Cycling the Grand Union Canal from London

[Chris01]

Has anyone done this recently or has any info on whether it is worthwhile or not? I am just looking to do a bit of a different ride this weekend over Sat and Sun and although the waterscape.com website is helpful, it doesn't show the whole picture so to speak. Any advice greatly appreciated. Cheers

[Jill]

I don't know the London end at all, but from Harefield, north through Rickmansworth, Croxley, Watford outskirts, Hemel, Berkhamsted, to Tring, it is a pleasant ride. All this wet weather might mean a few puddles, but a lot of this stretch is a pretty good surface. I'd use thick tyres though. Plenty of pubs/cafes on this stretch too, or just off near the locks. Hope that helps, Jill

[JamesAC]

Stricktly speaking, you need a permit from British Waterways.

You can download one form their website: - this page

http://www.waterscape.com/cycling/


Cheers

James

[jb]

Im pretty sure the permits are for technical purposes only to stop tow paths becoming public rights of way. I don't think they give a dam whether you have one or not.

[robgul]

Im pretty sure the permits are for technical purposes only to stop tow paths becoming public rights of way. I don't think they give a dam whether you have one or not.

The cynic would suggest that the permit is to make sure that the rider knows he's at his own risk if he falls in the drink - it's not much more than a disclaimer for BW

Rob

[Noel]

Chris I use the canal all the time and it is a great ride. In fact I've been known to go out of my way to use it for my communting. Going down to Canary Wharf is fun and you can then take the Thames Path (NCN 1) to Greenwhich. Go over the river by the tunnel and have a plasant time there. If you go the other way you will go through Camden. Beware on Saturdays and Sundays it can be very busy and the Towpath clogged. So probably best to walk that section. From there through London Zoo, Regents Park and on to Paddington Basin. Going further you come to Little Venice and can detour into Notting Hill which is great on a Sunday for the markets etc. Some good pubs there. Or you can carry on out further. The path is good to cycle on but be aware that thin wheels might find it difficult at times. There are plenty of places to get of and explore and plenty of places for food and beer.

The permit is required for use though I've never been stopped and asked for it. The main function of it I feel is to aquaint you with the rules of the road, so to speak. The five most important are 1) You need a bell to warn of your approach 2) Give way to pedestrians 3) the speed limit is 6mph (twice walking speed) 4) Have a fantastic day out and enjoy these amazing waterways 5) Stay safe.

Some people ignore the rules around speed and curteous behaviour, it's your choice. But be aware that along several stretches of the canal local residents groups are organising to have cyclists banned from the canal due to them being frightened and harrased by aggressive cycling.

Enjoy the ride

regards

Noel

[Chris01]

thanks for the replies, laters

[towedhaul]

Hi Chris
The London end is fine going down through Uxbridge, Hanwell, Brentford etc. The surface is good most of the time. I've ridden it on a Birdy with small wheels & narrow tyres. Have a nice time.
Steve

[ChrisM]

Used to ride it to work from Denham Country park to Brentford. Not bad. It's quite passable but a bit industrial at the start. An intesresting ride rather than a pretty one. Depends what the alternative is.

[david grimshaw]

Buy yourself a canal guide book. Designed for narrow boaters but ideal for cyclists as well.
David

[andyml]

hi chris,

i'm resonably familiar with the route as the canal is at the bottom of my garden - i'm near to norwood top lock

i'm not too sure what part of the canal you're referring to...the paddington arm or the flight up from brentford.....coming up from brentford no probs...but there is very bumpy muddy sesction in between alperton and bulls bridge..and it will be muddy after this weather

it's a great route, and feels very rural..hope you enjoy yourself

rgds andy

[Hugo]

I have followed these posts with interest as Canal paths
always seem to be underused by cyclists, as do
Forestry routes across country.

I guess we can't "officially" promote the use of
forest tracks because they
have "negative permission" for all users..... meaning
that everybody may use them...... but may not!

If anything goes wrong it is your own fault.
Sometimes forest tracks are closed for forestry work
and so on.

In the case of Canal paths, I used the Avon canal path
down to link with the Bristol and Bath Sustrans Flagpath,
and had an excellent ride all the way from Bradford
on Avon in to the middle of Bristol. I had negative
permission to use it.... so I did.... use it.

Listening to what post says about the different sections of
tow path it sounds as though there is jolly good potential
for quite a few miles...... Is that the one that starts way in
the centre of london..... and does it work right out of London
in to the country?

Pity cyclists can't make a block booking for its use
and then set about helping to improve the murky/muddy bits
in the way that self help groups do.

I don't know what Sus policies are on tow paths, whether
all the user groups/conservation societies respond to cyclists
in the same way.

In FACT it goes all the way to Birmingham but even if you
do have a cycling permit, you might find half way to Brum
that the permit is no longer valid due to local conditions,
so you would STILL be riding with negative permission.
LCC campaign rules ok!

Where would you be then?

[andyml]

my advice, hugo, is to forget the permit and enjoy the ride

take care andy

[axel_knutt]

I've got a guide booklet that British Waterways sent for free with the free permit. It was a year or three ago, so I dunno whether they're still printing them.......

[superfred]

The only problem that you may have is getting past the fishermen at the weekend.