WATFORD TO KINGS LANGLEY, Grand Union Canal
Anglers cooking their own freshly caught fish over a campfire, with locally
picked blackberries to follow, can be seen within the sight of the M25 on this
intriguing canal walk. The meal could even be washed down with elderberry
wine, as this fruit grows right under the M25 flyover by the canal. The close
proximity of the busy motorway and the natural wild is intriguing, but it does
not extend to crocodiles! The sign "Beware Crocodiles, No Swimming" by one
of the lock keepers' cottages is indeed a joke. Other less humorous signs warn of
waterborne diseases and fines for those caught risking a dip. The authors did
indeed observe canal anglers cooking their own fish on a fire in the woods,
foxes on the snowy hillside, and longboat dwellers warming by a logfire in the
icy conditions, all near the motorway.
WILDLIFE
Chubb and pike can be caught in the canal. Ducks, moorhens, and swans are
common, and there are 46 different species of breeding birds in Cassiobury
Nature Reserve (see Places of Interest).Foxes, and deer roam. Woodlands line
much of the canal and there are many ancient trees in Whippenell Woods (see
Places of Interest).Blackberries, elderberry, holly and ivy can all be gathered.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Cassiobury Nature Reserve, Watford. The latest of the 46 bird species to be
spotted is a raven. Others include red kites, buzzards and kestrels. There are also
water cress beds, muntjac deer, herons, kingfishers, butterflies, bats, dragon
flies, alder and oak trees.
Whippendell Woods. This ancient woodland (dating back to 1672) is popular
for filming, many scenes from the Star Wars films being shot here, along with
television episodes of Silent Witness and Holby City. Watford football players
were also made to run through the woods by legendary manager Graham
Taylor. There are oak, beech, silver birch, ash, hazel, holly, hawthorn, wild
cherry, and spectacular bluebells (which are best viewed in the last week of
April and the first week of May).
All Saints Church, Kings Langley. Built during the 14th century on the site of
an earlier church. The body of King Richard II was buried here.
HISTORICAL CHARACTERS
King Richard II (1367-1400) was buried at All Saints Church in Kings Langley
for 13 years before being reinterred in Westminster. He came to the throne at
the age of ten and was only 14 when he had to deal with the Peasants' Revolt of
1381. He did this by promising their leaders (Wat Tyler, Jack Straw, and John
Ball) that he would grant the peasants freedom from serfdom, then betrayed
them and had them executed. He got his comeuppance when falling out with the
lords and being forced to abdicate in September 1399 in return for a promise
that his life would be spared. This promise was worth as much as the one he had
made to the peasants and, after a spell in the Tower of London he was
transferred to Pontefract Castle where he died in February 1400 after probably
being starved to death (or according to Shakespeare more directly murdered).
He was buried without state in Kings Langley church on March 6.
Two un-named workers who were killed when constructing the nearby Gade
Valley Trunk Sewer in 1970 are commemorated by a plaque by the canal just
before it goes under the main M25 motorway (not the earlier 162C bridge under
the motorway exit to Watford).
PUBS
Rose & Crown, High Street (Church Lane junction), Kings Langley. A food pub
that sells gourmet burgers.
Saracens Head, 47 High Street, Kings Langley. A 16th century coaching inn
with real ales recommended by CAMRA.
One Crown, 156 High Street, Watford. An old fashioned pub, again
recommended by CAMRA.
ROUTE
Distance: About three and a half to four miles.
Start: Watford underground station (Metropolitan Line).
Directions: Turn right out of station into Cassiobury Park Avenue, then first left
into Shepherds Road, which takes you into Cassiobury Park. Inside the park
take the path to the left, then left again to Cassiobury nature reserve. Go straight
ahead, over a bridge over the River Gade, and a few yards further across a
bridge over the Grand Union Canal. Whippendell Woods are ahead, and the
walk along the canal is to the right. When you reach bridge number 158 turn left
off the canal, and left into Water Lane which is in Kings Langley. Here you can
get (infrequent) R8 or R9 buses to Watford. Otherwise continue along Water
Lane, until it becomes Church Lane, follow it past All Saints Church, then right
into the High Street. After a pub stop get the 500 or 501 bus to Watford town
centre. Walk down Watford High Street (past the One Crown) to Watford High
Street station (London Overground) for trains to Euston.