Rickmansworth (environs)

I discussed the town centre previously, let us venture slightly further afield.

Rickmansworth (Ricky) lies in the Colne Valley - well one of them. There are at least three in England. This one runs from around junction 23 on the M25 to junction 13, where it flows into the Thames. 

The canal follows the Colne much of that way, but heads north beside the River Gade just above Ricky.

The valley is awash with lakes of various sizes. Many of them, possibly all, were previously gravel pits, but are now used for various leisure activities or as nature reserves. The section from just below Ricky to the Thames is Colne Valley Regional Park, and the part of that closest to Ricky is the "Aquadrome".

The Aquadrome

The Aquadrome is southwest of the town centre, downriver from Ricky, and comprises Batchworth Lake and Bury Lake.

The area is well-known for herons - I saw several - but other birds too, including cormorants, which I would have thought would prefer more coastal sites.


The River Colne skirts the north side of the Aquadrome, the canal the south side. This is the point where they diverge. The canal runs from left to right beyond the bridge - which would have been the towpath - while the Colne is flowing towards you. The building in the background is Tescos, which has a wharf for canal-using customers.


The first lake from this direction is Batchworth Lake, which is designated for water skiing and fishing. Vaguely visible in the distance is the hut belonging to the local water ski club.


Bury Lake is designated for sailing. Consequently the building in the far distance in this photo belongs to the local sailing club.


You can see some interesting birds on the lakes. no idea what these ducks are, but they are not mallards.


There is a pleasant, if expensive, café on Bury Lake.


This is Stockers Lake, designated as a nature reserve.


The lake was used in an episode of the Goodies in the mid-seventies, and I remember watching the filming (briefly anyway).

There is a great playground for kids too, which my mother used to call the "rec", and I understood to mean "wreak" for many years before realising it was short for recreation ground.

A viaduct is being built across the Colne Valley about 4 km south of Ricky for HS2. It just skims the most southwesterly part of Hertfordshire by about 300 m.


East of Ricky

There is a pleasant walk heading east from Ricky, from Batchworth Lock. This is the point where the River Chess joins the Colne, and we follow upstream a short distance to the course of the railway from Ricky to Watford, now called the Ebury Way. The River Chess has been canalised for a short distance, including a lock, to where there was a wharf connecting to the railway - or rather, the railway connected to the wharf, the railway was built later. It is now a marina.

The old railway bridge over the river is still usable for pedestrians, and marks the start of Ebury Way. There are other reminders of its previous use along the way.



On the left, at some distance, Croxley Great Barn can be seen, built ca. 1400 and owned originally by a monastery.


There are, as usual for the area, lakes in abundance.


The path crosses the canal.


And passes under the Metropolitan Line.


Under the bridge is a mural depicting George Michael, who was local to the area.


Ebury Way passes a light industrial park, which is on the right; at one time part of the site was a small asbestos factory served by the railway.

About 400 m after the bridge, we turn left, and cross Croxley Common Moor. Croxley is between Ricky and Watford (arguably part of Ricky). This is the view looking southwest, back towards the railway.


Looking northeast; the tall building on the horizon will be in Watford.


The common is bounded to the north and west by the River Gade.


And the canal is just beyond the river.


From here, we walk the towpath back to the start. This is a view looking back, at where the Metropolitan Line crosses the canal.


In the distance, just beyond the bridge, a boat is floating free, and pretty much blocking the whole canal.

Looking the other way, the old railway bridge, which we walked across earlier.


.And finally back at Batchworth Lock.








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