Trips in October 2022
Compared to previous months, October was a quieter month for long distance travels. A mix between hotel prices being higher than previous years & the uncertainly over strike days.
2nd October – Grand Union Canal
The day started with the 08:56 service to Reading, followed by a quick change onto a 345 towards Iver, where I did the walk, I was planning for the previous weekend but got ditched due to cancellations at Reading. The start from Iver was a last-minute add-on (only decided to do it the night before seeing as GWR weren’t calling at West Drayton). I followed a couple paths in the Thorney area, before following the Colne Brook via some woodland to join the Slough arm of the Grand Union, before reaching the main Grand Union Canal.
I turned north to follow the canal, going via Cowley & Uxbridge (noticing that there was a lot of boats moored up), after Uxbridge the urban area gave way to the Denham Country Park. I carried on along the canal passing Harefield and some other nature reserves (it was very pretty in places; I love trees this time of year for the colours). Soon I had reached Rickmansworth where I swapped from the canal towpath onto the track bed of a former railway line, now a mixed used path called the Ebury Way).
Grand Union Canal between Harefield & Rickmanswort
The Ebury Way took me towards the outskirts of Watford (Oxhey), where I joined up with the River Colne going via Oxhey Park, walking underneath the railway viaducts to come out near Bushey station. A pair of 350s took me to Euston (getting lucky with a 350/4 leading a /2 for that bit of extra comfort), where I changed over to the underground, making the mistake of going via Oxford Circus as the Bakerloo line had fallen over somewhat (in hindsight I should have escaped on the Central line to Lancaster Gate for the short walk to Paddington, but hey-ho).
Once I reached Paddington, it was onto a pair of 387s on a Didcot Parkway semi-fast (would have gone towards Oxford if there wasn’t engineering works on). This took me to Reading, where I swapped over to a pair of voyagers to Basingstoke (having noticed the 2 coach 165 on the Basingstoke train being hopelessly overcrowded). I had a 30-minute wait at Basingstoke for a 159 to roll in from Salisbury to return back towards Salisbury. A nice day involving a beautiful canal side walk.
Ebury Way Path
9th October – London
Due to it being the day after a strike, the first train from Grateley wasn’t until the 08:56 (the 07:36 was starting from Basingstoke), so I drove to Andover. A quiet 158 rolled in on a Basingstoke terminator (would have been Reading, but Basingstoke – Reading was closed for engineering works), where I made a tight connection onto a pair of 450s on a stopper (it was either that or wait 30 minutes for a triple 450, which wouldn’t have made much difference in terms of arrival time).
The train was delayed along the way due to signalling issues around Hook, time it never gained back (but still arrived before that triple 450). At Clapham Junction I changed over to platform 3 to take a 707 to Queenstown Road, where I started my first of my trio of walks today. I headed into Battersea Park, using the Central Avenue (which was very pretty with trees), before walking on the road to reach Battersea Bridge over the Thames.
Central Avenue in Battersea Park
I picked up the Thames Path, walking towards Battersea Power station, and finally onto Vauxhall, to clear a gap in my Thames Path coverage. At Vauxhall I headed towards Clapham Junction on a busy 458 before going to Waterloo on a triple 450, before heading towards Tower Hill, where I started my second of today’s walks. This walk also involved the Thames Path as I plugged another gap, between Tower Bridge & Limehouse. A bit in & out with the river bank in the Wapping area, mixed up with areas where the riverside path had been closed due to construction of the Tideway sewer.
Tower Bridge
At Limehouse, it was a swap from river to canal, with the Limehouse cut taken towards the Bromley by Bow area, and Three Mills Island. Since I was last in this area (May 2021) the path along the outside of the island had reopened, so that was walked before a mixed used path called the Channelsea Path which came out near Stratford High Street DLR station. It was an enjoyable walk with a mix of rivers, old buildings, canal & rural.
