GUC : Cowley Peachey to Rickmansworth

Time for the first canal walk of 2013 and luckily this mid April weekend saw blue skies all day Saturday – an ideal chance for one of the longest stretches so far – just over 10 miles from Cowley Peachey Junction to Rickmansworth. This required a morning departure from home at 11:00 and resulted in a late’ish return (7 pm). Slightly daunting is the long stretch across the Colne Valley, as there are very few options for cutting the journey short if it takes too long. Armed with a SatNav, a guide book, sandwiches, water and a camera, I set out.

 

Looking back to the junction from bridge 190

 

View northwards from bridge 190

 

Bridge 189 – Benbow Bridge

 

Approaching Cowley Lock

 

Bridge 188 and a change of side for the towpath

 

Looking back from Cowley Shovel to Cowley Lock

 

 

Permanent moorings north of Cowley

 

Heading north from Cowley Shoevel, pipe bridges in the distance

 

Approaching pipe bridges

 

More pipe bridges

 

Uxbridge boat centre

 

Bridge 186 – Dolphin Bridge

 

Oops – looks like it burnt through

 

On the approach to Swan and Bottle bridge (185)

 

Spring blossom

 

Smallest boat of the day

 

Bridge 185 – Swan and Bottle bridge

 

Boat yard south of Uxbridge lock

 

Bridge 184

 

Looking north from bridge 184 to Uxbridge lock

 

Paddle steamer !

 

Tranquil as we approach the A40

 

Moorings south of the A40

 

Bridge 183 – White Bridge

 

View north from White Bridge – Gravel Wharf on the left

 

Denham Deep Lock

 

Between Denham Deep Lock and Denham Bridge

 

Approaching Denham bridge

 

 

Going about between the lock and the bridge

 

Denham Bridge (182)

 

Start of the long straight section across Harefield Moor and the Colne valley

 

Looking back along the straight

 

Rail bridge 181 – about 1/3 of the way northwards along the straight

 

Country Park sailing off to the east side

 

Moorings off to the east

 

Camouflage ?

 

Widewater bridge (180) and Widewater lock

 

Widewater lock

 

To the west of Harefield

 

Bridge 179 – NO CROSSING!

 

Tree-lined canal edge near Mount Pleasant

 

Mount Pleasant

 

Approaching Black Jack’s lock and bridge 178

 

Black Jack’s lock

 

Approaching Troy Cut

 

Rounding the bend before bridge 177

 

White water near Copper Mill

 

Scenic towpath north of Copper Mill Lock

 

Heading out into the countryside north of Copper Mill lock

 

The approach to Springwell Lane Bridge

 

Springwell Lane bridge (176)

 

Moorings near to abandoned warehouse

 

Stocker’s Farm

 

Looking back after Stocker’s Farm

 

Bridge 175

 

Flooded farmland near Stocker’s Lock

 

Cub scouts adventure

 

Approaching bridge 174

 

Unexpected barge in bagging area…

 

River Colne crosses the canal

 

I was using my Android phone and Google’s MyTracks to follow the progress of the walk. According to the GPS unit I had travelled over 16 km or 10 miles, for this section of the canal.

Total distance: 16.16 km (10.0 mi)
Total time: 3:51:21
Moving time: 3:34:21
Average speed: 4.19 km/h (2.6 mi/h)
Average moving speed: 4.52 km/h (2.8 mi/h)
Max speed: 11.71 km/h (7.3 mi/h)
Max elevation: 108 m (355 ft)
Min elevation: 55 m (180 ft)
Elevation gain: 283 m (928 ft)


View Cowley Peachey to Rickmansworth in a larger map

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