Batchworth Lake and the Grand Union Canal Circular Walk

Batchworth Lake and the Grand Union Canal Circular Walk is a 3.3 mile loop trail located near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching.

Length3.3 miElevation gain282 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (6)

Getting There

A circular walk from Rickmansworth's Aquadrome running alongside the local waterways. Covering 100 acres, the Aquadrome Local Nature Reserve consists of lakes, grassland and woodland and is an ideal place for walks. The walk heads out along a stretch of the Grand Union Canal before turning to run alongside the railway to reach Rickmansworth town centre and on through the Aquadrome Local Nature Reserve to reach the start point. Throughout the walk you'll enjoy a real mix of waterside environments, from bustling towpaths with locks and colourful narrow boats, to peaceful rivers with plenty of wildlife and also the busy water activity centre with sailing and water skiing on show. The walk is almost entirely flat throughout and there are no gates or stiles. The surfaces are a mixture of well made tarmac and stone paths and woodland dirt tracks, the latter of which can be muddy after wet weather (and can also be a little overgrown). There are toilets and a cafe near the car park. Approximate time 1.5 hours.

Start to Batchworth Lock

Leave the Aquadrome car park in between the two information boards and turn right along the minor road. Continue ahead alongside the vehicle gate to join the tarmac footpath which runs alongside the main access road. As you reach the humped bridge in the road, fork left onto the stone narrow footpath heading for the canal towpath. Turn left onto the canal towpath. Continue until you pass under a wide road bridge and you will reach Batchworth Lock a few paces later.

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Batchworth Lock to Lot Mead Lock

Go up the wide slope and cross the narrow bridge (signed Albert's Garden) to reach the towpath running in between the two branches of the canal. Continue ahead with the canal on your right. The Grand Union Canal runs from Brentford on the River Thames to Birmingham. Its main line is 137 miles long with 166 locks. At this section where it runs south of Rickmansworth it merges with the Rivers Chess, Colne and Gade. Eventually you will reach the next lock, Lot Mead Lock Number 80, with white cottages on the left.

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Lot Mead Lock to High Steet

Turn left between the two white cottages heading away from the canal on Public Footpath 30, signed to the High Street. Follow the fenced stone track with the hedgeline to the left and open fields and the rail line over to the right. Follow the track ahead and then as it bends left running parallel with tall trees and the rail line on the right. After just a few yards you will reach a cross roads with the entrance to Croxley Hall Farm on the left and a bridge over the railway to the right. Go straight ahead, but make sure you take the right hand of the two paths ahead - the left hand one is a private drive but the right hand one through the arch of trees is the fenced footpath running directly alongside the rail line. Follow this path for some distance, ignoring any smaller turns to the left and right. The path emerges out to continue on Caravan Lane running alongside a new housing development on the left. Continue until you reach the T-junction with the High Street ahead.

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High Steet to The Bury

Turn left onto the High Street and continue until you reach the cross roads with traffic lights. There has been a settlement here since the Stone Age. The convergence of the three rivers (Chess, Colne and Gade) at this point has been the basis for a range of industries over the years including corn milling, silk weaving, paper making and brewing. Today, the waterways are used mainly for recreation and the town is largely a commuter town. Turn left into Church Street and then use the pedestrian crossing to cross to the right hand side of the road. A little further on, turn right into Bury Lane. As Bury Lane bends hard right, look out for a sign on the left to The Bury through a brick gateway.

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The Bury to River Colne

Turn left between the brick columns and then immediately fork right onto a grass/dirt path heading through a row of sycamore trees. Keep close to the right hand hedge boundary and follow this as it swings left to reach a footbridge over a pretty stream. Cross over the footbridge and then immediately turn diagonally left onto the narrow mud footpath. Follow this as it winds through the small area of woodland. You will emerge to a pedestrian crossing over the road ahead. Cross over and then turn right along the pavement. After just a few yards, as the fence on the left ends, turn left down the footpath. Ahead you will reach a wooden footbridge across the River Colne.