At Stratford High Street, I jumped onto a DLR to Stratford, changing for a 345 to Forest Gate, followed by a short walk to Wansted Park for an Overground service to Barking Riverside. My 3rd walk was something I had planned to do when I first visited Barking Riverside but lost out due to delays heading to London. I exited the station, and headed towards a footpath running along the riverfront, a different view of the river with industrial buildings on the south bank and the river being a lot wider.
710273 at Barking Riverside
I did a loop coming back to the station, and started to make my slow way towards Waterloo, involving an Overground 710 to Barking, a pair of C2C units to Stratford before a triple 321 (although the refurbished sets are a bit like ordering a Pepsi Max in a restaurant only to be served supermarket own brand cola, it might be the same, but different [solely due to the lack of windows]. A Metropolitan Line service was taken to Baker Street, followed by the Jubilee to Waterloo, arriving with 15 minutes to spare as I took a seat on the 17:20 train.
This took me to Andover, where I swung via a pizza place to eat a pizza before driving home. A successful day in plugging some gaps on my Thames Path coverage, along with ticking off a revisit to Barking Riverside
15th October – London (again!)
I had a few potential ideas for walks today, however due to the weather forecast being changeable I decided to play it a bit safe. I also put a request out for some required units (both outright & for mileage), getting a good result in terms of what was out.
The day trip began with the 07:59 service from Grateley to take me to Waterloo, followed by the Jubilee line to London Bridge (where I got the news at what was out, also news that the DLR was closed between Canning Town & Beckton which messed up my plan). Anyhow I headed towards platform 3 to take a service into Cannon Street, where I took a seat on 376011 my second last 376 needed for 10 miles. This was cleared for mileage by Deptford, and I returned to London Bridge on a busy pair of 465s and headed towards the Charing Cross bound platforms.
My last 376 (026) needed for mileage rolled in on the rear of the train from Hayes. I took this to Charing Cross, waited 10 minutes before it departed on a Dartford service which I took to Hither Green, clearing it for ten miles (being glad I no longer have to keep my eyes peeled for the 376s!) I reboarded 376011 (which was on a Cannon Street rounder) back towards Cannon Street. Unusually going direct to St Johns due to engineering works in Lewisham (although it did sit at St Johns for a few minutes to get back on the right time).
707029 & 376026 at London Charing Cross
At Cannon Street, I walked across to Bank underground, attempting to locate the platforms of the DLR, and taking a DLR service to Shadwell, for a quick spin to Tower Gateway, remaining on the same pair for the run to Poplar (where it terminated into platform 4 for a random crossover). I crossed over to the opposite platform island for a Stratford service to All Saints where I started my little walk.
The first part was full of path closures, but I eventually reached the Thames Path opposite the Millennium Dome on the Prime Meridian Walk. I headed east just as the rain started, skirting around the outside of the East India Dock Basin and onwards to Trinity Wharf for a photo of the lighthouse (also making use of some public toilets). This marked the end of the Thames Path on the north bank of the River Thames, it continues on the south bank another 10 or so miles towards Erith, which is a job for another trip).
Entrance lock into the East India Dock from River Thames
Thankfully the rain didn’t last for long as I walked a path in Leamouth, crossing over the River Lea to reach Canning Town underground station. It was the first time I’ve used the rear entrance, as a busy DLR service took me to Stratford, where I crossed over to board a Central line service to Liverpool Street (for the fun of some fast running on the underground). After confirming my last 745 was on the next Stansted service (and hence buying a ticket to Harlow Town), I popped out to get lunch before taking 745103 to Harlow Town, the class clearance cannon being sounded.
745103 departs Harlow Town
I had a tight connection at Harlow Town, as I crossed over getting lucky with a very busy (kickball was on) required 720582 to take me to Tottenham Hale. I headed to the Victoria line to take me a couple stops to Finsbury Park, changing over to a Thameslink service to East Croydon. I confirmed the next Uckfield train was a pair of reformed 171s (former 2 coach 171/7s gaining a coach from a 4 coach 171/8 to form new 3 coach units getting renumbered 807-812). It was 171812 & 171810 so I purchased a ticket to Hurst Green and taking a seat on this lightly loaded service to Hurst Green, clearing both for ten miles (I suspect the others will be ticked off on runs between Croydon & Bridge).
