This is a question often asked by people who have seen or just heard of Staines Moor. There is no easy route and no direct access by car. Car parking is available in the Riverside car park or on the Two Rivers shopping centre in Staines. Rail access is by following Station Path to the High Street. This is directly opposite Mill Mead and the route can be picked up from there. The Moor itself is not practical for wheelchair or pushchair users although there is one route, which does not involve stiles and gives access to enough to appreciate the beauty of this hidden gem. This is marked * and shown in brackets. The Moor is the flood plain of the River Colne and is often flooded during wet weather. This includes the route to the Moor as well. Waterproof footwear is recommended at all times. From Spelthorne Museum in the Old Fire Station, Market Square, Staines head towards the War Memorial standing proudly in its new position in the revamped Market Square. Leave the Square with the Blue Anchor Hotel on your right, crossing both Clarence Street and Church Street and turn left into Church Street. A bridge takes you across over the River Colne, if you look down, a small watercourse is visible disappearing into a pipe. This is Sweeps Ditch, an early draining feature. Turn right onto the wooden bridge. On your left you can see the joining of two rivers = The River Colne and the Wraysbury River. Continue along the path. Ahead can be seen a shopping complex. This is called Two Rivers and has been built on the site of the Staines Linoleum Factory. Linoleum was once a world wide floor covering. The power of the water in these rivers was so strong that there were many water mills along these banks. Some were used for grinding i.e. mustard, others used them to power machinery. It was a former calico factory, which had large rollers to handle the cloth that attracted Frederick Walton to use the mill for the manufacture of his invention of lino. Follow the path around to the left and cross the road at the crossing point and pass in front of the Travelodge Hotel. Cross the service road.Across the Wraysbury River there is a large yellow brick house once the home of a mill owner, which, in 1885, was turned into a station on the GWR branch line from Colnbrook until it closed in 1965. Turn right and follow the path running along the bank of the Wraysbury River. Turn right over a stile and cross with extreme care the Staines to Windsor railway line. Follow the path over another stile. Turn left and follow the path over the bridge crossing the aquaduct. The raised path and depression on your right are more recent drainage attempts. During very wet winters all of this area and much of the Moor is under water. Pass through the kissing gate. (*The path to the left leads to Moor Lane adjacent to the Herdsman's Cottage and is suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs). Go straight ahead passing under the Staines by-pass. This was finally built in 1965 to reduce traffic congestion in Staines. Pass through another kissing gate and you are onto the Moor.Staines Moor is one of the remaining "Commons" of the medieval Manor of Staines. Originally a clearing in the Forest of Windsor it has remained unploughed for over 1000 years. The moor has been registered Common land since 1065 and only registered "Commoners" are entitled to graze their animals on it. There is usually a mixture of cows and horses grazing freely. These are removed during the winter months to allow the land to recover. During Victorian times, those who could not afford a cow would collect the dry cow pats to use as fuel during the winter months. By Act of Parliament, Common Land also provides the public use of the land for "air and exercise". The 289 acres is under constant threat from developers and gravel raisers even though much of it is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).The River Colne, which rises in the North Downs near Rickmansworth brings with it the chalky residue from the downs. During times of flood this mixes with the silty Thames Valley soil to bring about a unique ecostructure. Plants and insects can be found here that are not found anywhere else in Surrey.The whole of the Moor is available to walk on, but routes are very dependent on the state of the ground. After heavy rain some areas become inaccessible. If you continue straight on along the bank of the river, to your left is the railway embankment of the GWR line. A tunnel through this will bring you out into Moor Lane opposite the Swan Public House. Continuing along the river passing a footbridge in the distance there is a small mound or hill. This is known as the "Butts" and is the only remaining part of a rifle range which, in 1892, was part of The Metropolitan Rifle Range Company Limited. Firing practice had to stop during harvest time when the hay was being cut. The Butts were finally closed because of the danger to people travelling on the railway line. This deprived youngsters of the time making pennies by collecting the spent lead bullets and copper caps for recycling. Money could also be made from the hundreds of people who descended on the Moor when the floods froze enough for skating. Clearing the snow off the ice was often worth a penny!From the top of the Butts a good view of the surrounding area can be had. On either side of the Moor there are large reservoirs. Over wintering birds from these can often be seen feeding on the Moor. Looking south towards Staines there can be no mistaking the M25 to the right. Between the motorway and the old railway track are a bridleway leading to Colnbrook, the Wraysbury River and another strip of the Moor. Looking to the left, the River Colne enters the Moor. In this corner the Bonehead Ditch splits away from the main stream where a line of trees can be seen. The River Colne crosses the Moor in a series of bends and wide shallow stretches enjoyed by cattle, fishermen and birds. The Bonehead Ditch joins it again as it disappears under the A30 Staines bypass. If the area is dry enough there is another bridge near where the Colne enters the Moor and a circular route can be taken. Since 2000/1 a marshy area has evolved near to the Butts and crossing it is difficult. Nature is making its own way.Return to the kissing gate near the A30 Staines bypass and pass through and under the road. Turn left and follow the path up and onto the footpath at the side of the A30. Continue along the footpath and cross the bridge over the Colne. At the end of the bridge parapet there is a flight of steps that lead down to the bank. Take care down these steps as they are irregular. To the right a footpath leads under the road to Stanwell Moor. Turn left and follow the river bank. A sluice gate from the river releases water to the left. This is the birth of the River Ash, Spelthorne's own river, which spends its whole life in the Borough, passing through Ashford, Shepperton before it joins the Thames in Sunbury. In the fields on the left a plane crashed in 1972, killing 118 people.Follow the path and notice that, just past a bridge on the right, the water from the Water Board aquaduct passes under the River Colne and comes out the other side. Keep following the path as it leads away from the river and takes a sharp right turn though a housing estate. This estate is known as Moor Mead. Although originally part of the Moor, the land on the right was part of the Lino Factory with the area on the left the Sports Ground. The housing estate was built during the 1970s and most of the roads are named after birds.Follow the path, crossing Waters Drive and into a small industrial estate, known as the Renshaw Industrial Estate after an iron foundry that once produced heavy "street furniture" such as drain gullies, manhole covers and bollards. Many of these can still be seen today. This road is called Mill Mead and in Victorian times was a street of small terraced houses. At the end of the road, look up to the railway embankment - here was Staines Central Station of which nothing remains. Turn right under the railway bridge and cross Mustard Mill Road into the pedestrianised High Street. Continue along the High Street looking out for various mosaics depicting the history of the area. There is one marked 1864, which acknowledges the world wide fame of Staines Lino. Notice the magnificent mosaic of the Borough crest. The mosaics are a reminder that Staines is built on the Roman town of Ad Pontes. Look above the modern shop fronts and many buildings have dates showing when they were built.Cross Thames Street by the crossing near Debenhams and turn right and then left to return to Market Square.We hope you have enjoyed discovering Staines Moor. If you would like more information about Staines Moor there is a booklet published by Spelthorne Museum called "Some Moor 2". If you would like to protect this valuable part of our heritage from development contact The Association for the Preservation of Staines Moor, who also produce a booklet called "The Commons of Staines - THE FACTS". For further information about Friends of Spelthorne Museum, call Jenny Scripps on 01784 457970.Distance: minimum about 2 miles. Maximum depends on how much walking is done on the Moor.Graphical Version l
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