Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
East London Loop
The East London Loop is a loop on a ring, adding an extra few miles to the London Ring.
The Hertford Union Canal leaves the Grand Union Canal between Victoria and Mile End Parks, heading east towards Stratford.
Clearly an area of regeneration, new houses line one side of the canal as Victoria Park bounds the towpath side.
After Victoria Park the canal passes under the A12 before entering an industrial area, before reaching the River Lea.
We want to follow the River Lea to the right but to get there wee need to turn left before crossing the river and turning bac
The river then follows the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home to the 2012 Olympic Games. I have to confess I found the area disappointing maybe because it is still being regenerated.
The path passes close to the Olympic Stadium and The Orbit can be seen the other side of the stadium.
The scenery becomes increasingly ugly and industrial after the park and where the A11 and A12 intersect a massive board walk takes you across the river. It’s a great feat of engineering and anywhere else it would be absolutely brilliant, but in the dark dreak underpass it just seems out of place.
Soon the waterways fork with the River Lea branching to the left, making its way to the Thames opposite the O2 and Limehouse Cut, which we want going off to the right.
This goes through the area of Docklands regeneration with modern buildings, a mixture of residential, office and light industry. It’s certainly a change from when this area was part of London Docks but it comes across as being soulless and sterile.
Having said that it is a pleasant walk through to Limehouse Basin, the only nagging gripe is having to share a narrow towpath with a large number of cyclists and runners, neither of whom seem to be that keen on giving way to mere walkers.
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