarmac path side of  Royal Mail depot end of Godfrey Way
at end of narrow tarmac path side of Royal Mail depot end of Godfrey Way

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 26 May 2015, 11:59pm
by mercalia
elPedro666 wrote:Thanks for the update we've just got back from exploring some similar waterside hidden gems around Stockport; very satisfying to get intimate with the nooks and crannies of your local area



Yes u dont need to go abroad to find places to explore, some can be very close, many need a bit of time that u probably cannt afford when traveling abroad or some distance from a base.

click pics to enlarge

here a few more - these from Staines Road section - so called Donkey Wood -

across small open grassy spaces
across small open grassy spaces


Donkey Wood raised walkway
Donkey Wood raised walkway


Donkey Wood here is why
Donkey Wood here is why


not always swampy but this day was wet
not always swampy but this day was wet


Donkey Wood
Donkey Wood

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 28 May 2015, 10:45pm
by mercalia
Here is a pdf file that shows quite clearly the west edge of the "circuit" that PRL refers to - the well looked after section and also the way to get to the Hounslow Heath section via the Cavalry tunnel - the path on the right near the "Feltham Circles" north west of the crematorium gardens.

http://www.richmond.gov.uk/crane_park_to_hounslow_heath_leaflet.pdf

click to enlarge pictures

The nice gravel path on the south side of the Circuit of the looked after  section
The nice gravel path on the south side of the Circuit of the looked after section


a fellow traveller that hitched a ride
a fellow traveller that hitched a ride

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 31 May 2015, 10:05pm
by PRL
The use of the Cavalry tunnel - which was modified as a cycle underpass of the railway many years ago. Unfortunately there has been legal wrangling between ? Network Rail and LB Hounslow which has prevented the route being made official. LB Hounslow have referred to the connection as a Holy Grail.

FORCE are a local pressure group and their leaflet represents an aspiration.

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 10 Jun 2015, 7:11pm
by mercalia
Here is the end of the River Crane path at the NE corner of Cranford Park nr M3 Junction 3

End of Crane Path Junction 3 M4 motor way
End of Crane Path Junction 3 M4 motor way



But the fun dont need to stop here - as the Hillingdon Trail starts here ( you aint got rid of me yet :wink: )


http://www.the-river-thames.org.uk/thames-path-walk-cycle.nsf/osmapdisp?openform&route=hillingdon-trail-walking-route

I been on this so far up to North Hillingdon, starting from the Paddington branch of the Grand Union Canal. Unlike the Crane Path this is in some/many places really mt bike territory as many of the tracks are just squashed clumps of grass, so it was slow going for me on my 1-Down. I am glad I put the extra padding on my handle bars. There is greater variety of scenary - urban natural grass fields & spaces to dirt tracks thru woods. It is supposed to be 20 odd miles long. It is called a walking route but all the gates are multi purpose with bike key slots.

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 10 Jun 2015, 10:35pm
by elPedro666
The thread that keeps on giving, I love it! [emoji1]

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 11 Jun 2015, 7:33pm
by mercalia
I started at Hayes Harlington rail station, took the short canal path to the Paddington branch

click pictures for bigger view

take the paddington branch of Grand Union canal upto foot bridge
take the paddington branch of Grand Union canal upto foot bridge



Beware the Swans. foot bridge to cross over further along, not this bridge
Beware the Swans. foot bridge to cross over further along, not this bridge



On the other side of the foot bridge over paddington  arm of GU canal some confusing signs where to go, here the start
On the other side of the foot bridge over paddington arm of GU canal some confusing signs where to go, here the start



start of the Yeading Valley, rather bumpy
start of the Yeading Valley, rather bumpy



lead to open urban grass land
lead to open urban grass land

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 11 Jun 2015, 7:36pm
by mercalia
paths  cut thru the other wise uncut grass
paths cut thru the other wise uncut grass



getting very slow work here!
getting very slow work here!



no sign which way to go
no sign which way to go


really need a mt bike for this!

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 17 Jun 2015, 2:37am
by mercalia
Ten acres and Gutteridge wood. click pictures for bigger version

Ten acres and Gutteridge wood
Ten acres and Gutteridge wood


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 2.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 3.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 5.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 6.JPG

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 17 Jun 2015, 2:40am
by mercalia
more Ten acres and Gutteridge wood

Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 7.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 8.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 9.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 10.JPG


Ten acres and Gutteridge wood 12.JPG



come out at North Hillingdon. Next stage from there -

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 2 Jul 2015, 3:54pm
by mercalia
Next Stage. North Hillingdon to Ruislip. Towards Ruislip it gets a bit boring as the route just bolts together a few back houses short cut & the route twists and turns so need to be on the look out for the trail signs, but the result is worth the effort as it ends up at Ruislip Lido, a large lake which is also a beach resort with a real sandy beach where the locals go on hot days to sun bathe and take a cooling dip. But thats jumping the gun a bit.

At Hillingdon on the route came across this strange "playground" dont know who it is for. Any one explain the purpose of the various torture devices?

torture device 1
torture device 1


torture device 2
torture device 2


torture device 3
torture device 3


torture device 4
torture device 4


The Hillingdon lot a very security minded bunch as the next installment shows

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 2 Jul 2015, 9:34pm
by mercalia
Seems like the people in Hillingdon North want either to keep some one in or out?

Never seen gates like these? Any one of above average girth would find it a squeeze even to get thru


keep some thing in or out?
keep some thing in or out?


The other side hehe, in  your face
The other side hehe, in your face



Back to the Hillingdon Trail
Back to the Hillingdon Trail


100_3607.JPG

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 3 Jul 2015, 11:00pm
by elPedro666
That there be outdoor gym equipment, very Venice beach - hope you got your guns out! [emoji38]

Re: Crane River Parks Hounslow & other London rides

Posted: 4 Jul 2015, 12:07pm
by mercalia
oh glad to know that Hillingdon has the money and space for such a luxury ( that I bet no one uses )

Before you get to Ruislip Lido you have find your way across a golf course after crossing a few roads

The Hillingdon trail passes within yards of the so called Ruislip Lido. A lake which has a real sandy beach and a by the sea-side atmosphere. (but no seagulls) It has a tarmaced path around it that makes a nice ride with various offshoot paths and places to get refreshment. Well worth a visit.

click pics for bigger better version

ruislip lido 1.JPG


100_3673.JPG


ruislip lido 4.JPG


ruislip lido 3.JPG