Willow Tree Wander

1. From North Harrow station (Metropolitan line), walk along Imperial Drive after turning right under the bridge, then pass the shops and turn right into Northumberland Road.
2. About 300 metres on the left, enter Yeading Brook Open Space which is a formal park with mown grass and exotic trees.
3. Follow the path as it crosses the Ridgeway footpath and the brook at several points.
4. Leave the park, cross Rayners Lane with care and enter a small nature conservation area. Here is an unusual 'fairytale' style of bridge.'
5. Cross Whittington Way, turn left and then right at the roundabout into Church Avenue.
6. Walk along the tree-lined avenue until you reach the end and enter an opening. Continue through a gateway and turn left after crossing the footbridge.
7. Continue through the open parkland area along either bank of the brook until you reach Village Way. Cross Village Way, turn right and walk along the road until you reach the junction with Cannon Lane.
8. Turn left, walk over the railway line , enter through the park gates and continue ahead passing a children's play area. Cross the bridge and turn immediately right to rejoin the brook.
9. Keep walking along the bank of the brook where a rich variety of flowers, shrubs and trees can be found. Follow the brook until you reach the miniature golf course.
10. Go across the brook, turn left and follow the path beside the brook until you reach Field End Road. From here it is possible to join the River Pinn Walk 1.5 miles to the north.
11. Cross the road and walk through the metal kissing gate with the brook on the right. Continue to follow the brook past a children's play area until reaching Queens Walk.
12. Cross Queens Walk into the greens and continue with the brook on the right until you meet Victoria Road. Cross Victoria Road and continue walking with the brook on your left.
13. Walk through Bridgewater Road Open Space along a surfaced path, past a play area with the brook still on the right. Continue past the footbridge and leave the surfaced path.
14. At next footbridge, cross the brook and turn left, with the brook on the left. Follow the brook until it goes under the rail embankment, and  continue to the gate.
15. Leave the open space, turn left along West End Road, go under the rail bridge and continue until you reach the pelican crossing. Here is Ruislip Gardens Station (Central and Marylebone line).
16. Cross at the pelican crossing and turn right. Immediately after, turn left to rejoin the path beside the brook - this is called Coronation Walk. Walk through an area of planted beds and enter Stafford Road Open Space. 

17. After 250 metres, leave the surfaced path and continue with the brook on the left. Here the walk passes behind RAF Northolt, which is used by the Air Force, the Royal Family and visiting heads of state.
18. The walk then passes through fields and hedgerows, which give an impression of what many local areas were like at the turn of the last century. 
19. Continue through some trees and enter Ickenham Marsh - a local nature reserve managed by the Hillingdon Group of the London Wildlife Trust.
20. Follow the brook to the bridge where the Willow Tree Wander joins the Hillingdon Trail.
21. At the bridge, leave the brook and follow the worn track for 100 metres, then join Austins Lane - an ancient highway with the typical ditches, banks and variety of trees in the hedgerows.
22. At the made-up highway, following the Hillingdon Trail, Austins Lane continues ahead to High Road Ickenham.
23. Turn left into Glebe Avenue - Ickenham Station (Metropolitan line) is 700 metres away and ends our walk. Another 200 metres along Glebe Avenue is Long Lane, with pubs, shops, cafe, toilets and buses.

This walk was developed in partnership with Harrow Council, the Environment Agency, the Ramblers' Association and local residents.