Leaf Peeping on the Beeches Way (Langley to Cookham)
Train: 9:30 AM Elizabeth Line Maidenhead bound train from London Paddington, arriving Langley at 9:59AM. Return trains from Cookham are at XX:14....Buy a day return to Cookham. Note -- the Elizabeth Line is not running across London today -- so you will need to catch the train a Paddington!
Distance: 13.7 miles/22 km
Difficulty: 3 out 0f 10
This is a map-led option based on the West Drayton to Cookham stretch of the Beeches Way (a well sign posted long distance path). This walk should provide some nice tree colour -- assuming some leaves are left on the branches..... Despite the length, you should safely arrive in Cookham in daylight. The walking is level and generally on good paths. For more information on the walk and the GPX file, see here.
There are several refreshment stops along the way from which to choose.....please see the walk notes page....including a few options in Cookham.
1 comment:
It was just like old times, getting the Elizabeth Line from the main station platforms at Paddington and having to get to the station by Tube. We were a happy crew on the train and alighted at Langley (home of the CIA…) to hook up with a couple of others who had got the train ten minutes earlier: so n=13 in all, plus small dog.
We set off in w=mist-and-grey-cloud (the Scottish word for this is “dreich”). There were bits and pieces of colour on the beeches and sweet chestnuts, golden showers on the birches, but basically autumn is winding down. A pity there wasn’t sunshine to highlight it all.
Group cohesion was good. We had a newbie in our midst and I had to explain to him how abnormal this all was - waiting for people to emerge from the loo at Langley, stopping by the lake to let others in the group catch up. When we got to the Foresters pub, the sandwichers forgot to bolt off after their lunch and instead joined us for a drink. All very unusual.
Nine of us ate at the pub, adding the same number to its lunchtime clientele (ie we were the only customers). Three joined us for drinks. I think I mocked this pub’s “tempura cod” (with chips and mushy peas….) on a previous visit, but actually this time I really appreciated it. There were definitely subtle twists to the batter, with hints of curry flavour. Some who had other dishes muttered about small portion sizes.
I hear two (including one who did not come to the pub) got a bus from this point. That left eleven on the afternoon leg. Rather neatly we got to the edges of Cookham at 4.15, just as the light was fading.
Two went straight for the 5.14 train (even though it was not due for an hour). My stomach was all prepped for a nice tea and cake at the Costa by the station when the others all diverted into the Ferry Inn. It turned out to do big pots of tea. Others had wine and entered with great gusto into a long and detailed conversation about dental procedures - implants, bridges, extractions. As someone blessed by chance with trouble-free gnashers, I had no idea such things were the source of such delight and enthusiasm.
One left to get the 5.14 train, but the remaining seven (and small dog) stayed to get the 6.14. This whisked us very neatly back to the bright lights, despite a tight three (actually five) minute connection at Maidenhead.
Post a Comment