171810 departs Hurst Green
A pair of 377s took me back towards East Croydon, where I changed to another pair of 377s to take me round the corner to Selhurst station, where I set off on another walk. This walk took me via the outside of the depot on a path via Heavers Meadow to the Norwood area, before Brickfields Meadow & some roads to reach Blackhorse Lane Tram stop, where I walked the Addiscombe Railway Park towards Addiscombe, followed by some roads to reach the tram stop just as darkness had begun to fall.
Another little former railway line route within London ticked off, as I took a tram to Beckenham Junction, followed by a pair of 377s to Crystal Palace, where I did some 378 hunting for mileage needs (as I’ve decided to hunt both the 378s & 710s for ten miles instead of five, just to give me something to do during the winter months). Some linear hops got me 378220, 378136 & 378141 over the 10-mile line, before a Jubilee line service took me to Waterloo followed by a busy 159 on the Salisbury train.
A decent little day trip in London, last couple 376s cleared for mileage, last 745 cleared outright, a couple short walks to remove from my massive list of things to do.
16th October – Didcot – Oxford, along the Thames Path
Back in August I walked from Culham towards Cholsey on the Thames Path, leaving a gap between Oxford & Culham. My original idea was to start from Appleford but the weather forecast on the Saturday wasn’t the best for the area, so formed a revised plan to start from Didcot Parkway instead, making use of a mixed used path on cycle route 5 to head to the Appleford area (along with a footpath).
I headed towards Reading on the first train from Grateley, stepping back at Andover, before popping out of the station at Reading to a nearby Tesco for some supplies before an 800 took me to Didcot Parkway, where I started my walk. This walk took me via the Ladygrove loop (which followed the railway) before going rural following a mixed-use path alongside the Moor Ditch which would have taken me to Long Wittenham but I turned off across a footpath to reach the village of Appleford. I crossed over the railway at Appleford station before following some footpaths which ran alongside the road (behind a hedgerow) before it went cross country towards Sutton Courtenay. I carried on before joining the River Thames in the Sutton Pools area before joining the Culham Cut.
River Thames at Sutton Pools
Carrying on along the Thames Path, reaching the town of Abingdon, crossing over the Thames at Abingdon Lock, where the path went via rural (and muddy in places). Fields to my left, the river to the right (hidden at times behind hedges/trees), it was very peaceful for the 4 and a bit miles to Sandford lock, only a boathouse around Radley and the odd private house broke the rural feel. I continued along the path as it went via Sandford lock, passing a pub I’ve visited a few times in the past. Around the Kennington area where the railway bridge for the Cowley branch the path went tarmac as a bike route joined the riverside path.
I carried along the path, as the river got busier with rowers (and path got busier with both cyclists and walkers). I reached the Oxford city centre, carrying along the river path to reach the station area, where I broke away from the Thames to reach the station, jumping on an 802 on an Oxford starter. This took me to Reading where after a visit for a much-needed dinner from Wendys I boarded the 17:12 service to take me home to Grateley.
A voyager crossing the River Thames on the Osney Railway Bridge
A very enjoyable walk along the Thames, one I glad to have done sooner rather than later as I suspect it will get muddy in places over the winter months. I’ve now cleared the Thames Path from Leamouth to Oxford, beyond Oxford it gets a bit more difficult as it involves buses due to the Thames going into more rural Oxfordshire, but that will be a job for next year if not the year afterwards.
21st October – Onwards to Crewe
I booked up 2 nights in my usual accommodation in Crewe (5th time I’ve stayed there, so it must be doing something right) as I needed to have a weekend away from my own bed. I had previously had this booked for the 7-9th October, but that booking got cancelled due to the strikes.
