Nice one, Karl. Yes, the scenery is beautiful along that towpath. I haven't been up there for quite a few years - 13 probably - and the canal doesn't look much different to back then. I know it's a volunteer/charity effort to restore this stretch and it will take some time. Of course, there are no locks on the Wendover Arm - the canal follows the lay of the land. Hence you have that quirky bend at Little Tring where you had to turn your bike around to get back on the towpath. The Wendover Arm was originally a 'flowing' canal - water from the Chiltern chalk streams came in and kept the main canal topped up. I could be wrong though. Then the reservoirs were constructed and the inflow was diverted to fill them, with water being pumped back uphill to feed the canal. Again, I could be wrong. Early on, the Wendover Arm was leaking badly where it is banked up to the west of Little Tring. I think they tried patching it but to no avail. A sump and pipework were installed which enabled water to continue to flow into the main canal, thus bypassing the leaky bit. So, Chiltern water was arriving into the Wendover Arm at Wendover, being diverted into the reservoir, then pumped up to feed the arm and then got diverted underground to pop up to the east of Little Tring to keep the Grand Union topped up. I dunno, I could be wrong. Keep 'em coming, Karl ... 👍
Thank you I have been looking forward to this video. I remember the overhanging bshes on the Wendiver arm and how tight it is. I liked seeing the views again over the vale from the canal near the end of your video. I must get back up there soon.
The demise of the White Lion pub was awful. I remember sitting in that beer garden as a kid. Lovely Summer evening with friends, watching the carp being fed.
Thanks for posting this. I went along there last year and, just past the pumping station (actually, the bit where you said you might have gone wrong) ,the canal was completely closed so I had to turn back. I'm glad it's open again but it's too muddy for me right now! At least I now know it's back open. Oh, okay...edited to say that I now see you couldn't get past, either! Silly me!
@alicejwho That section at Little Tring has always been closed as it's totally filled in with rubbish. That will be strange to see it opened up whenever they get that far. Yeah, definitely too muddy now!
@KarlVaughan in fact, thinking back, the last time I recall it being open was 2009! Time goes do fast...ugh! Thanks for posting as I had no idea we could continue the journey with a small diversion.
It's ok - I'm used to it. The Wendover Arm is much better than it used to be and is improving as time goes on, thanks to the efforts of the Wendover Arm Trust who are doing a great job. In the second part you will see how good the towpath is from Halton to Wendover. There is plenty of space along there. There needs to be space there too as more people use that bit.
Nice one, Karl. Yes, the scenery is beautiful along that towpath. I haven't been up there for quite a few years - 13 probably - and the canal doesn't look much different to back then. I know it's a volunteer/charity effort to restore this stretch and it will take some time. Of course, there are no locks on the Wendover Arm - the canal follows the lay of the land. Hence you have that quirky bend at Little Tring where you had to turn your bike around to get back on the towpath.
The Wendover Arm was originally a 'flowing' canal - water from the Chiltern chalk streams came in and kept the main canal topped up. I could be wrong though. Then the reservoirs were constructed and the inflow was diverted to fill them, with water being pumped back uphill to feed the canal. Again, I could be wrong. Early on, the Wendover Arm was leaking badly where it is banked up to the west of Little Tring. I think they tried patching it but to no avail. A sump and pipework were installed which enabled water to continue to flow into the main canal, thus bypassing the leaky bit. So, Chiltern water was arriving into the Wendover Arm at Wendover, being diverted into the reservoir, then pumped up to feed the arm and then got diverted underground to pop up to the east of Little Tring to keep the Grand Union topped up. I dunno, I could be wrong.
Keep 'em coming, Karl ... 👍
Thank you I have been looking forward to this video. I remember the overhanging bshes on the Wendiver arm and how tight it is. I liked seeing the views again over the vale from the canal near the end of your video. I must get back up there soon.
One of my favourite walks! Except it would be a walk, definitely not on a bike!! Well done getting past the pump house!
It was hard enough running that section a few years ago, let alone attempting on a bike. Well done! :)😀
The demise of the White Lion pub was awful.
I remember sitting in that beer garden as a kid. Lovely Summer evening with friends, watching the carp being fed.
Thanks for posting this. I went along there last year and, just past the pumping station (actually, the bit where you said you might have gone wrong) ,the canal was completely closed so I had to turn back. I'm glad it's open again but it's too muddy for me right now! At least I now know it's back open.
Oh, okay...edited to say that I now see you couldn't get past, either! Silly me!
@alicejwho That section at Little Tring has always been closed as it's totally filled in with rubbish. That will be strange to see it opened up whenever they get that far. Yeah, definitely too muddy now!
@KarlVaughan years ago, more than 10, it was open. I used to cycle there from Adton Clinton. But a lot of it was dry, as you say.
@KarlVaughan in fact, thinking back, the last time I recall it being open was 2009! Time goes do fast...ugh! Thanks for posting as I had no idea we could continue the journey with a small diversion.
@alicejwho I'm glad my videos have been helpful. These ones don't get as many views but I enjoy making them.
You are very brave to tackle that tow path it looks very precarious in places
It's ok - I'm used to it. The Wendover Arm is much better than it used to be and is improving as time goes on, thanks to the efforts of the Wendover Arm Trust who are doing a great job. In the second part you will see how good the towpath is from Halton to Wendover. There is plenty of space along there. There needs to be space there too as more people use that bit.
Good ride Karl, up one arm and down the other. Did you know that the house at Marsworth top lock featured in the 1964 film “The Bargee”?
Thanks for watching. No, I didn't know about that film.
Comment for the TH-cam 🎉🎉🎉
Do you not see HS2 then or any railway then too when you are out and about then
It depends where I go. HS2 is only a small part of the landscape, despite what a lot of people think.
Certainly some very dodgy bits. I liked the bloke saying "Don't argue with a woman", a man who knows his (our) place.
He was a character!