Walk 3446 - printer friendly version

Dog Rose Ramble (London Borough of Ealing) Walk

Author - Peter Smyly

Length - 8.1 miles / 13.2 km

Ascent - 250 feet / 76 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference TQ132845
Lat 51.5480470 + Long -0.3688503
Postcode UB5 4AA (approx. location only)

For walkers already acquainted with parts of the London Loop and the Capital Ring, this walk will have a familiar feel about it as it features some of the greener spaces of London's suburbia, this time in the London Borough of Ealing. Sturdy footwear is advisable as, depending on recent weather conditions, wet and muddy stretches are likely to be encountered from time to time. If you are hoping to find "Dog Rose Ramble" waymarkers at reasonably frequent intervals you are likely to be disappointed, therefore be prepared to route-find in your usual preferred fashion preferably using the relevant OS 1:25000 map. The route coincides with part of the waymarked Hillingdon Trail. By London standards, this is a walk of some variety in terms of scenery.

Although the four mounds of the Northala Fields are slightly off route, they are easily the best bit of the whole walk if included, offering height and airy views far and wide stretching as far as Box Hill and the North Downs in one direction and Harrow on the Hill and Horsenden Hill in another. If you think you are familiar with London parks, then this is one with a difference that could not be mistaken for any other. The second mound is probably the best of the four since it is not only one of the two highest along with the first, it also has a viewing platform with display boards pointing out the various distant landmarks. See the link for more details - Greenford Parks

Exit Northolt station and turn right down Mandeville Road. On reaching Church Road (on your left), turn right here along a path leading into Islip Manor Park. Exit the park at the far end and turn left down Islip Manor Road. Cross the busy Western Avenue via the footbridge and follow a tarmac path between wire fences which switches direction a few times. Leave this path to follow a path on the right through woodland to emerge in the open at the golf course.

The way ahead is less clear here but bear left alongside the hedge also on the left and when a practice area appears ahead bordered by very high netting, follow this around to the right to locate an exit from the golf course through a small section of woodland, then into the open. Passing the dinosaur golf on the left, cross the busy road ahead and continue down the road opposite, Sharvel Lane. The lane passes a shooting school on the left and later, a farm on the right. Just past the farm, Golden Bridge appears ahead next to a car park.

Turn left here over a wooden stile with Yeading Brook on your right. Initially the path here is unclear due to low hanging tree branches and encroaching vegetation but the way ahead becomes clearer when the path forks away from the stream. The route switches to the right to cross the stream at a bridge. Take the next path on the left passing a pond on the left. Follow signs for the Hillingdon Trail as far as the canal, the way involving the crossing of two roads while a subway passes under the third one after which a walk across the field ahead leads to a path that leads over a bridge to the canal.

Turn left along the towpath of the canal and follow this as far as a point where the route leaves the canal at the first footbridge after the busy A40 leading across a road to Northolt and Greenford Park with its distinctive church. Passing through the grounds of the church, bear left downhill to exit the churchyard and keep ahead along Church Road. At the T junction ahead, turn right along Mandeville Road to return to Northolt Station.

If making the digression to the Northala Fields, once the noise of traffic from the approaching A40 can be heard ahead, leave the canal at a wooden footbridge to cross the park ahead. Northala Fields are on the other side of Kensington Road.

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