Grand Union Canal Social Route
Overview – Distance: 55 km, Climbing: 60 m
Café stop – The Malt Shovel pub Cowley
The Social Group decided to explore the Grand Union canal. It’s full history is on Wikipedia but the stretch starting from Brentford was built between 1793 and 1805. At Social Group pace it takes about an hour to get to Brentford from Hampton Court, via Bushy Park, Twickenham, Isleworth and Syon Park.
The towpath is a good surface the whole distance we went, which was about 14 miles up the canal past Hanwell Norwood, the Paddington Arm to Cowley Peachey Junction. The canal begins to climb the valley of the River Colne into the adjoining town of Uxbridge. We passed 5 Ducks. Ducks are the symbol on the canal map for nature reserves. As it’s a towpath, you see lots of boats, narrow otherwise, in a range of different conditions, but you are totally unaware of that you are in London. However, the presentation of the boats improves as you get out of London!
We stopped at the canal side Malt Shovel pub at Cowley for lunch. Time constraints dictated we turn back at this point, so we had a down hill run back to Brentford. Mostly. From Brentford, down Syon Lane, Isleworth and over Richmond Bridge to return to Surrey.
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