The London Loop is a walking route of 150 miles length around the outer boundaries of London split into 24 sections. See tfl.gov.uk /modes/walking/loop-walk for more details. Inner London Ramblers now produces updated guides to the walk.
I last walked this leg of the loop in 2019 but it wasn't blogged here. This is one of the longest to get to with the slowish tube service to Uxbridge then a bus to get to the start in Harefield.
The walk starts near the Harefield West bus stop where I arrived around 11.30am after a good but rather lengthy journey from home. From there it was a short walk along Summerhouse Lane. The Long Room originally belonged to the owner of the Copper Mill but is now houses several IT companies.
Coppermill Lock and the Hillingdon Narrowboats Association. Then I turned off the lane into footpaths through Park Wood.
Park Wood is quite pleasant, half way along there is a bridge over a stream though that was totally dry.
The path leads past the Hill House allotments which all looked rather neglected. It emerges on Hill End road with the entrance to the allotments and a small group of houses adjacent to Harefield Care Home.
The walk now goes over farmland with a sequence of styles, some more walker friendly than others and some in a state of disrepair.
The last style is reached and passed then the path continues to reach the Rose and Crown.
Across the road and another pleasant path leading to panaromic views of the Hertfordshire countryside.
Bishops Wood Country Park is reached and at first the path is fairly distinct, leading to a bridge over a stream, again with very little water.
After a short while the path leaves the stream but then becomes somewhat indistinct. At first I missed the all important fingerpost, overshot and got lost for a while, had to make my way back to the bridge and retrace my steps until I found it. A few more easy to see fingerposts followed. The path became increasingly muddy.
It emerges on Batchworth Heath with its large pond. Ye Olde Greene Man pub stands here and I stopped for a pleasant lunch. Once nourished I continued, passing the nearby Prince of Wales. The Inner London Ramblers guide suggested 'not recommended for walkers' - it seems to have a shady reputation.
Along the busy A404 is a white coal tax post hidden in the bushes. Then woodland is entered again.
Coming out of the woods the Moor Park estate is reached, a private estate with very expensive houses. Afterwards comes the end of section 13 where I broke off and headed off down more woodland to Moor Park tube station where I caught the train back to Waterloo and home.