July Evening Walk: King's Langley
Along the towpath
On a sweltering July evening a baker's dozen of hardy ramblers, including the very vivacious 10-month-old Connie Fitzpatrick, set off from Kings Langley for a gentle ramble across the western Ridge above the Grand Union Canal.
We passed through pleasant shady woodland before skirting Shendish Manor, a grandiose manor house from the mid 19th C built by the proprietors of a nearby papermaking factory, the industry for which this area was famous. We headed downhill and across the golf course, after Peter, showing his Green credentials, had turned off a water tap gushing at full pelt. The Victorian St Mary's Church built by the same papermaking industry magnate lies at the foot of the estate and across another Victorian institution, the railway line.
Sainsbury's car park displays patronage of more recent history but happily lead us to the canal towpath which nowadays shows only derelict vestiges of the papermaking industry which was its life blood. Many tasteful housing developments and a marina now line the canal and at Apsley Lock, Maggie particularly commended the vegetarian restaurant as being worth further investigation.
We were tempted to make a stop at the Paper Mill (actually a public house) where merry laughter filled the air, but continued past flooded gravel pits and fisheries where the evening eventually felt a little cooler. There is a very fine railway viaduct at this point solidly constructed from a huge wall of Victorian brickwork. Runners and cyclists were amicably sharing the tow path with us along this stretch. As the raised section of the M25 came into view - a wonder of more modern engineering - and Julian found himself perilously close to an early start at work, we turned back towards Kings Langley and a welcome drink at the Saracens.
Thank you all for your company. Jane
We passed through pleasant shady woodland before skirting Shendish Manor, a grandiose manor house from the mid 19th C built by the proprietors of a nearby papermaking factory, the industry for which this area was famous. We headed downhill and across the golf course, after Peter, showing his Green credentials, had turned off a water tap gushing at full pelt. The Victorian St Mary's Church built by the same papermaking industry magnate lies at the foot of the estate and across another Victorian institution, the railway line.
Sainsbury's car park displays patronage of more recent history but happily lead us to the canal towpath which nowadays shows only derelict vestiges of the papermaking industry which was its life blood. Many tasteful housing developments and a marina now line the canal and at Apsley Lock, Maggie particularly commended the vegetarian restaurant as being worth further investigation.
We were tempted to make a stop at the Paper Mill (actually a public house) where merry laughter filled the air, but continued past flooded gravel pits and fisheries where the evening eventually felt a little cooler. There is a very fine railway viaduct at this point solidly constructed from a huge wall of Victorian brickwork. Runners and cyclists were amicably sharing the tow path with us along this stretch. As the raised section of the M25 came into view - a wonder of more modern engineering - and Julian found himself perilously close to an early start at work, we turned back towards Kings Langley and a welcome drink at the Saracens.
Thank you all for your company. Jane
Posh marina developments have replaced traditional paper-making
