The London Loop: reaching the outer limit - Stage 12

Uxbridge to West Harefield 5 miles (8 km)

Trail landmarks:

• Denham Lock and Country Park - picking up the towpath again from The Swan and Bottle in Uxbridge, this stage follows the Grand Union Canal once again. The walking is again tranquil, the surroundings more bucolic with the occasional canal boat moored alongside and several footbridges to zig zag back and forth over the canal. Half a mile on, a path diverges to allow a roam around the Denham Country Park but sticking to the canal, Fran's Tea Garden can be found at Denham Lock.

• Denham Quarry and Frays Valley Nature Reserve - crossing the stone footbridge brings the trail into the Nature reserve, now made up of four large lakes, formerly gravel pits. The home to much waterfowl, the lakes also provide recreational opportunities in the form of sailing and fishing but not swimming. A long straight compressed gravel drive provides easy walking until rejoining the canal path and passing under the viaduct, the trail swings away perhaps unnecessarily, from the canal skirting the Marina, to reach Moorhall road in South Harefield via a sheltered wooded leafy path.

• Black Jack's lock - returning to the Grand Union Canal via the road bridge at the Bear on the Barge with accompanying lock, the towpath progresses further into the picturesque countryside to eventually arrive at Jack's Lock. A quaint stone and timber mill house, now listed and a weekend cafe, is the perfect stop to break for a picnic before reaching the end of this stage.

• West Harefield - leaving and paying farewell to the Grand Union Canal by crossing over Coppermill Bridge, the dog friendly Coy Carp pub to one side, this leg of the trail is brought to a close at West Harefieldand and the transition from waterside to open field walking.