Tring Reservoirs Wild Walk
Stroll along the waterside and look for waterbirds on this gentle 13km walk. Starting at Tring railway station, it takes in College Lake nature reserve, a section of the Grand Union Canal and three reservoirs.
A
Aldbury walk
posted on 13/08/21 by BBOWT. Last update : 23/06/22
Description
(S/E) From Tring train station follow Station Road, which is lined on both sides with large horse chestnut trees, then on to High Street into the town centre.
(1) Turn right on to Church Yard beside the church, keeping the church on your left. Follow the walled alley right then left. Take the footpath across the park, then beside the brick wall, past the housing estate, then beside the ditch. Follow the footpath with the ditch on your right over one estate road Silk Mill Way, then cross the ditch at the next road to follow the right hand bank. Cross the B488 on the edge of town to join the canal on your left.
(2) Turn left following the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal to Little Tring Bridge. Turn right onto the road and follow this for 100 metres, then turn right onto the track to Tringford pumping station. Take the footpath before the station, following the left hand footpath beside the edge of Tringford Reservoir for 200 metres to the bird hide.
(3) Continue on the footpath over the dam wall, then turn right at the road, following the pavement for 150 metres, before turning left onto the footpath between Marsworth and Startop’s End Reservoirs. The reservoirs are managed by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and the Friends of Tring Reservoirs. Turn right at the canal, following the towpath to the road.
(4) Turn left onto the road, for 400 metres to College Lake Nature Reserve. Take care as there is no pavement along this busy road. Take the road back to the canal. Turn left into the towpath.
(5) Follow the towpath to the road bridge, continuing on the footpath above the canal along the field edge to Station Road. Turn left for the train station or right for Tring town centre and Tring train station. (S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 129 m - Station Road
- 1 : km 2.84 - alt. 137 m - Church Yard
- 2 : km 4.47 - alt. 120 m - Grand Union Canal
- 3 : km 5.44 - alt. 118 m - Dam wall
- 4 : km 7.81 - alt. 123 m - College Lake Nature Reserve
- 5 : km 8.16 - alt. 125 m - Road bridge
- S/E : km 10.81 - alt. 129 m - Station Road
Useful Information
Start : Tring train station Postcode: HP23 5QR. Grid ref: SP 951 122. To start the walk from Tring train station, allow an extra 1.5 hours
By train : check www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times
By bus: Check www.traveline.info for information about local buses.
By car: There is parking at Tring train station, in Tring town centre and limited parking at Water Works at Dancersend
By bike: There is cycle storage at Tring train station
- There is an additional 2-mile wildlife walk around College Lake
- There is a café at the visitor centre at College Lake, check www.bbowt.org.uk/nature-reserves/college-lake for opening times
Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.
During the walk or to do/see around
College Lake Nature Reserve
This former chalk quarry has been restored to create a variety of habitats, now brimming with wildlife. Open water and marsh provide feeding, roosting and breeding areas for numerous waterbirds such as common tern, lapwing and other seasonal visitors.
Accessible bird hides provide comfortable viewing of this bird activity and stunning panoramic views over the site. In summer, the islands are home to lapwing and redshank. Their chicks feed on the damp, muddy fringes. The grassy margins, full of colourful flowers, buzz with insects and the song of skylark and meadow pipit. Developing scrub and young plantations provide shelter for visiting warblers, such as chiffchaff and willow warbler, in spring and summer.
The site offers a glimpse of rare cornfield weeds such as pheasant’s eye, weasel’s snout, cornflower and field
cow-wheat during June and July. There are also displays of fascinating fossils uncovered during the quarry excavation and old farm machinery. The Wildlife Walk around the reserve takes in most of these features.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
BBOWT relies on the support of our members to help us look after local wildlife. By joining BBOWT you can help to secure the future of special landscapes like College Lake.