After work, I got home quickly, and got a lift to Andover station arriving with time to spare for the 17;37 service to London. At London I waited until 7pm before taking the Northern line to Euston and taking the 19:46 LNR service to Crewe, taking a seat in the front coach of 350107 leading a 350/2. Busy on departure from Euston but emptied out in the front around Rugby, but nothing unusual happened along the way and soon I had reached Crewe, for a walk in the rain to reach the shared house and relaxing for the evening.
319012 & 350107 at London Euston
22nd October – Rochdale Canal Walk
My list of things to do in the Cheshire/Manchester/Merseyside area is quite long, in the end I decided on a canal side walk along the Rochdale Canal, starting from Littleborough. Thankfully the forecast was looking promising with rain arriving in the evening time.
The day for me began with 319372 working the stopper from Crewe (a £3 advance special), this took me to Piccadilly, changing over to a pair of 331s to Salford before a 195 to Littleborough where my walk began. There is easy access to the canal at Littleborough station (cross over the road and its there) and the towpath condition was reasonable. A few puddles along the way [especially under bridges] but it did rain a bit the night before.
Rochdale Canal
My walk took me along the towpath of this scenic canal [although compared to other canals I’ve done, not the busiest with only 2 boats moving and a handful moored up]. I passed Smithy Bridge before entering Rochdale where the towpath disappears forcing a little detour on the road [the canal has a tunnel underneath a motorway]. After regaining the towpath I continued along the canal, passing Castleton, and underneath the M62 on a floating towpath.
The railway was quite close to the canal in places, and I enjoyed the sound of a class 60 loco working hard with a Biomass train, the canal going underneath the railway a couple times before reaching the Mills Hill area. I continued to reach the Middleton Junction area where I had a little detour onto the remains of the Middleton Junction and Oldham Branch Railway line for a short distance towards Chadderton (passing some youths letting off some fireworks). My little detour complete, I returned to the canal towpath to carry on towards Whitegate where once more the towpath left the canal due to a motorway tunnel.
I continued along the towpath going underneath the Metrolink line around Failsworth where the scenery turned from more woodland/rural to industrial & residential. I continued along the towpath going underneath the line towards Ashton (and the freight line towards Ashburys). The path got busier the closer I got to Manchester as soon I was in the New Islington area, covering a section I did last year, and headed towards Piccadilly to play with some trains.
150004 alongside the Rochdale Canal
Part of me wanted to head towards Cornbrook to see if any of my required new trams were out, but I couldn’t bring up the motivation so in the end took a 769 to Bolton, returning to Oxford Road on a pair of 331s (the plug socket coming in handy!). At Oxford Road I stepped back to board a TPE 802 on an airport service [solely to tick off Piccadilly – Airport for 802 coverage]. I returned to Piccadilly on the same pair of 331s I had earlier before taking a 769 to Ince, just for a random station revisit.
I had around 10 minutes at Ince, before a 156+158 combo rolled in to take me the short distance to Wigan Wallgate, where I took a pair of 150s to Salford Crescent going via Swinton. In hindsight I probably should have stayed on to Victoria to either walk or take the tram to Piccadilly as the next pair of 331s from Blackpool was both late & quite busy. However I made it to Piccadilly with time to spare to board 175115 working a Shrewsbury train to take me to Crewe to finish the night.
769434 departs Ince
At Crewe I had a takeaway pizza (and potato wedges) from Tiger Bite, after trying to make up my mind to what to have (there are many takeaway places along the way to the house). After consuming the pizza in the lounge area of the house, I decided to pop to the large Tesco Extra to get items for breakfast and also some more drink. This turned out to be a good move due to the horrible weather on the Sunday morning, and didn’t run the risk of the little Tesco at the garage near the station being bare boned like it was in the morning.
