Six intrepid walkers braving the cold met at West Ruislip Station, in bright sunshine and maybe for the first time the men outnumbered the women for this adventure. We crossed the road to turn left into a quiet cul-de-sac, signed Ruislip Golf Centre, where the walk leader gave the safety briefing.
Proceeding past a barrier we followed a footpath signposted R145 to join the Hillingdon Trail (HT), leading us onto a footbridge over the river Pinn to cross a field. Then via a shady footpath we reach the gates of ‘Old Clack’ Farm. We turned left to follow the lane passing some houses, the first of which had a striking horse head mounted on the front wall. At a T-junction we crossed a busy road to another stile in the hedge signposted ‘public footpath U41’. Walking now via wet grasslands, farm tracks and fields we make our way towards a challenging boggy section just before a quiet road. The leader, having done a recce only a few days before, anticipated this muddy and watery impediment and came equipped with thick cardboard and wooden blocks, so we all landed on the road with thankfully dry boots! Going over and beyond the call of duty.
The walk now followed a diversion due to the ongoing work for HS2 and we eventually proceed via towering manned gates, controlled by courteous HS2 staff. We continue to follow the U35 route to a wooden gate, leading us into a very autumnal Bayhurst Wood Country Park. At an open space with picnic tables, we crossed diagonally to the far side to follow a narrow bramble-lined path, which led us once again to the well established HT. We continued to follow the HT via leaf strewn woods, a bridle way and then vast open fields. Negotiating kissing gates and stiles and an abundantly leaf strewn wood we reach a metal stile leading onto the St. Mary’s Church access road, Church Hill road, Harefield.
St Mary’s has an important connection with ANZAC. This is explained on the Church’s website as follows:
Anzac Day has been commemorated at this church on the 25th of April every year since 1921. It commemorates the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps(ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign. After World War 2, Anzac Day was broadened to include all members of the armed forces of Australia and New Zealand serving in all conflicts and peacekeeping operations. The Churchyard in St Mary’s has a war cemetery that holds the poignant graves of 112 ANZACs who were treated in Harefield on the site of the current Harefield Hospital. The war cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Then thanks to Andrew, instead of a noisy road and a steep uphill climb, he led us on a welcome diversion which took us into grasslands and provided a panorama of the impressive HS2 viaduct nearing completion and other related works. We rejoined the original HT into a field with views of the Grand Union canal. Descending we crossed over a humpback bridge and followed the scenic canal tow path towards the Rickmansworth Aquadrome Cafe, where the walk ended after 8 miles for a slightly late lunch. Afterwards in fading sunshine a short walk took us up to Rickmansworth Station and then home.
Carol d’S and Les
Photos by Les.
