Grand Union Canal at Rickmansworth
Route facts
Waterways:
Grand Union Canal »
Distance: 4.5 miles / 7 km
Duration: Two hours
Difficulty: Easy
Suitable for: Everyone
Circular route from: Springwell Lock on the Grand Union Canal
A peaceful oasis in the busy west London area, with a wide variation in milieu and varied boating activity - from canal to river to lake. This walk is just a few minutes away from the M25, making an ideal break in a long journey.
To get to Springwell Lock, leave the M25 at Junction 17, take the short dual carriageway down to the A412, then turn left towards Rickmansworth. Take the next right to Stockers Lock and park in the car park there.
Getting there
Parking: You can park in the car park by Springwell Lock.
Waypoints
1. Springwell Lock Car Park
From the car park, cross the canal and turn right up the road for 200 yards. Here, turn right following the Colne Valley Trail and the Hillingdon Trail, and then through a barrier by a gate. There are extensive views to your right over the canal, river and lakes. Follow this path for three quarters of a mile to where it comes out into Summerhouse Lane and some rather nice new housing. Stay on Summerhouse Lane with the canal on your right, past a small quay and some light industrial buildings before reaching a larger road. Turn right by The Royal Quay Building and follow the road around a narrow bend up to Bridge 177.
2. Grand Union Canal Bridge 177
Cross the canal, with the pretty Coy Carp Pub on the left, and turn right onto the towpath. This is the Copper Mill settlement. The mill was once a paper mill, but with the arrival of the canal, it started to produce copper sheets for the bottom of boats. The next lock is Copper Mill Lock and your route follows the canal towpath for a mile. When you reach the bridge below Springwell Lock, you can return to your car or carry on past a long line of boats. On the opposite bank is the yard of a splendid timber-framed farm that could almost be used as a film setting for the American West. Continue until you reach Stockers Lock.
3. Stockers Lock
Walk up past the lock, and turn left on a footpath, signed the Colne Valley Way. Bury Lake is now on your right - part of the Rickmansworth Aquadrome with lots of boating. On reaching the River Colne you turn left, before the bridge, to Springwell and Ings Lakes. This is part of Stocker's Nature Reserve. The path is on a narrow causeway between a sparkling river Colne and Stocker's Lake, overhung with weeping willows - a quite delightful section. You next reach a bridge by a weir. Carry straight on down a track to what looks like an impenetrable barrier but with a kissing gate beside it. This track ends at a road: turn left to return to the car park.
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