Harrow - Osterley Park

This is a cracking route - 26 miles in London without encountering any heavy traffic. Half of it is off-road (cycle/shared paths, canal towpaths, parks and a river bank). The roads we use are quiet and residential. We go over, under and around some locations that would be a nightmare to navigate on the road.

Osterley Park is a Georgian Estate with a magnificent house designed by Robert Adam. We'll stop for refreshments at the Stables Cafe. This is a National Trust property with a wide selection of cakes and the obligatory scones.

Our route takes us through several parks and nature reserves, along three stretches of canal towpath (all very rideable), across two golf courses and along the bank of the River Brent. We cycle past the photogenic Hanwell locks and get to appreciate the engineering of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

There are not too many serious hills. There's a bit of climbing up from the river in Hanwell and on the lower slopes of Harrow's Hill - don't worry, we don't go over the top! We'll take these slowly and it's OK to walk. The ride will be taken at a modest pace so don't fret about it being too fast.

Make sure you check your bike before the ride. This is a useful guide: https://lcc.org.uk/advice/bike-safety-check/. Bring a spare innertube, pump and tools to fix a puncture. Also bring a drink and a snack.

The time for the ride is a best estimate by the Ride Leader. Sometimes this can be affected by factors such as the weather, mechanical issues, the queue at the cafe, etc. We have a policy of leaving no rider behind so, if anyone is struggling, we will adjust the speed and take rest stops if necessary.