Little Britain Lake, Cowley is within the Colne Valley Regional Park (OS Ref. TQ048813). It is located just east of the River Colne on the Greater London / Buckinghamshire border. London Loop footpath passes on the opposite side of the river and a footbridge leads to Packet Boat Lane. Access arrangements: by car from Packet Boat Lane, off High Road, Cowley Peachey (A408) or from Old Mill Lane, off Iver Lane (B470). Some parking space (free of charge) in Packet Boat Lane (drive through width restriction) and Old Mill Lane.. Bus 222 (Uxbridge Underground Station to Hounslow Bus Garage) stops on the High Road near Packet Boat Lane. A quarter mile walk down Packet Boat Lane takes you to the lake. Recent improvements sensitively carried out by the London Borough of Hillingdon ensure that visitors can easily walk around the lake and have good views. Early in 2010 four tern rafts were provided - though not yet used by Common Terns. There is a public toilet at the junction of Old Mill Lane and Packet Boat Lane.
The lake sits between the rivers Colne and Frays. The Frays is a man-made river created in the nineteenth century to provide power for a number of flour mills.
There is a small heronry on the islands and reasonable numbers of winter wildfowl can be expected (including Gadwall and Shoveler). Great Crested Grebe breed most years and Little Grebe is occasionally seen in winter. Kingfisher can be seen on most visits. Ring-necked Parakeets are always around. In winter Siskins may sometimes be seen in the alders by the River Colne.
A footpath, Trout Lane, leads south and takes the walker to Yiewsley passing Yiewsley gravel pits (no public access, but visible from path). A footbridge at the end of Old Mill Lane crosses the Colne to the Buckinghamshire side.
Nearby birding sites include Thorney Country Park, the Colne Valley waters including Broadwater Lake, lakes at West Hyde and Stockers Lake.
Roger A Dewey