Start : Startops End car park, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LJ. Grid ref: SP 919 141
(S/E) Go through the gate at the far end of the car park. Stay on the wide path between the canal and reservoir to a path junction at the top by the Startops End reservoir (A).
(1) Turn left and follow the canal for over 1km to its junction with the Wendover Arm at Marsworth Top Lock.
(2) Cross the footbridge and turn immediately left at the bottom. Go back under the footbridge and proceed along the left-hand side of the Wendover Arm (C). After 1km, go through a gate and up to a road bridge.
(3) Taking care, turn right over the bridge and immediately left to continue along the right-hand side of the canal for 1km to Little Tring Bridge. Just before the bridge, the path narrows to pass behind the historic Tringford Pumping Station (D). Bear right up to a road at Little Tring Bridge. Turn right downhill to the access track for the pumping station.
(4) Do not turn right but continue straight ahead between a hedge and fence on a path that runs parallel to the road. At a path junction, bear left to the road and turn right along it for a few metres. Cross the road onto a wide footpath and go past a gate. Follow the canal bank for 600m to a bridge. Have a look at the dedication plaques on the supporting structure.
(5) Go back a few paces, turn left through a gate in the hedgerow and follow the path down to the bottom. Turn right on a wide path and, at the end of the wood, turn left to reach the bank of Wilstone Reservoir (E). Walk straight along the top of the bank for 450m and look carefully for a set of steps that drop down to the right. Take them, go through the gate at the bottom and bear left across the corner of a field. Go through the next gate, cross a footbridge and follow the path ahead. Where the path forks take the left fork to a road.
(6) Cross into Tring Road and continue past the sign to Wilstone village (F). Just after the entrance to New Road, turn right through a gate and bear diagonally left across the field. Pass through the gate in the corner and turn left through another gate to enter New Road. Walk along the pavement to the War Memorial.
(7) Turn right along Rosebarn Lane and continue ahead as it becomes a surfaced path. Where the path bears to the left, stay in the same direction on a wide grassy track. Pass the allotments on the left, follow the field edge round to the left and go through a gap in the hedgerow on the right. Walk straight across the field and down a set of steps to reach the Aylesbury Arm (G) of the Grand Union Canal.
(8) Turn right along the towpath. Go under two road bridges and pass five sets of locks to reach the junction with the Grand Union Canal. Follow the towpath round to the right and stay on it to climb up to a road. Cross it and walk along the towpath to some steps on the right. Go down these to return to the car park. (S/E)
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