TheGreatGatsby <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> Does anyone know of a good Safe route to Richmond from North London that wont take three hours -
> and possibly doesnt include going over Hanger Lane?
I go through Harrow on my way from Watford to Twickenham. The route I take is along the A312 through
South Harrow, bearing left just past Northolt Park station, up the short sharp hill and right at the
big roundabout onto Hill Road. Straight on to Northolt tube station and immediately afterwards turn
left through Northolt Village thus avoiding the Target Roundabout on the A40. It's theoretically a
quiet road but watch out for speeding rat runners.
You come out at the end of Ealing Road and have to cross the pavement to get onto Kensington Road
and pass under the A40. Amazingly you will also see motorists doing this in either direction and
squeezing past the post that's meant to prevent them.
At the roundabout turn left onto Ruislip Road and, 200 yards further, right onto Allenby Road. Just
after Allenby primary school turn left onto Dormers Wells Lane, which brings you out onto Uxbridge
Road. Again both Allenby Road and Dormers Wells Lane are made a little more hazardous than they
should be by speeding motorists, so take care.
Turn left onto Uxbridge Road where you can ride in the bus lane to the Iron Bridge where you want to
go right. There is no legal right turn but you can either do what most cyclists do and cross at the
pedestrian lights or do what I do and run 200 yards further to make a vehicular-style traffic light
controlled U turn back to Windmill Lane.
On Windmill Lane stay on the left to go through a width restriction and over a hump back bridge over
the Grand Union canal. A few yards further on take the first exit at the mini-roundabout. This is
the B454 and is still Windmill Lane. There will be houses on your right and fields on your left.
There is a very theoretical 30 mph limit here. This section lasts about 2 miles and passes under the
M4. This section absurdly becomes national speed limit for a stretch of about 300 yards. After the
M4 go left at the mini-roundabout (Seccombe's Yard), and you will arrive at Gillette Corner on the
A4. Get into the middle lane early as the nearside lane is filtered left.
Go straight across the A4 past the distinctive Homebase and Comet stores, down the hill, across the
next junction and immediately bear left onto Park Road. You pass West Middx. Hospital on your right
and head down to the river. You go through Old Isleworth and come out at a roundabout where you stay
on the left to run parallel to the river up Richmond Road, which becomes St. Margarets Road and then
brings you out on the A316. Turn left here, cross the river at Twickenham Bridge and you are 2
minutes from Richmond town centre. You can use the cycle path beside the A316 if you are so minded.
Should be about 40 minutes worth at a comfortable pace.
--
Dave...