PERIVALE Central Line (West Ruislip)




There are four separate things to do/see from Perivale! wetland area, hill walk, rescued church, canal walk.







1) Paradise Fields .This is a wetland area with ponds (the largest having a viewing platform) and wildflower meadows. From the station turn right and continue walking for about ten minutes along suburban Horsenden Road South towards the trees of Horsenden Hill. Just before the stone bridge go through a wooden gate on the right and down to the Grand Union canal towpath (slope). Turn left and walk along the towpath for about ten minutes until you see a pretty wooden footbridge. Just before the bridge is an information post with some suggestions for short walks. Some of the detours may not be suitable for buggies etc. as they are through a field, but there is a gravel path for much of the way. The sound of Western Avenue is not too intrusive, though it is very close.

2) Horsenden Hill. Instead of turning off before the stone canal bridge at Perivale go over it, take the right hand fork and follow the Capital Ring signs up the rough tracks of Horsenden Hill. There are wide views of six counties from the ‘summit’ (279ft). On a clear day you can see as far as Windsor Castle and the Chilterns. From archaeological finds it is known that Stone Age and Iron Age people knew this hill, which is scheduled as an Ancient Monument. Now it is popular with employees of nearby hi-tech businesses who enjoy a break in country surroundings during their lunch hour. (I mention this just in case you are puzzled or even worried by the unexpected presence of peacefully wandering males in such an apparently remote place!) You may also encounter some equally peaceful wanderers in the shape of British White and Gloucester cattle which graze on the hillside in the summer. If you do see these docile animals please keep dogs and children under control. Should you lose your bearings, any one of a number of small paths to the east will bring you down to the cycle track (which runs parallel to Horsenden Road North) - in itself a pleasant tree-lined walk. This leads back to the stone canal bridge and Horsenden Road South where you began. Alternatively you can continue to the end of the woodland at Whitton Drive (see map) and walk to Sudbury Town Tube station (about 10 minutes) At the end of Whitton Drive cross to Allendale Road and continue past some shops and over the railway bridge. Cross over to Station Crescent to get to the Tube. Note: Horsenden Hill is steep enough to cause problems for anyone with walking problems and is not suitable for buggies etc.


3) Rescued Church. St. Mary’s is worth a quick visit for lovers of unusual churches as it makes a pair with Greenford (see that entry for Holy Cross). Nestling among the trees and surrounded by a golf course it has a distinctly rural feel considering it is only 10 minutes (rather horrid) walk from Perivale station. The church dates back to the twelfth century and is tiny with a delightful sixteenth century wooden bellcote and sundial dated 1818. During the hundreds of years when Perivale was a tiny parish the fact that St. Mary’s could only accommodate about 70 people did not matter. However, after the huge expansion of the area in the 1930’s following the building of Western Avenue and its associated factories, plus housing estates, St. Mary’s was clearly too small. A larger church was built elsewhere and the old church was effectively cut-off from the newly populated area to the north – so much so that in 1972 it was declared redundant. Happily it was rescued from dereliction by the Friends of St. Mary’s Perivale and is now both a consecrated church and flourishing arts centre. To get to the church cross the road outside the Tube station and follow Horsenden Lane South until Western Avenue. Cross this very major road by the long pedestrian bridge (a slope, no steps). As you come off the bridge go left and walk down Old Church Road. At the end cross Perivale Lane towards a lych gate half-hidden under trees slightly to the left.

4)Canal walk The final option is to walk to the stone canal bridge and go down to the towpath as described above, but in this instance turn right along the towpath. This eventually takes you to Alperton Tube station (about half an hour). For further details see the Alperton entry.

MAP

Perivale is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!


© DR2007