Onwards to Little Venice - boats, supermarkets and a wharf

Monday, 08 August 2011 07:02

The Paddington Arm of the Grand Union has many contrasts. One pleasant area is Horsenden Hill; some hilly parkland and a golf course are on the north bank.

The permit moorings here are in demand with a variety of boats

However, as the main railway line closes in so do the buildings, flats and industry ......

Shopping is easy as Sainsburys has two waterside locations, with moorings - Alperton (also has visitor moorings) and Kensal Green

Alperton Sainsburys near Ealing Road Bridge 11

Graffiti is endemic, some more attractive than others

At Ealing Bridge

Another elegant footbridge has been built at Alperton - it is quite photogenic, I think.

Metal footbridge - more difficult to deface

The canal is carried over the busy North Circular Road on a large aqueduct - as usual we knew where we would rather be as we saw the queues. This is the second aqueduct here; it also crosses the River Brent. The crests on the pillars are interesting - is there a royal connection?

North Circular Aqueduct, looking back

The canal now cuts through Acton. The moorings here before Acton Lane Bridge (9) look OK, despite the narrowboat chaos in the photo!

Acton Lane Moorings

Old Oak Wharf has changed - when we were here last it had just been developed. However, now these walls have been erected by Powerday, a recycling firm.

Old Oak Wharf

There was an idea back in 2006/7 that this development would help revive canal freight but I suspect that one of the 90 foot barges that potentially could be loaded here have never had a sniff of the wharf. Halfie's blog from last September explains more.

This is a good idea for bike storage on a small mooring

Now we were approaching Kensal Green - the famous cemetery is on the north bank with some permit and visitor moorings on the towpath side under the shadow of the gasometer.

Moorings under the gasometer skeleton

There are some unusual floating homes in the area; here is a selection:

We were not far from Little Venice now and "posh" areas of North London like Maida Vale and St John's Wood. The railway was very close and Western Avenue overhangs the canal.

The Grand Union pub hugs the bank at Bridge 4

Harrow Road Bridge (3) heralds the beginning of the long stretch of moorings leading to Little Venice

The canoeists were enjoying themselves

You may have noticed the green weed on the canal - so far it had not been too bad, but we were in for a shock soon ......