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.
Google map of the walk Download GPX file of the walk
I did this roughly 14.8 mile circular walk on Sunday, 30th December 2012. This was a new route for me, although most of it was on familiar paths with only three short sections that I'd not described on this web site before (two of these were entirely new, the first such section around Tring reservoirsMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonthink I may have walked long beforeMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonstarted this web site). Because of all the rain we've had over the last 10 days or so,Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonchose to do a triangular walk where two sides were besides reservoirs or canals (where the paths were at least partially surfaced and therefore less muddy than elsewhere).
I parked in a side street in Marsworth and started walking about 9.40am.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonfollowed the main road through the village and crossed the Grand Union Canal on the footbridge next to the road bridge.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonwas disappointed to see that the White Lion pub next to the canal was obviously closed, with all the windows boarded up - it's so sad that so many country pubs are closing nowadays. Still, at least the Angler's Rest (about a hundred yards further up the road) looked as if it was still in business.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltoncrossed over the road and walked into the Pay and Display car park for the Tring Reservoirs, turning right and going up an embankment to reach Startop's End Reservoir.Marsworth, Tring Station, Halton followed the edge of the reservoir southwest, parallel to the road, then continued along the embankment as it turned left.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonsaw some Tufted Ducks, Coots and Canada Geese on the reservoir, and a man thatMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonpassed had some binoculars and was clearly out bird watching (the reservoirs are a local hot spot for this activity). In the next corner of the reservoir the path ended at a minor road.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltoncrossed over, and continued beside the northern end of Tringford Reservoir. When the path round this reservoir turned left,Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltontook a branching path going straight on along the edge of an empty paddock to reach a lane. A short distance to the leftMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltoncame to a T-junction whereMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonturned left. After two or three hundred yardsMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltontook a familiar path on the right, which soon joined the tow path along the dry middle section of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal (see here for a description of a walk along the length of this branch of the canal, whichMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltondid in June 2009).
Startop's End Reservoir
Tringford Reservoir
The lane, near Tringford
In fact, after all the recent rain the 'dry' section wasn't that dry, with huge puddles filling a considerable distance of the canal.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonfollowed the tow path, with the canal on my left. SoonMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonwas passing close to Wilstone Reservoir (the largest of the four Tring Reservoirs) over to my right. A lady held her dog by its collar as we met, and she explained that the dog was friendly but apparently had a thing about people carry maps!Marsworth, Tring Station, Halton passed a wooden bridge carrying a footpath over the canal, and a little further onMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonwas pleased to come across a section of the canal that was being restored. I then came to a section that was restored recently (it was being restored when I did that walk in 2009) - the vegetation has already fully recovered and if I'd not known there was nothing to indicate that the canal hadn't always looked this way. AsMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonpassed under the bridge at Drayton Beauchamp,Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltontook my camera out of it's case to take a photo - asMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltondid so,Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonunwittingly put my left foot in a pothole in the surfaced path here and went over on my left ankle.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonjust managed to stop myself from tumbling into the canal, and fortunately there was no damage done to my ankle.
The 'dry' section of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal
The 'dry' section of the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal
A section of the canal currently being restored
This next section was restored recently
The Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal, from under the bridge at Drayton Beauchamp
I soon passed close to Drayton Beauchamp church, up above the embankment on my right. A little further onMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonpassed under the modern bridge carrying the A41 dual carriageway. Shortly after, the towpath went right for a few yards before turning left to resume its generally south-westward direction and soon reaching Bucklandwharf. HereMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonhad to cross the old A41 heading into Aston Clinton, and on the other side of the road the towpath resumed on the opposite side of the canal.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonnow had fields sloping up on my left to the road to Halton and Wendover thatMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonuse on so many of my walks in the Chilterns. This section ended at Wellonhead bridge, beyond which there were tall trees either side of the canal.
Just past the A41 bridge over the canal
The Wendover Arm approaching Bucklandwharf
The canal approaching the former A31 at Bucklandwharf
Approaching Wellonhead Bridge, south of Aston Clinton and Buckland
So far I'd only met a few people coming the other way, but now there were a couple walking just ahead of me. WhenMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltoncaught up with them they kindly stepped aside to let me pass.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonpassed Harelane Bridge, and soonMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonwas passing the extensive playing fields of RAF Halton on my left.Marsworth, Tring Station, Haltonthen passed under an impressive blue bridge and a little further onMarsworth, Tring Station, Haltonleft the canal at a road bridge in the village of Halton.
The canal just beyond Wellonhead Bridge
The canal continuing towards Halton
The canal continuing towards Halton
The canal passing the playing field of RAF Halton
Approaching Halton (the road bridge where I left the canal is visible below the blue bridge)