Gersou two

Verified Slow Way

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Walked Gerrards Cross to South Harefield. Mostly this is a very enjoyable green belt + canalside route, but I have a big grumble further on about pedestrian safety at the A412!

To begin: leave Gerrards Cross by pleasant residential roads. A413 crossing was ok. The path between the A413 and the M25 crossing was a little tricky in places - narrow, uneven, nettles - recommend long trousers and perhaps a walking pole for balance/path clearing. There is a large fallen tree which needs a careful walkaround.
On the plus side, lovely blackberries, although I wouldn’t eat the ones right by the motorway.

Once across the motorway there’s some woodland which I managed to get lost in; I saw several muntjac, it was quite a magical place given the big road alongside. I even saw a frog! (Photo).
There follows some very quiet back lanes which access isolated houses; a handful of cars, without exception all the drivers were polite, acknowledged me, and said thank you when I stepped aside.

The only part of the route that is troublesome is the A412. It coincides with the entrance to the HS2 site. There isn’t really a proper pavement and it may be necessary to walk on the road for a few paces. Then a safer grassy path takes over. There is only really one place to cross the A road and that is as marked on the route - it is a shockingly bad arrangement imo, so take care. You may need to wait until a friendly driver stops for you on the nearside, then take potluck with the farside, as there is a bend blocking visibility. Probably easier if approaching from other side as will have better visibility. (I checked the previous reviews, which are indeed from the other direction and seem ok with it.)

Nearly forgot to add - a very good close up view of HS2 construction in this area.

After that it’s into the watery part of the walk. Lakes and canal all the way to South Harefield. The towpath was a pleasant track. Locks to idle alongside.
South Harefield isn’t a big place, but there are stores and some green space for a picnic, and buses to Uxbridge.

My tip for refreshments is: at the junction between the canal path and the lakeside path at Troy lake, just south of West Harefield, head north alongside the canal, and just before the bridge at Coppermill Lane is a large pub and eatery, with a garden, called the Coy Carp. I always stop off here for a little something when out this way. And - there is a handy bus to Uxbridge (via South Harefield) from a stop just up Coppermill Lane on the Harefield side of the canal.

4 stars - had to lop one off for the A412 experience. A more direct option, that doesn’t include the loop around the lakes and the canal, would be less pleasant overall, and would likely involve even more of the A412 or some other big road.

I walked from South Harefield to Gerrards Cross.
A short section on pavements to a bridge and steps down to the canal. A pretty stretch with no industry. After a weir and just before a bridge turn right for a path between the lakes, it turns alongside, but not next to, the Denham Road. Exiting to the road you find HS2 works have blocked the path, but there is an alternative alongside the road, then just past the works entrance and into some lovely woods. There is a mix of farm tracks and lovely woodland paths to a bridge over the M25. Then more beautiful paths down to some narrow bridges over the Misbourne and around a fallen (but still living) chestnut. Crossing the A413 takes patience and you can stop in the central reservation. There is a short section along quiet roads without pavements before reaching Uxbridge suburb residential streets. The node is at a seating area outside Tesco in the high street, about 150m from the station.
This is a beautiful walk made better by bluebells in the woods. Mud, stiles, gates, narrow bridges and some rough ground means it's not suitable for wheels.

I walked this from South Harefield to Gerards Cross. It starts of following the London Loop and Grand Union canal, which was lovely (and had new ducks!). It then turned west. Along a little bit of road (A412) the route needs to skirt around HS2 building works, but a new path has been provided and safe. It goes up a hill at Wyatt's Covert, which was pleasant. The route follows some "private roads" but it's mostly through wood land. It crosses the M25 which was luckily not very audible. On the west side of the M25 however, the path becomes narrow with nettles on one side, and a barbed wire on the other. I bet that this part also can get quite muddy. The bluebells were a lovely distraction here though. I also had to divert around a falling tree. After crossing two narrow bridges, there is then a little walking on streets to get to the station.

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