A walk in the countryside is a great way to blow away the cobwebs at this time of year, it will lift your mood and is good exercise for both mind and body. Enjoy the seasonal colours, the crunching carpet of leaves, wonderful fungi sprouting up to catch your eye, wildlife calling in the trees and the calming scenery and sense of tranquillity as you walk along your way.
Why not take the opportunity to meet with friends and family, get the children away from their screens and have a good catch up with the people you care about and enjoy the many gifts that nature will bring.
So come into the Colne Valley Park on an exciting journey, exploring a variety of wonderful country walks with the “countryside on your doorstep”. Here are some places to walk suggested by the Colne Valley Park team. Which one will you choose first?
Follow our four mile circular walk, along the canal to quiet country lanes with views across ancient parkland to Langley Mansion; (alternative short route 2 1/2 miles).
This nature reserve consists of varied woodland and is full of wildlife and geological interest. Follow the ‘rock trail’ to experience the interesting geological features of this site including a swallow hole where a stream disappears into the ground.
A pleasant 2 1/4 mile circular walk with lovely river views and a village. Through newly created parkland, with plentiful wildlife and views to Windsor Castle and London.
As well as enjoying a walk, if you’re patient you might spot: treecreepers, woodpeckers or nuthatches feeding around the alder trees alongside the bridleway. Afterwards enjoy a hot drink and a slice of homemade cake in the Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre café. Use this map to explore on your visit.
Mabey’s Meadow and Frays Island, West Drayton
This willow woodland set between the Colne and Frays rivers provides a perfect spot to sit and watch the River Colne, and if you’re lucky glimpse the electric blue of a passing kingfisher.
This attractive park in the southern most point of the Colne Valley, commands a scenic Thames-side location. It is suited to families and, with its car park café and toilets, is an ideal starting point for a number of local walks such as the Staines Moor circular walk. On the other side of the Wraysbury Road you can enjoy walks around the attractive lakes at Church Lammas.
A series of attractive lakes, ancient wet-woodland and meadows beside the Grand Union Canal. Many small paths provide secluded walks and a closeness to nature. Download a fact sheet for more information.
This popular park is set within 530 acres of attractive woodland, grassland and heathland with a centerpiece lake. Visitors can enjoy waterside and woodland walks, a children’s woodland play area and a ‘Go Ape’ tree top trail.
A beautiful traditionally managed ancient woodland. Not just a popular place for Spring visitors wanting to see bluebells, why not see it in its Autumn glory too?
Situated between the River Colne and Frays River, Little Britain Lake is a safe haven for a variety
of water birds and a lovely place to stroll. In Autumn flocks of birds roam the woodland and scrub – blue, great, coal and long-tailed tits, goldcrests and treecreepers.
Ducks are abundant in winter. Shoveler and Goldeneye visit in nationally important numbers, and Smew and Pochard are occasional. In the breeding season, Common Tern nest on floating rafts and there are good views of the large heronry.
Try our 3 3/4 mile circular walk around Stockers lake, a peaceful walk around three lakes on what was once a busy gravel extraction site.
Part of Ruislip Woods, Bayhurst woods are unusual for their mixture of hornbeam and beech trees. There are spectacular views from the edge of the woods across the fields. If you’d like a self guided walk, you can pick up part of the Ruislip Woods Trust’s Yellow walk route from here, walking through the woods, across the fields and down to Harefield Church.
Grand Union Canal – Rickmansworth to Uxbridge
Colne Valley Trail – Section 1 – This section of the Colne Valley Trail links Rickmansworth to Uxbridge. It runs through some of the most attractive areas of the Colne Valley and provides excellent views of the River Colne, lakes and the Grand Union Canal.
Hardings Row Nature Reserve, Iver heath – offers a lovely walk through various habitats, including a small reedbed, ponds, meadow and woodland.
Runnymede and Ankerwycke – National Trust
Autumn walks – Wrap up warm and step outside for an autumnal adventure at Runnymede. Follow our walking trails, or find your own route through the meadows and woodland.
We hope you enjoy your exploration of the Colne Valley Park and if we’ve inspired you then please pass the inspiration on and share your walk with us via social media – we love to see your posts.
And please remember whichever walk you choose, you are doing something fabulous by spending time outdoors and connecting with nature, for both yourself and those you care about. Enjoy!
If you have enjoyed your time recently in the Colne Valley Park, please consider supporting us with our endeavours and getting to know us a bit more by becoming a “Friend” of the Park. Find out more here .
