Pete's Walks - Beeches Way
If you are considering walking this route yourself, please see my disclaimer. You may also like to see these notes about the maps and GPX files.
Day 2 18/06/09 Stoke Common to West Drayton (8.9 miles each way)
Parked beside road at Stoke Common.
I set off from home at exactly 9am, and using the motorway route (M1, M25, M40) reached Stoke Common in about 45 minutes, so I was off walking by about 9.50am. It was quite sunny as I started out, though it would be rather grey and dull for must of the walk. I first had to walk about a quarter of a mile through the common [1] to reach the path junction where I had turned round on my previous walk [2]. I had my camera ready, hoping for a sight of the Roe Deer which I'd failed to photograph last time because of 'operator error' with my camera. I had no joy there, nor did I spot any heathland plants (though I did see some more Tormentil here when I came back).
[1] Stoke Common
[2] Where I rejoined the Beeches Way
[3] Stoke Common, path though Silver Birch trees
I turned left when I reached the path junction, continuing in the same north-easterly direction I'd been on when I turned round last time. The wide track soon left the large open area of new growth I'd been walking through, and entered woodland. I soon came to another junction, where I forked right onto a narrower path through the trees (mainly silver birch) [3]. At the next junction, I turned left on a wider track and soon reached a minor road on the edge of the common. I followed the road to the right - as well as numerous rhododendron bushes either side, I also spotted some Small Balsam and Welsh Poppies here.
I soon reached a T-junction, where I turned left and went downhill into the attractive village of Fulmer (I'd driven through it earlier) [4]. Just past the attractive brick-built church [5], I turned right on a path that was initially alongside a stream on my left, the Alderbourne. I passed a farm and stud complex on my right - the leaflet stresses the need to keep to the waymarked route here and also warns not to walk between foals and their mothers, though this seemed unnecessary now as the clear path ran through what were now hay meadows (presumably they were paddocks when the leaflet was written). The hay had just been cut and lay in rows along the meadows [6]. Overhead I saw a Red Kite being harassed by a couple of crows. Beyond the second hay meadow, the Beeches Way ran gently uphill across a large pasture (it appeared empty now, but there were a few bullocks here when I came back).
[4] Fulmer
[5] Fulmer church
[6] Hay meadows, near Fulmer
The path now continued between fences, the one on the right a property boundary and covered in green matting, with rhododendrons and other greenery to my left. I crossed a private drive and continued through a green tunnel between rhododendrons [7] to reach another such drive after a further 100 yards or so. I turned right, and followed the drive for about a quarter of a mile, passing the entrances to a number of large exclusive residences amongst the rhododendrons. I noticed some lovely Fox-and-cubs growing outside one house. At the end of the drive, I turned left along a minor road for a hundred yards or so, then went right at a junction. This road ran between lines of fairly young oak trees either side [8]. After a few hundred yards, I turned left and entered Black Park Country Park.
[7] Rhododendron tunnel near Fulmer
[8] Road near Black Park Country Park
[9] Black Park Country Park
The narrow path [9] led through trees for a fairly short distance to meet a wide gravel track, where I turned right [10]. Soon there was a row of beech trees on my right, with a corn field beyond. Near where the field ended, I turned left onto a similar broad and gravelly path, re-entering the woods [11]. I soon came to a fairly recently cleared area on my right, and as I did so I immediately spotted something brown in the young growth. I stopped, with a convenient bush between me and what I hoped was a deer, and crept forward. Peering round the bush, I saw that it was indeed a Roe Deer, about a hundred yards away - I couldn't believe my luck! I took a few shots with my camera, then crept a bit further along the path (well, it was gravel, so I crunched rather than crept!). I managed to get some more shots from behind another bush, at about the closest point on the path to the deer. When I then went on my way, as quietly as I could, the Roe Deer just sauntered off into the trees - it seemed in no hurry, so either it still hadn't noticed me or the deer here are very used to people.
I was delighted to finally get some photos of a Roe Deer, especially after my self-inflicted camera problem when I saw one on my last walk. It's very embarrassing that I've been mistaking Chinese Water Deer for Roe Deer. I am very familiar with Fallow and Muntjac Deer (and I used to see Red Deer occasionally when I lived in Suffolk) so when I saw deer that were bigger than Muntjac but much smaller than Fallow, I just assumed they must be the only other common deer, Roe Deer. The flaw with my logic was that I just happen to live in probably the only part of the country where Chinese Water Deer are far more prevalent than Roe Deer!
[10] Black Park Country Park
[11] Black Park Country Park
[12] The lake at Black Park Country Park
I turned half-right at the next path junction I came to, and continued along pleasantly through the woods. As elsewhere, there were lots of Foxgloves about and I also saw some Honeysuckle here. Eventually this path turned right, alongside a large lake on my left (I'd see a drake Mandarin duck by the lake when I came back in the afternoon). The tree-lined lake made an attractive scene [12], and was obviously popular with dog-walkers, model boat enthusiasts and other locals. I followed the path beside the lake, turning left at the bottom of the lake (where I saw my first Meadow Cranesbill of the summer) and then left again, to reach the cafe and visitor centre for the country park. Here the Beeches Way goes right, following another gravelly track through the pleasant woods. I managed to get my best shot yet of a Carrion Crow, the bird unusually allowing me to get within 20-30 feet or so. I was impressed with Black Park Country Park - on my way back I briefly chatted to a Ranger here, who mentioned an area of heath with several ponds. With the extensive woods and lake as well, it must be a wonderful local amenity, with interesting and diverse habitat for wildlife.