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River Colne to End

Cross over the bridge and turn right onto the towpath. Continue over the wrought iron bridge and then turn immediately right and keep right at the fork signed Batchworth Lake Circular Walk. Follow this well made tarmac track with Batchworth Lake to the left and the River Colne to the right. You are now once again in the Aquadrome Local Nature Reserve which comprises 100 acres of lakes, woodland and grassland. The lakes are formed from old gravel pits and some gravel from the site was used in the construction of the original Wembley Stadium in 1923. Continue following the lakeside path, passing the waterski centre on the right. A little distance later, you will reach a three way junction. Turn left here signed to the cafe, car park and toilets. At the next junction keep straight ahead on the wide tarmac track with Bury Lake on the right hand side. Continue ahead to reach the car park.

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The walk starts from the Aquadrome car park in Rickmansworth which is marked with brown signs. The car park is accessed from Frogmoor Lane off Harefield Road. Approximate post code WD3 1NB. If you are travelling by train, Rickmansworth rail and tube station is just a five minute walk from the junction of High Street and Church Street (within section four of the walk) and so the walk can be adjusted to start and finish here.

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (40)

Photos (82)

Recordings (30)

Completed (77)

Amanda Robinson

December 5, 2020

WalkingBugsMuddy

Nice walk although a bit muddy in places and quite busy on paths near the car park. A lot of canal towpath with not a huge amount of differing views but nice and flat and easy going. Locks were interesting near the weir

David Wood

December 5, 2020

Hiking

Easy walking with varied scenery. A little boggy in places and busy around the aquadrome.

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MD •

November 22, 2020

Hiking

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Rory O'Connor

November 13, 2020

Hiking

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Laura Parker

November 9, 2020

Walking

Enjoyable trail, perfect directions and lots to see on the route. Recommend for anyone after a lockdown stroll where you pass some local shops and cafes to get a snack and a coffee on the way.

Arron Rafiq

November 5, 2020

WalkingGreat!Muddy

Quaint walk along with the Grand Union

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Orhideja Relic

October 24, 2020

Walking

Easy trail, perfect for Sunday after lunch walk. Only one thing I notice it is not 5.3 km but more like 6.5km

Vitor Freitas

October 10, 2020

Hiking

Easy and nice walk !

Ming Wang

September 24, 2020

Hiking

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Charlotte Minvielle

September 9, 2020

WalkingGreat!

Lovely easy walk with a variety of lake, canal, and field :) Rickmansworth is cute too.

Ami Ross

September 6, 2020

Hiking

Nice walk, not overly scenic but a good quick walk.

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Adam Low

August 31, 2020

Walking

Easy walk with the family, a little crowded at the Aquadrome and a good amount of dogs but otherwise we enjoyed it a lot.

Paula Pardoe

August 23, 2020

Walking

Nice and flat, interesting scenery, canal, lake and woodland paths. Stopped in the Coach and Horses in Rickmansworth High Street for lunch. Massive garden and table service. Great food too.

Ascot Kitagawa

August 23, 2020

HikingGreat!

Beautiful scenery with lakes and canal. Flat paths and suitable for everyone. Cafes and Tesco are available.

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Charlie Jones

August 23, 2020

Hiking

Lovely for kids as flat and good surfaces. enjoyed the canal section especially but there were more residential roads than expected. Would come again. Toilets, cafe, and car park great.

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Laura James

December 29, 2019

Hiking

Lovely and varied walk. We especially enjoyed the canal section. Only negative is the long section between the railway line and the playing field which feels very hemmed in.

Hugh Vickers

July 18, 2019

Hiking

Top notch

Aviv Gilad

July 12, 2019

Hiking

very nice walk with grate view of the lakes and canal.

Wendy Reynolds

May 28, 2019

Hiking

Stunning trail - totally privileged to have seen swans and geese showing of their brood of signets and goslings - the wild flowers and trees along side the canal and lakes just breathtaking. Nice easy trail that can be enjoyed by young and old alike - beautiful!

View Wendy's Recording