Grand Union Canal – Langley to West Drayton

The first Saturday in November, and we are intending to do a waterside walk from Langley on the Elizabeth Line to West Drayton, two stops away. Arriving at Langley, I saw Jill V. in the next carriage about to leave the train. At the station exit we then met Eileen, Lynne, Louise, Madeleine and Richard who had arrived earlier. The weather was a bit foggy and chilly as we started off, but I confidently predicted it would soon improve.

We walked to the road, where some workmen were resurfacing the road, with the lovely smell of hot tar in the air, and quickly reached the bridge over the canal, where we turned right to join the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal, heading towards London. We walked along the canal, passing boats moored on the opposite bank.

The canal and the footpath were both very quiet, with just a few other walkers and cyclists using it, and the occasional duck on the canal. The mist quickly disappeared as we headed along the towpath, with the odd low branch trying to catch out tall people like me. After a couple of miles, we passed under the M25 motorway and soon came to an aqueduct carrying the canal over the Colne Brook, and then another over the River Colne.

Soon after this we turned off the canal crossing over it on a metal footbridge to follow a footpath to Little Britain Lake, so called because its shape looks like a mini version of Britain, although Devon and Cornwall do appear to have been missed out! Maybe one day, someone will extend that section of the lake.

We turned left, crossing over the River Colne, before turning right to follow the London Loop through woodland with the Colne flowing gently on our right. Reaching a small weir, we stopped briefly before continuing through the woodland, with the yellowing and fallen leaves giving the woodland a very soft autumnal look.

Eventually, we reached a surprisingly busy minor road and turned right to Cowley, crossing over the Grand Union Canal and then turning right to join the canal by the Malt Shovel pub, where we had a drinks and lunch stop at the canal side benches. By now, the weather had warmed considerably and we even had some sunshine.

After lunch, we continued along the canal heading south, past our only lock, Cowley Lock, and followed the towpath passing the point where the Slough Arm of the canal, which we walked along at first, joins or departs from the main Grand Union Canal. We continued along the canal and soon reached West Drayton where we left the canal and caught the train back home.

The walk had been about 5 miles long and the vast majority had been next to water, either the canal or the River Colne, and even the weather had been good despite a foggy start. Well done to everyone who came and made it so enjoyable.

Trev Eley,  10th November 2026