At the end of the track, I left the country park and carefully crossed the busy A412 dual carriageway (making use of the wide central reservation). On the far side, I should have entered Langley Park Country Park, but tape blocked the way and a sign said the path was temporarily closed because of work going on. So I had to take a slight diversion, going a few yards to my left and turning right down a minor road. After a few hundred yards I reached a car park for the country park, where I was able to rejoin the route of the Beeches Way. It continued southwards on a broad grass avenue, with giant redwood trees either side [13] - quite impressive, but a little unnatural as these are not native trees. There was at least one fine old oak tree here too, though. The grey squirrels here are clearly used to people, they allowed me to get much closer than I normally do.
[13] Langley Park Country Park
[14] Bellwood Lane
[15] Path from Bellwood Lane to Love Green
At the end of the avenue, I turned left, passing the impressive house of Treal Farm on my right, patrolled by guard dogs which barked loudly when I passed by here again in the afternoon. I continued eastwards along Bellwood Lane [14], with paddocks and orchards either side. At its end, I crossed a busy minor road and continued along a footpath, at first through bushes and trees and then alongside more paddocks [15], with some waste ground further on on the right. Two small terriers barked at me at the end of the path, in the hamlet of Love Green, where I turned right for a few yards then went left along Love Green Lane. I immediately spotted a mass of what looked like giant buttercups on the left - I later had them properly identified as Greater Spearwort. Further on along the lane [16] I came across another flower that was new to me, though from the fact that some of it was about 9 feet high I quickly realised it must be Giant Hogweed.
[16] Love Green Lane
[17] Coppins Lane
[18] Path near Iver
I turned right at the end of the lane - this minor road into Iver was quite busy, but there was a pavement beside it. I soon turned left into Coppins Lane [17], which soon deteriorated into a bridleway. There was lots of Red Campion along here, as well as the almost ubiquitous Herb Robert. Wood Avens too, another plant I'm seeing frequently at the moment, and some Nipplewort, which I saw in several places today. On my return in the afternoon, I also spotted a tiny moth here, the very common Nettle-tap. I next turned right, following a fence-line southwards between two rather overgrown meadows, with some dilapidated farm buildings over to my right [18]. The path then joined a private drive, passing some expensive properties and a nursery on the left. It ended in the centre of Iver [19, 20], near a road junction and the Swan public house.
I took the road opposite, then took the second turning on the left. I soon reached the edge of the village, and then went over a footbridge over the M25 motorway. On the other side, I followed a cement drive past a large sewage works. I then went over another footbridge, this time over the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal [21]. On the far side I turned left by a landfill or recycling area (I saw some Black Horehound and Hedge Mustard here) and joined the towpath along the canal. I saw both White and Yellow Water-lilies along here, with Common Blue Damselflies often resting on the lily pads.
[19] Iver church
[20] Iver
[21] Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Shortly after passing a World War II pill-box, I reached a bridge over the canal [22], where I turned right, following a path that was clearly once a railway line [23]. I was now in the Colne Valley (I saw signs for the Colne Valley Way, not to be confused with the Ver-Colne Valley Walk that I did recently). There was a lake to the right of the path, one of several hereabouts, presumably former gravel pits. Up to this point, the Beeches Way had been well sign-posted, but now for the last few hundred yards I had to rely solely on the map. The path ended by an industrial area, and I had to follow a road round to the right and through a residential area. I crossed a bridge over the river Colne, where I saw Water Crowfoot and Himalayan Balsam growing. I then went over a second bridge and turned right along the main branch of the Grand Union Canal. Within a quarter of a mile I reached the bridge that marks the end of the Beeches Way [24]. I went up and had a quick look at Yiewsley High Street, which crosses the bridge, then turned round and started to head back to Stoke Common. Rather worryingly, the walk had taken just over three hours so far, though I had taken a large number of photos, which always slows me down.
[22]Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal
[23] The old railway line
[24] Bridge over the Grand Union Canal, West Drayton
There was nowhere really convenient for me to stop for lunch, and to be honest I just wanted to get away from the built-up areas as quickly as possible. I had a couple of cereal bars to keep me going, and eventually had lunch at the entrance to Langley Park Country Park about 2.25pm, possibly the latest lunch of any of my walks. I got back to my car about 4pm, having walked for six hours. I was going to use the motorway route home, but when I crossed the M25 I saw the eastbound carriageway was blocked so I turned round and took the scenic route home again, through Beaconsfield, Amersham and Wendover.
My friend Tim Bertuchi had warned me that the last few miles of the Beeches Way were rather dull, which confirmed what I'd supposed from looking at the route on my map. This walk was really good for the first few miles, as far as Langley Park Country Park, but I have to admit I wasn't too impressed with it after that. I just don't like walking through built-up areas, and actually feel more uncomfortable the closer I get to London. The route was well-planned, in that it kept to green corridors where possible, but I was always conscious that I was approaching a large city .The short section beside the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal was quite pleasant, but the rest of the second half of the walk was rather uninspiring. Having said that though, in terms of wildlife it was a brilliant day for me - Roe Deer, a Mandarin Duck, seven new types of wildflower and a new moth!