It was a cloudy, cool, early autumn day when we assembled as a modest group for the start of our exploratory walk from West Drayton station. Shortly after leaving the routines of West Drayton town we entered a park where we progressed along a path under an impressive line of Horse Chestnut trees which were busy shedding their seasonal scatterings of conkers. Continuing on and just 30 mins from the start we reached the mighty M4 motorway and crossed a footbridge to reach the edge of Harmondsworth Moor.
In our enthusiasm to push forward we then turned right into the foliage to skirt a vast hidden lake (see photo) but alas three straggling walkers missed the turn and continued straight ahead towards Harmondsworth church and village. After a worried phone call to the detached group it was agreed that they would press on by their own navigation to our lunch stop at the White Horse pub. No worries.
The main group then headed into the body of the moor through woodland via a maze of well made gravel footpaths and across two wooden footbridges spanning picturesque waterways. Soon we reached the high point atop a gentle rise to survey the surroundings. Behind we could hear but couldn’t see beyond the thicket of bordering trees the nearby thunderous M25 whilst ahead lay three and a half thousand acres of carefully manicured tranquillity.
Harmondsworth Moor in its present form was established around 2000 and its transformation was jointly funded by Hillingdon Council and British Airways. It’s now a very remarkable and largely unknown gem but was formerly an uninviting derelict site of gravel pits and toxic landfill. After a massive cleanup operation it was landscaped with grassy meadows, the planting of 70,000 trees, the dredging out of two sizable lakes and ponds and the masterful diversion of three rivers.
This sprawling parkland is all effortlessly accessible by a complex network of fine mud free pathways. It’s become a worthy haven for wildlife and a you name it array of birdlife. Also a noteworthy feature at the top of our prominent rise known as ‘The Keyhole’ was a collection of carefully piled and engraved massive square stones which were transported here for storage from the demolition of the old Waterloo Bridge in 1935.
It was here that the leader informed the stunned group that this was indeed the site of Heathrow’s proposed controversial third runway. Consequentially a large part of the moor plus several hundred homes from the nearby Harmondsworth village would all eventually be carpeted under concrete and tarmac. Moving on the group descended and heading further south followed a sunken tree curtained path along the banks of the serene River Colne where we presently reached the edge of one of Heathrow’s hyper active runways. We watched awestruck as a relentless procession of giant aircraft from around the world flew noisily by, scarily almost within touching distance. Huge lumps of lumbering screaming streamlined metal just seconds from touchdown.
Then it was a short stroll to our pub stop to unite heartily with our detached ramblers and enjoy a pleasurable lunch. On leaving the pub we headed in drizzle onto Harmondsworth village just an easy promenade away. Adjacent to the Five Bells community centered village pub stands the Great Barn which alas is only opened rarely for the public to admire.
The good news is that this historically important barn should fortunately escape destruction or resiting as it is just outside the blighted zone. Built around the 14th century this vast barn still survives proudly and sturdily thanks largely to its huge thick supporting oak pillars. The local English Heritage volunteers were keen to impart their prodigious knowledge to our group of this awesome structure. Well worth a visit.
On departing as the weather got rainier and more miserable we decided as a group that rather than repair to the charms of the Five Bells that a sensible option was to take the bus back to West Drayton station and head homewards to dry.
Harmondsworth Moor however is still there although its time and its full splendour is no doubt limited. Enjoy it while we can.
Les
Photos by Ida, Joyanna and Les. Incidentally the sunnier photos were taken on a previous visit.
