Recommend checking before setting off. The Central Line was not working at all this morning, Saturday, and remains disrupted.

If central line is difficult you can travel to Ealing Broadway via the Elizabeth line and catch the 297 bus from outside the station forecourt to Perivale- runs every 15 mins a journey time of 11 mins. Perivale wood advance tickets have sold out online however but hopefully will sell tickets at the gate later in the afternoon. Bluebells are late flowering this year so I’m not too optimistic about their presence.

7am : Central Line showing as “good service” now but check again if you want.

8 assembled at the station (trains running fine) and 1 more met on the way to the canal. It was a mix of cloudy and sunny A lot of the morning was flat. There were wet bits, there were muddy bits and nearing lunch a climb up steps to the top of Ealing’s loftiest peak, where we met a 10 th walker. Then down we went, down the other side of the hill, down, down, down and into the Ballot Box. It is bookings only for food on Sunday. Two had and got food. Others disappeared into a park with their sammies. Drink was consumed. After lunch, there was a split between those who had tickets and those who didn’t - they’d sold out. There was a queue to get in and practically a queue all the way round. Plenty of people., mostly local families. It was a pleasant visit, with cheery volunteers shepherding us round the well designated trail. And the blue bells? Certainly plenty of them, generating more than a few oohs and ahs. They could do with another week though. There is another Open day on Thursday and next Sat.

By the time the tea room was reached, Mr Tiger had almost cheered up and, in a rare moment of generosity, offered to buy a cake for the person who had bought him a cider.

Then he forgot it wasn’t his and ate it. A blotty book copied.

I haven't walked this but would suspect that some stretches may be muddy and/or pathless and/or unlit. Come prepared.

I was greeted by a local SWCer who started conversation by saying it was a mad idea to post this walk in winter and darkness, what with mud and not being able to see paths and roaming wolves and bears (not quite). I though had my friend, the moon, on my side, who despite the cloud cover provided enough refracted light - together with the urban glow - so that we only ever deployed our headtorches for occasionally reading the directions or looking at the plenty info panels and maps en route.

The towing path along the canal was still relatively busy with cyclists and occasional walkers, the meadows then were indeed a bit sodden but the muddy paths could be avoided by walking on the grass to their side.

The paths up onto the hill were mostly hardcore or low-mud gravel/earth. Fine views were had from the top plateau, of Heathrow and out to Harrow-on-the-Hill, before we descended to the pub. The last bit before the road by the pub then was the only proper mini-mudfest. After a drink or two, we followed the tarmac path and pavement back to the tube. Local man had to admit that it wasn't that bad at all as a winter walk. And there seemed to be enough other interesting paths to make it a slightly longer route for spring/summer perhaps.

2 in mild weather.

Perhaps drop 'self-led' as it sounds cold? Re-phrase to add warmth as we want to attract, not repel, so these evening walks tempt more than a few hardened regulars. Thank you. I really appreciate you putting them on to take advantage of longer evenings. Cheers.