05/07/25 - London Spiral Stage 20 - Carpenders Park to Hayes and Harlington

Limited Interest - Decision Point Looming

Oh dear - the London Spiral Walk is starting to get a little stale. The last leg involved a lot of non-pavement, fast-traffic country lanes. It could not be described as wholly enjoyable. If anything, the stretch from Carpenders Park to Harlington Station is even worse.

There is nothing of any interest in 14 miles of walking. I have 6 photos on my phone. 2 of a too-early visit Good Beer Guide pub and one of an identikit 'Spoons that was the highlight of the day.

Early on, Oxhey Woods provides traffic-free countryside walking alongside the dog walkers of North London.

Woods.  Trees.

 

Then it's the outskirts of Pinner. Too early for the Good Beer Guide Woodman Pub and too many miles to walk to hang around for it's opening. Housing estate after housing estate. Admire the shed extensions on the rooflines. Find the house with the most cars parked on a repurposed front lawn. Dull, dreary walking. At least I get to tick off a couple of podcasts.

Wish I was at the Woodman End

At Ruislip, the OS Map switches from London North to Chilterns East and at least there's countryside again. The Hillingdon Trail takes me around Northolt Aerodrome along Yeading Brook. More or less all the way to the day's finale at Hayes and Harlington Station. Marshland, a babbling brook and mowed grass fields. You wouldn't think you were in London. It's so dull.

The Hillingdon Trail is a 20-mile (32 km) waymarked walking route through the London Borough of Hillingdon, running from Cranford Park near Heathrow to Springwell Lock in the Colne Valley. The trail offers a varied landscape of canals, ancient woodlands (Ruislip Woods NNR), rivers (Pinn and Colne), meadows, and historic landmarks like St Dunstan’s Church and Harefield’s ANZAC Memorial.

Refreshment desperately needed in Hayes, where there are near unlimited choice of takeaways.

One Good Beer Guide Tick available - the ubiquitous Wetherspoons Botwell Inn making the Bible for the 17th year running. Long may it continue when you can drink cask Jaipur for £2.29 a pint in London.  Best thing on the menu? Chicken in a basket.

Best a man can get (In Hayes)

I'll give the London Spiral until the next crossing of the Thames - although getting through Heathrow Airport doesn't promise great walking. Maybe I'll get some good photos.

Walk Information

Distance - 14 Miles

Start - Carpenders Park Station

Finish - Hayes and Harlington Station

Areas Walked - Pinner, Ruislip, Hillingdon

Geocaches - 11

Pubs - 1

Previous Walks - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16, Stage 17, Stage 18, Stage 19