even in the half light , though , art was familiar enough with his location to be able to navigate a course through the criss-cross of tarmacked pedestrian trails until he found himself standing on a small , stone bridge over the canal , beside a row of half a dozen , white-washed , terraced cottages , from which a rough , gravel track led steeply uphill , disappearing at its summit into the trees , presumably linking this small , woodland community with the busy metropolis some distance beyond .