Stahou two

Verified Slow Way

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I walked from Hounslow to Stanwell Moor.
The first part is along the unattractive Staines Road with little to enjoy which makes the contrast as you walk along The Duke of Northumberland River all the more enjoyable. There had been a lot of rain and the rivers were high, paths were muddy, had large puddles, and in places the river encroached across the path. Nothing insurmountable if wearing good waterproof boots. The path alongside the airport was surprisingly quiet despite the planes being close and the daffodils brought a lot of cheer. Some more roadside and suburban walking takes you to Stanwell Moor.
Probably the best route possible given the geography, and a plane spotters paradise.

I walked from Stanwell Moor to Hounslow. This is a walk of three different parts just to the south of Heathrow airport. With most on pavements or good paths.

The first is walking through the villages of Stanwell Moor and Stanwell. Just after the start you walk down the quaint Hithermoor Road with the steam running along the front gardens. Later in Stanwell, you go past the church of St Mary the Virgin.

The second stage follows the Duke of Northumberland and Longford rivers and series of green spaces and can feel like little nature oasis with just the sounds of planes. When first joining the river at Stanwell there are two river channels running parallel with a wide embankment in the middle (see picture). You have a choice of which side to walk on. I walked along the central embankment. Before going on the north side from Scylla road. Crossing the A30 was straight forward but you will need to take care. And more difficult with a pushchair.
The path stays to the north of the river and goes through Two bridges Farm green space with lots of wildlife. From here the path regularly swap sides of the river as pass the housing estate and even leaves it for a residential road for one section before going by Hatton Allotments and Dukes Green. There is a large tesco with customer toilets at this point on Faggs Road.

The third stage joins the Staines Road (A315) and you follow this to Hounslow. Though not as nice it gives options of exploring the river crane at Donkey and Brazil mill woods or Hounslow Heath nature reserve. It also well served for buses in to Hounslow town centre if you don’t want to walk this last section.

Overall a good long urban walk.

I walked Stahou One 6 months ago and found it unsatisfactory, so I made this route as an alternative which I find much more pleasant.

From Hounslow head south-west on the Staines Road. The road is long and straight, and it’s not bad to walk along, an urban road with shops and pubs and local traffic. I passed the entrance to Hounslow Heath, but the route doesn’t detour across the heath, it would be quite a swerve to accommodate.

Eventually I reached the junction with the A312 Faggs Road, where I turned right and crossed over the Duke of Northumberland’s river, then left onto a footpath. Now began a lovely run of footpaths which (with a short break) goes all the way past Heathrow to Stanwell.

Every now and again a road has to be crossed, mostly this isn’t a problem, but crossing the A30 was more of a challenge. After a little patient wait there was a break in the traffic and I was able to cross safely. (Photo)

At another point the path came out on the roadside up a steep bank (photo) and through a very narrow gap in a hedge (photo).

The route stays on the north side of the DofN’s river past Heathrow T4. It’s a slightly bland, grassed area which has been heavily landscaped, but it doesn’t put the local wildlife off, and I saw a swan and heron on this part of the walk.
Then the route switches to a more rustic path that runs between the DofN’s river and the Longford river. The grass here is not mown, but the path is reasonably clear.

Eventually the route turns away from the two rivers and heads for Stanwell, where there is a classic church and village green, with pub. Stanwell Moor is a bit further on. By the time I reached the endpoint (another pub), I had walked all the way past Heathrow, and was ready to take the next step: to cross the M25 and leave London behind.

I can certainly recommend this route for Slow Ways. It’s probably the Slow Way to choose if walking to Heathrow, from T4 the other terminals can be accessed by free transport.

There are some steps, a short steep section of path, and grassy path walking; otherwise pavement and well surfaced footpath/shared cycleway.

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