To the West of London is Ruislip. It's a small compact area, but part of the sprawl that is London. Junior had been bought a book on a discount book shop last year on 'Walks in the South East' by the AA. Armed with the book, and a packed lunch we headed off by car to do this walk (it's also on the web here:
http://www.theaa.com/walks/the-woods-and-lido-of-ruislip-420768
We parked in the free car park adjacent to Mad Bess Wood. Ok maybe that should have given us an idea how the day would be going ...
After changing into walking boots (preferable in muddy or wetter weather) and locking the car doors, we walked along the little path in Young’s Wood until we crossed Ducks Hill Road (A4180) in into Copse Wood and followed the signpost for the 'Hillingdon Trail'. The map and directions in the book (and on that link above) are superb. I have no need to replicate them. So if I refer to a number like (2) you will need to look at the link and go to number 2. As it happens at (2) we were over taken by some lads on mountain bikes, which seems to be a rather sad thing now. Walking routes are being used as mountain bikers trying to a) break the land speed record on a bike b) have a total disrespect for anyone on two legs not on a bike. This trio did at least shout excuse me before they raced past.
Dog walkers seem to like these woods, and they are good dog owners making sure their pets do not foul the footpaths which is a real change. It was while walking along the track leading to (3) that a lady passed by with a friendly little pooch and when they came to a bench, she sat on it as did poochy. The lady then got him/her a little bag of water to drink. It was very cute to say the least. We continued on and (3) we turned right. This is a public bridleway so where as the poochy's of the world are cleaned up after, Dobbin isn't. There are some lovely houses bordering the woodland and I would imagine at a hefty price too. As we walked along, the good lady noticed a colourful patch of yellow flowers in a small clearing. On closer inspection they turned out to be Wild primrose (Primula vulgaris). Which I am told are quite rare now. A couple of photos of those and the little bees on them and we set back off along the path. Little Miss T. was doing a good impression of Usain Bolt hare off ahead at every opportunity. This was pretty much testing our patience as the wild life were taking one earful of her and heading into hiding.
We carried on and followed the path to the right and down to the little kissing gate. We needed to be this side of the gate rather than walk through it. But just the other side of the gate is a small pond that is just lovely. It was (due to a recent heavy rainfall and being at the bottom of a small hill) pretty much flooded. Following the path to the left as per the guide we continued to the golf course. and followed round the edge until we re-entered the woods (4).
Birds tweeted, the breeze rustled the trees and parts of this section opf path by the nature reserve were muddy. Walking along towards the Lido we stopped and sat on some logs for our picnic. Some pasta, some sandwiches, and crisps all went down well. The crust of sandwiches were left for the local wildlife, but we didn't envisage Daisy the West Highland Terrier rush past and scoff all the crusts. ha ha ha ha.
Off we went to the bottom of Northwood Hills (5) and alongside the miniature railway line (other side of the fence) until we got down to the lido itself.
[Extract from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruislip_Lido)
http://www.theaa.com/walks/the-woods-and-lido-of-ruislip-420768
We parked in the free car park adjacent to Mad Bess Wood. Ok maybe that should have given us an idea how the day would be going ...
After changing into walking boots (preferable in muddy or wetter weather) and locking the car doors, we walked along the little path in Young’s Wood until we crossed Ducks Hill Road (A4180) in into Copse Wood and followed the signpost for the 'Hillingdon Trail'. The map and directions in the book (and on that link above) are superb. I have no need to replicate them. So if I refer to a number like (2) you will need to look at the link and go to number 2. As it happens at (2) we were over taken by some lads on mountain bikes, which seems to be a rather sad thing now. Walking routes are being used as mountain bikers trying to a) break the land speed record on a bike b) have a total disrespect for anyone on two legs not on a bike. This trio did at least shout excuse me before they raced past.
Dog walkers seem to like these woods, and they are good dog owners making sure their pets do not foul the footpaths which is a real change. It was while walking along the track leading to (3) that a lady passed by with a friendly little pooch and when they came to a bench, she sat on it as did poochy. The lady then got him/her a little bag of water to drink. It was very cute to say the least. We continued on and (3) we turned right. This is a public bridleway so where as the poochy's of the world are cleaned up after, Dobbin isn't. There are some lovely houses bordering the woodland and I would imagine at a hefty price too. As we walked along, the good lady noticed a colourful patch of yellow flowers in a small clearing. On closer inspection they turned out to be Wild primrose (Primula vulgaris). Which I am told are quite rare now. A couple of photos of those and the little bees on them and we set back off along the path. Little Miss T. was doing a good impression of Usain Bolt hare off ahead at every opportunity. This was pretty much testing our patience as the wild life were taking one earful of her and heading into hiding.
We carried on and followed the path to the right and down to the little kissing gate. We needed to be this side of the gate rather than walk through it. But just the other side of the gate is a small pond that is just lovely. It was (due to a recent heavy rainfall and being at the bottom of a small hill) pretty much flooded. Following the path to the left as per the guide we continued to the golf course. and followed round the edge until we re-entered the woods (4).
Birds tweeted, the breeze rustled the trees and parts of this section opf path by the nature reserve were muddy. Walking along towards the Lido we stopped and sat on some logs for our picnic. Some pasta, some sandwiches, and crisps all went down well. The crust of sandwiches were left for the local wildlife, but we didn't envisage Daisy the West Highland Terrier rush past and scoff all the crusts. ha ha ha ha.
Off we went to the bottom of Northwood Hills (5) and alongside the miniature railway line (other side of the fence) until we got down to the lido itself.
[Extract from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruislip_Lido)
Ruislip Lido is a Victorian reservoir with an artificial sand beach, surrounded
by woodlands through which runs the Ruislip Lido Railway, a miniature 12" gauge
railway with diesel and steam locomotives. Ruislip Lido was established as a
reservoir to feed the Grand Union Canal by damming and flooding the lower part
of the valley between Park Wood and Copse Wood, including the hamlet of Park
Hearn. Work began in 1811; the reservoir began feeding the Canal in 1816.
The kids went on the 'beach' and played on the climbing frames and the other things. On the water were some lovely swans. But my gosh they were BIG. We let them play for a while before we decided that rather than take the route round to the 'Water's Edge' we would take the miniature railway. A family single ticket was only £6.00 which in today’s climate a really good deal. When we alighted at the end of the line, we discovered we'd mislaid the book and directions. Junior was really upset as it was his book, understandably so. but it took the shine off the day for him and he had a rather miserable afternoon from there on in. We located one of the boards on route and managed to work our way back.
The walk back took an unfortunate turn when we ended up between (3) and (4). The maps had all said the path bears to the left. And NOT once had it done so. But we ae a resourceful and are made of better things. We just walked the whole bridleway back to Ducks Hill Road and before we got to the road we turned left and walk in line with the road.
It was along here that Little MissT really blotted her copybook. The Good lady Wife was ahead of us all, when she spied a young deer in the woodland. It was just about 15 feet from the path just sitting there, quietly she put her arms out to stop us all but Little MissT decided to race past making a noise which startled the deer that then rushed off and out of sight.
Heading along the path we then got accross the road and into the car park and Started our trip home.
Despite everything it was a nice walk, and maybe we could take another go at it sometime.
Lessons learnt:
Take a copy of your map/directions.
