Near Hatch End, Harrow – 5/10

While the hiker’s number one enemy often proves to be bitter and twisted landowners, a close second surely has to be stinging nettles! While it may not be possible to prove that there is any kind of black-market trade in stinging nettle seeds, there seems to be a considerably high number of them found by public rights of way. While the common conception is that stinging nettles just seem to turn up everywhere, bitterness and resentment can make people act in extreme ways – and it would not surprise me if this were down to landowners using very sneaky tactics to subtly put this thought into public unconsciousness throughout the centuries!

However, that is a conspiracy theory for another day, but once again we have a stile seemingly overrun with urtica dioica that is ready to make anyone with their legs exposed wishing they covered them up before leaving the house! Then if you manage to avoid the stings, watch out for that protruding thorn branch!

While marks have to be lost for the plant-based hazards, the stile itself is decent enough, but overall, very minimal. The ‘fence’ that forms the frame of the stile is solid, sturdy and substantial, albeit slightly wonky – especially the post used. While the single step is generously long and wide, which does admittedly aid navigation, but once again that fact it is at a diagonal angle only emphasises the absence of that depressingly sought after second step.