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.
Section 10 follows the Crane north of the A30 as it heads through Cranford Park then along the Grand Union canal into Hayes. Today my friend Mike joined me.
Having caught the bus from Feltham we arrived at Hatton Cross around 10.15am. Today the big jets were landing from the east so we had a short period of aircraft spotting before heading along the A30 and picking up the Crane where I had left off the previous week. The Crane is mostly out of site and full of reeds and the first part looked very neglected.
Along the Cranebank section of the river (to the left) then across a playing field.
After another pleasant path the route leaves the river for a while through some suburban streets to reach the busy A4 Bath Road. This is followed for a short while before turning off into Berkley Meadows.
The pleasant Berkley Meadows and then a rare glimpse of the Crane.
After walking along the narrow Cranford Lane a stretch of woodland is reached. The signage was a little confusing here but eventually we found the right route beside the river which took us into Cranford Country Park.
Inside the park was an archaeological dig where volunteers were exploring the old manor house and its ice house. Then the now unused children's play area.
The ha-ha was built around the 18th century manor house. An information board told us about the park and its history.
A major redevelopment project of the park is nearing completion. The new information centre and cafe, not yet open. The church of St Dunstan well hidden behind trees.
The restored stable block. Then under the M4 through a subway built during the building of the motorway to allow the parishioners of St Dunstan's to reach their church.
North of the motorway, with the traffic noise slowly reducing, the route continues through Cranford Park by the Crane, now having been joined by the Hillingdon Trail.A huge brick built telephone exchange appears.
The path emerges by a busy road junction which has to be negotiated and a dual carriageway walked along to eventually reach the Grand Union canal which is followed into Hayes. When I last walked this section the old Nescafe factory was being demolished and this area has now been replaced with modern business units and flats
We ended section 10 at Hayes and Harlington station where we caught the 90 bus back to Feltham then lunched in the Wetherspoons there before heading home after a pleasant if slightly shorter than usual walk.