Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Osterley Station
Route facts
Waterways:
Grand Union Canal »
Circular route from: Osterley Station
The Hanwell Flight of six locks, created in 1794, raise the water level by about 53ft in ½ mile. Each lock was built to accommodate a 14 foot wide barge or two 7 ft wide narrowboats side by side. Most of the locks have ‘side ponds’ beside them opened for use in about 1816 as a means of saving water. Some of the lock pounds have short flights of steps to aid the rescue of towing horses that had fallen into the canal.
In 1565 Sir Thomas Gresham was licence to ‘impark’ 600 acres at Osterley, subsequently in the same year increased to nearly 750 acres. Today Osterley Park, owned by the National Trust, has more than 100 acres of landscaped parkland and lakes surrounded by over 200 acres of active farmland.
Waypoints
1. Hare & Hounds public house
On leaving the station turn right and immediately right down a public footpath. Turn right into Bassett Gardens and 1st left continuing on Bassett Gardens. Cross the main road (Jersey Road) and go through the hole in the wall following the footpath through the cornfield towards Osterley Park. The footpath will join the Main Avenue at Osterley Park. Cross the Main Avenue and pass through the gate opposite and join another track through fields. When the path ends bear left towards a brick wall, cross a track and continue to the Hare and Hounds pub. Turn left along the road to pass under the M4.
2. The Plough public house
After a further 440 yards just past a building on your left, turn right to go through a kissing gate and follow an enclosed path alongside a playing field. At the end of the path go through a metal gate to your right, then cross the railway line and follow the road ahead (Trumpers Way). Pass the bridge, go down the steps on your right to the Grand Union Canal, then turn right under the bridge along the towpath. Follow the towpath for approximately two miles. You will pass the Hanwell Flight of six locks and the remarkable Three Bridges construction designed by Brunel. Pass Norwood Top Lock (No.91) and cross the white bridge. At the road barrier turn left into Poplar Avenue. Bear right onto the main road (Tentelow Lane) and cross the road. Continue along the road until The Plough pub.
3. Osterley Park
Turn left along an enclosed public footpath, signposted to St Mary’s Avenue, beside the pub. Cross the road and continue along the footpath opposite which crosses a field. At the far side of the field climb the steps and follow the road over the M4 motorway. Once over the bridge admire the splendid farmhouse on your right with its walled garden. Do not enter the first metal gate along this road, which is the entrance to Osterley Park Farm, but turn right through the second entrance to enter Osterley Park. Keep going along this straight track, through farmland and an avenue of small-leaved lime trees, to reach a metal gate.
4. Osterley Station
Continue past the stable buildings and the main house, skirting the bottom of the Garden Lane. Pass the information kiosk and the automatic gate near the car park to enter the Main Avenue. Retrace your steps past the Farm Shop turning right through a kissing gate onto the footpath. At the public right of way signs leave the Park through the hole in the wall and cross Jersey Road into Bassett Gardens. At the T junction turn right and leave the road by the public footpath on our left emerging adjacent to the entrance of Osterley Station.
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