23rd October – Back home, via Birmingham & Eastleigh
My original plan for today was to walk towards Sandbach via some footpaths before following the remains of the Sandbach branch line of the North Staffordshire Railway towards Alsager, however the weather wasn’t the nicest so that idea went back onto the shelf, as I checked out of the shared house and made my way towards the station to catch the first 350 service towards Birmingham. This one went via Stoke and unusually used the single track chord in the Norton Bridge area (it didn’t go via the flyover).
After Wolverhampton it went via Tame Bridge Parkway, to allow me to tick off that section of track for coverage for a 350. At Birmingham the weather had improved to allow me to have a little walk towards the Digbeth Branch Canal around Typhoo Basin (once I managed to get round the various road closures for HS2 related work). I joined this short canal [links the Grand Union & Birmingham and Fazeley Canal] for a walk along the towpath, dodging the puddles.
A couple tunnels along the way (one going underneath the West Coast Main Line near Proof House junction + Curzon Street) and one underneath a main road, I noticed there was quite a bit of graffiti on walls & bridges along the canal. It was interesting to see a different part of Birmingham city centre, as I carried on towards Snow Hill on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal before doubling back towards Aston Junction to follow that canal towards Aston station.
Ashted Tunnel on the Digbeth Branch Canal
I was originally aiming for a pair of 323s from Lichfield, but when I arrived at Aston there was a late running 350 from Walsall [turned back at Tame Bridge due to flooding] which I took to New Street, exiting the station to visit Tesco for lunch. After grabbing lunch items, I returned to New Street to take a seat on a pair of 350s (350113 leading a 350/2). Originally I was aiming for a Northampton train to change at Rugby, but as I had a table seat I decided to stay on the 350/1 (which was good due to the line via Weedon falling over due to a hungry Pendo).
A couple hours later, the train arrived into Euston, and I had around an hour to get to Waterloo for the 16:20 train [although I could have probably rushed to Paddington to catch a train to connect with the 16:12 Reading – Salisbury service). As the sun was out I decided on a little walk, going towards Victoria Embankment and over the Golden Jubilee Bridge (attached to the railway bridge at Charing Cross). I arrived in good time, and took a seat on a busy triple 159, aiming to change at Andover to grab dinner from a recently open takeaway near the station.
York Watergate, Victoria Embankment Gardens
Or that was the plan, the first thing I noticed was when the train went into platform 4 at Basingstoke, and I noticed on the signalling diagram the word “Tree” and “NoGo” had appeared on the route towards Andover, for a tree had fallen down between Overton & Whitchurch. An hour or so later, there was news that the train would go via Romsey, and passengers for the intermediate stations should get off to speak with the station staff. I got put on the follow Salisbury train which went towards Eastleigh, where it reversed to head towards Salisbury via Chandlers Ford (the line at Southampton was closed).
Eventually at Salisbury I got put into a SWR funded taxi to take me up the hill to Grateley (along with a lady heading to Basingstoke). I dread to think how much that taxi would have cost at the end as it was £35 by the time it dropped me off at my house! Anyhow I was glad to get home, all be it a good few hours late. I never did get to try that new takeaway either. Other than the delays at the end, it was a good weekend, nice to get away to the north again.
28th October – Saying my farewell to the Class 315s
I had a half day holiday at work, so I was heading to London to play with some trains (and try and cheer myself up as it had been a tough week at work, where I felt like a ghost some of the time). I finished work at 12:30, dashed home to get changed and got a lift to the station to catch the 12:59 service to Basingstoke. At Basingstoke I changed to a busy pair of 444s for the run to Waterloo, where I had a bit of business to attend to with a low mileage 466.
Once I arrived at Waterloo, I crossed over to Waterloo East to take a 466+465+465 combo into Charing Cross, where I took a seat on 466009 on the rear of another pair of 465s. This was my last active 466 needed for 10 miles (I need one more which is stored), I took it to Abbey Wood to transfer over to the Elizabeth Line for a little spin to Bond Street to tick off the Elizabeth line platforms, before heading back to Liverpool Street with time to spare.
