Still Waters - Self Guided

Walkwell maps have been developed by Sports Development and Hammersmith & Fulham Urban Studies Centre (HFUSC) using a team of community volunteers to research and develop the walks and accompanying information including a description of the route, photographs, a map and eight points of historical and environmental interest.
You can download pdf versions of self-guided Walkwell routes and away you go.

Why walk?
70% of adult men and women do not take enough exercise to benefit their health. This increases the risks of many types of ill health.

Walking is the best way for people of all ages to become more active. It requires no equipment of expense and can be built into your everyday routine. You can start slowly and build up gently. If you can only walk for a couple of minutes and then need to rest, that's OK. Where you start from isn't important - it's where you're going that counts!

Regular walking can improve your:

confidence
stamina
energy
weight control
life expectancy

It can reduce the risk of:

coronary heart disease / strokes
diabetes
high blood pressure
bowel cancer
Alzheimer's disease
osteoporosis / arthritis
anxiety / stress

Although this path is paved, it is unfriendly to wheelchairs and heavy buggies due to steep slopes and some steps.

From the bus stop outside Sainsbury’s car park, enter the open air bus station. Turn right into the covered walkway which leads to the Sainsbury’s store. Keeping the store on your left and Starbucks on your right, turn left on reaching the Grand Union Canal. The path goes over a steep humped back bridge (with a hand rail), where special care needs to be taken in wet or icy conditions.
From the summit of the bridge, there is a good view across the canal to the two cemeteries - St. Mary’s and Kensal Green. On the curve of the canal, notice two ‘horse escapes’. At various points along the route, brightly painted narrow boats are moored both sides of the canal. Passing by Kensal Green gasworks continue along the path to the Canal Gasworks Nature Conservation Area.

There is an optional detour with picnic tables and a bench at the top. The walk continues to Mitre Bridge where there are access steps to Scrubs Lane and buses. The next feature along the path is the Old Oak Common Sidings Nature Area which can be accessed by two sets of descending timber steps. The picnic area is located within a group of silver birch trees. Further along, there is a narrow footbridge leading to the Gateway Industrial Estate. Continue to Old Oak Lane bridge where there is an option to leave the route or retrace your steps