Seventeen set off on a sunny day, perfect for walking. However, it wasn't long before the walk designer led people off the designated route through the park towards the canal. He spurned a perfectly serviceable footbridge and we started heading back towards our start point, an odd manoueuvre which nevertheless worked well since we picked up some late starters coming towards us. After another encounter with the M4 flyover we found we had to cross the canal on a narrow and slippery lock gate, which we just about managed to achieve though not without some alarms.

A long stretch on the canal towpath thankfully discouraged any further deviations and eventually we encountered another walker, bringing our number up to 21. After a circuit around Warren Farm a few locals wistfully pointed out our proximity to The Fox, but the walk notes told us to press on for a long circuit around the outskirts of Southall where the whole population was celebrating an Indian festival. A tricky crossing of a golf course with few waymarkers finally got us to Brent Lodge Park where about ten of us made straight for the café. A few went inside to order food but the majority brazenly spread out their own provisions on its terrace, watched keenly by some gargantuan pigeons and beady-eyed jackdaws who pounced on any scraps.

After this refreshment break I wandered off to dutifully explore the maze and admire the viaduct and somehow lost contact with the rest of the group - were they lost in the maze or simply doing an extended tour of the park? At any rate I did the return leg solo, with one minor slip where I foolishly followed a direction to exit Elthorne Park at the "far left-hand corner" and then had to endure an unnecessarily long stretch along a main road (my fault for being distracted by a red kite and not checking the map). But I was relieved that my complicated journey with multiple tubes and trains worked smoothly, in both directions.

All in all a worthwhile walk which deserves some more outings when the minor discrepancies between the text and GPS route are ironed out.

Four more headed into the maze after the cafe; one headed off before the last found their way to the centre. So that left three of us to walk back to Boston Manor together - we thought most others must have visited the Fox. One headed for the tube while the other two walked though Blondin Park, admiring the walk author's photo society exhibition, before a drink in the Plough at Northfields and for me, a tortuous bus journey home.

Agree a few things need to be ironed out between the directions and GPX, but a nice day for an surprisingly green walk given the urban setting.

On behalf of Sally ...

To add to Sean and Sandy’s reports… Among the highlights of this enjoyable walk in good company and near-perfect weather conditions (fresh and sunny) were autumn colours, the three bridges, a Sikh festival where we sampled a warm sweet nutty milk drink, a lunchtime cafe with excellent carrot cake, a maze, a mini-drama while crossing a narrow lockgate, a pint at the welcoming Fox in Hanwell and an outdoor photographic exhibition that included a photo of apples by our very own walk author. Well done (and pip pip!) to Robin, and thanks for a grand day. Sally