466009 at Abbey Wood
After
a visit to the toilets, I waited for the arrival of the 315s from Shenfield,
and after a photo I took a seat in the leading coach for the run to Shenfield,
solely to say farewell to the class as they get reduced in use from early
November when the core opens up (and I didn’t fancy paying out for that 315
farewell ‘tour’). I’m pretty sure this
was the first time I had caught a Shenfield stopper all the way to Shenfield
from Liverpool Street, so a good way to say goodbye to the workhorses.
315838 at Shenfield
I spent the next couple hours hunting down some required 720s between Shenfield & Stratford (which wasn’t the easiest to do at peak times due to a reduced number which call at both Stratford & Shenfield, and even a couple which have pick-up only restrictions at Shenfield). However I did manage to tick off 720108, 720533, 720548 & 720587 so not all bad. At Liverpool Street I decided to have a little time wasting spin towards St James Street (with the massive gap) with 710124 & 710129 getting cleared for ten miles, jumping back at Hackney for 710112 & 710114 to Liverpool Street.
After arriving back at Liverpool Street for the last time, I headed towards Bank on the central line, swapping for the Waterloo & City line to Waterloo, where I arrived at Waterloo in around 14 minutes. I headed over to board a pair of 159s on the 21:20 service to take me home, where thankfully I had no issues getting home tonight. A nice little evening spin in London.
29th October – Walking the final part of the Basingstoke Canal
Back in the summer over a few trips I walked from Byfleet to the Hook area on the Basingstoke Canal, leaving a gap to the end of the navigable canal, plus the collapsed tunnel & the section beyond the tunnel which is now a nature reserve. I had hoped to do this walk in September but had engineering works between Basingstoke & Woking on several weekends, so I decided to do it on this Saturday. Weather looked decent, after a wet start, which pushed my start time back an hour.
I took a 159 to Basingstoke (where it terminated due to lack of paths at the London end), swapping to a pair of 450s on the stopper which took me to Winchfield. I followed some footpaths, going underneath the M3 and over the railway at “Potbridge Lane” bridge. Although the paths soon turned out to be a bit wet under foot with long grass, mud & poorly maintained stiles, eventually I reached the outskirts of Hook, doing a loop around the Bassetts Mead Country Park to reach Holt Lane, crossing over the M3 and via some more paths reached the Basingstoke Canal near North Warnborough.
River Whitewater from the Bassetts Mead Country Park
I followed the canal towards the collapsed Greywell Tunnel, with a little loop of the remains of Oldiham Castle. I left the canal to go over the hill following various footpaths, before joining a permissive path leading towards the remains of the western portal of the tunnel and into the nature reserve which followed the remains of the canal towards Up Nately, where it comes to an end, the part of the canal beyond this point to Basingstoke being built over.
Greywell Tunnel on Basingstoke Canal
After leaving the canal, I followed another path, getting a bit lost (ended up in a farm area near an old bridge), but I soon gained some more rural footpaths to reach the village of Mapledurwell, following some more paths before crossing over the M3 once more and into the Hatch area. I followed the road going via a mixed-use path behind the houses at Basingfield Close, before a path via Crabtree Plantation (which was an unexpected bonus as I never knew it existed).
Bolton Arch at the Black Dam & Crabtree Nature Reserve
I followed some more paths to reach Basingstoke town centre, heading towards the station and onto a train to take me home to Grateley. It was a good little walk, other than some of the mud at the Hook end, I do like the Basingstoke Canal for it is very pretty in places.
30th October – Ayot Greenway & Upper Lea Valley Walk (Welwyn to Leagrave)
Today’s trip was to walk the remains of the Luton, Dunstable & Welwyn railway line between Luton & Welwyn. Called the Ayot Greenway between Welwyn Garden City & Wheathampstead, then the “Upper Lea Valley Way” on the section towards Luton, with around a mile gap in the middle where the route has been lost.
