West Drayton to Windsor

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This is the sixth stage of the multi-day route "Railways and Waterways, between Oxford and London".

A varied walk across an aqueduct on a quiet branch of the canal, then following a cycleway to the Jubilee River, where a footpath crosses the playing fields of Eton College to the historic towns of Eton and Windsor and the Thames Path.

This is a short stage allowing plenty of time for a stroll along the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park and/or to sample the tourist attractions of Windsor with its royal connections.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Railways and Waterways, between Oxford and London

Details

n°100296743
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.69 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 39 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 49 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 125 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 56 ft
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Photos

Bridge over Jubilee River
Jubilee River
Eton college Grounds
Little Britain Lake

Description of the walk

Start: West Drayton Station (TQ 060 801)

(S) From the railway station, pass the bus station, turn right over the bridge and right again to reach the canal towpath.

(1) Turn right under the bridge, and follow the canal to the next bridge.

(2) Go up the steps and cross the canal. Keep ahead at the Grand Union Canal sign. Cross a waterway, then turn right.

(3) Turn left on the Colne Valley Trail and the Beeches Way. Continue to the junction with the Slough Arm of the canal.

(4) Go down the steps to the towpath with the canal on your right. An aqueduct crosses the River Colne and another the Colne Brook. Go under the M25 and pass a business park, a caravan park and Iver Golf Club. After another half mile, cycleway 61 crosses the canal.

(5) Turn left and cross the railway on cycleway 61. As the cycleway veers left, keep ahead on the fenced path. At the road, turn left towards the church and left again through the churchyard. Regain the cycleway.

(6) Cross the road at the traffic lights. Keep ahead, crossing two roads.

(7) Cross the busy A4 at the traffic lights. Cross the minor road and continue through the wooded area to a path junction.

(8) Turn right towards Slough. Follow the cycleway for another mile to a junction by the rugby clubhouse.

(9) Turn left by the clubhouse, then right, until you reach a four-way junction.

(10) Turn left to the bridge over the motorway. Cross the next road at the traffic lights and continue round to the right on a residential road. Keep ahead.

(11) Turn left on cycleway 61 and cross the bridge over the Jubilee River, built to ease flooding in Maidenhead. Leave cycleway 61 and continue ahead over the playing fields of Eton. Cross the road and continue with the River Thames now on the left.

(12) At the ‘no public right of way’ sign, turn right on a path to the road. Turn left into Eton with its colleges and many historic buildings and keep ahead to the Thames Path sign just before the bridge.

(13) Cross the bridge and the Riverside Station is on the left. Keep ahead and go round the castle for the Central Station.(E)

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 105 ft - West Drayton station
  2. 1 : mi 0.14 - alt. 105 ft - Towpath - Turn right
  3. 2 : mi 0.38 - alt. 98 ft - Cross the canal
  4. 3 : mi 0.58 - alt. 89 ft - Colne Valley Trail and the Beeches Way - Left
  5. 4 : mi 1.05 - alt. 102 ft - Slough Arm of the canal - Follow to the left
  6. 5 : mi 3.77 - alt. 102 ft - Leaving the canal
  7. 6 : mi 4.15 - alt. 98 ft - Rejoin the cycleway - Turn right
  8. 7 : mi 4.69 - alt. 85 ft - A4 - Cross at lights
  9. 8 : mi 5 - alt. 79 ft - Path junction - Turn right
  10. 9 : mi 6.02 - alt. 72 ft - Junction by the rugby clubhouse - Turn left
  11. 10 : mi 6.54 - alt. 66 ft - Four-way junction and motorway bridge - left
  12. 11 : mi 6.91 - alt. 72 ft - Cycleway 61 - Turn left
  13. 12 : mi 7.54 - alt. 69 ft - ‘no public right of way’ sign - Turn right
  14. 13 : mi 8.31 - alt. 72 ft - Thames Path sign - Cross the bridge
  15. E : mi 8.69 - alt. 95 ft - Windsor Central station

Notes

Travel Information:

  • Start: West Drayton Station is on the Elizabeth Line, which stops at all stations between Reading and Abbey Wood.
  • Finish: Windsor Central Station. Trains to Slough. Change to Elizabeth Line trains for all stations between Reading, Paddington and Abbey Wood. Great Western trains provide a fast service to Paddington and Reading. There are trains to London Waterloo from Riverside Station.

OS Explorer Map

160

Grid References

  • Start TQ 060 801
  • Finish SU 966 769

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