How do I get to Staines Moor?

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. 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.

To help you with this walk we have put together an online map (external link which opens in a new window) with which the following directions correlate.

From the Old Town Hall, 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.

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 turn left in front of the Travelodge Hotel.

From the Travelodge Hotel, follow Hale street until it reaches Wraysbury Road and forms a T-junction. Here turn right and follow the road until it reaches Moor Lane.

Before you reach your turning at Moor Lane, you will find a large yellow brick house which was 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 into Moor Lane and follow it almost it's entire length. On your right will be a gate with a sign next to it explaining what you may find on the Moor. Go through the gate and up onto the footbridge.

On top of the footbridge you are rewarded with a view on the left of river and aqueducts, and on the right a view of the railway line to Windsor.

Following the footbridge down the other side you need to cross underneath the Bypass to reach the moor.

There's a fence on the other side of the bypass with a hole in that's more than big enough to duck under. Pass through another gate, and you're on the moor!

This is the sight you may find when standing on the Moor. There is an information sign that points out a lot of the local landmarks that you may to wish to hike to on 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.