As the clocks changed, to be on the safe side with the more limited hours of daylight, I decided to drive to Andover to catch the 06:58 service to London, before heading to Kings Cross to take the 09:03 Cambridge stopper to Welwyn Garden City (featured a RPI check after Finsbury Park, and the train terminated at Welwyn due to no onward driver). The rain had mostly stopped by the time I got to Welwyn, it was light drizzle, but it was a short walk (once I managed to escape the shopping centre) to the former railway line accessible from steps at Digswell Road.
Before I headed west, I headed east following part of the disused railway line within the trees to where the route came to an end near the junction with the ECML. I did a U-turn to head back towards the entrance and carried on along a scenic route (with the trees in various colours). The former railway route goes via the Sherrardspark Woods (which is somewhere I wouldn’t mind revisiting for a decent explore).
Ayot Greenway in Sherrardspark Woods
A small detour via the roads, crossing over the A1 (M) to reach the former railway line in the area of the old Ayot Green station (no remains), and onto the path towards Wheathampstead where I did a little loop along the old railway line to where it joined up with the B653 before returning to a little crossroads to follow the marked path which went underneath that busy road. Afterwards it was onto a bridleway into Wheathampstead itself (not along the old railway route as that has been built on), doing a little detour towards the former station which has been restored and features an old wagon.
Wheathampstead Station
I carried on along a muddy footpath across a field to reach Leasey Bridge where the railway returned to being able to get explored, going round the edge of a golf course and into the suburbs of Harpenden. A small section of road walking in the outskirts of the town before rejoining the former railway line path, as I carried on as the urban landscape turned rural once more, with the Midland Main Line coming in on the left hand side (with some nice engine noise from a passing 222).
I continued along the path as it went underneath the Midland Main Line and into woodlands in the New Mill End area, very scenic again. Walking some more as the path went out into the open, passing the site of the former Luton Hoo station, where the building is now a private house. I carried on in the open over a long hill, passing some figures of famous people of Luton, underneath the A1081 near Luton Airport Parkway station. I was in two minds to continue or call it a day; foolishly I decided to continue along the route of the Upper Lea Valley Way along a mixed use path, where it started to rain.
Local Heroes on the Upper Lea Valley Way, Luton
Thankfully the rain didn’t last for long as I followed the roads (and the marked path), passing a Premier Inn and going underneath a roundabout before passing a church to reach Luton town centre. I continued some more, passing the guided busway to Dunstable, and along the main road to reach Wardown Park, then Stockingstone Meadow, following the rough route of the River Lea. I continued following the river path into the Limbury nature reserve (and Westmorland Park). After the end of this path I crossed over the road to reach the source of the River Lea in Leagrave Park, before heading to Leagrave station.
An 8 coach 700 rolled in (where I made a bee-line for the rear 1st class area for the plug socket as my phone had dropped to below 15% after the 20 mile walk). I took this 700 to West Hampstead Thameslink where my original plan was to transfer to the Jubilee line for an easy way to Waterloo, however a low mileage 700 rolled in on the stopper from Luton, which I couldn’t turn down, as it would be cleared for ten miles by Blackfriars.
Wardown Lake, Luton
With delays showing on the district line, I decided to walk to Waterloo (as it probably would have been quicker). First time I’ve used the entrance to Blackfriars on the south bank as I followed Google Maps to take me to Waterloo via some back streets, taking just under 15 minutes so not that bad (considering I wasted a couple minutes waiting to cross a road). I took a seat on the 17:45 service to Salisbury, which took me to Andover without issue tonight, where I decided to try out the recently opened Burger King to see what it was like, before driving home.
An enjoyable day, getting lucky with the weather being mostly kind, only a couple light bits of rain. Another former railway line walk ticked off my list. I suspect the last time I will be hitting 20 miles this year with the days getting shorter.
Anyhow more photos taken throughout October are here:
