Staircase handrail

Do you have a router? If so, you can buy cutters that profile handrails and make your own.

I just put some up which I think is similar to what you want. The local builders merchants, called it pigs ear.

Sow's (or pigs) ear, available off the shelf at Jewson. Secure with large screws, e.g. 12 by 2 1/2. Looks better if you cut back the bottom to leave a rounded "knob" sticking out at each end.

If you're after something more modernist, how about a long length of

I decided to take an old one off and replace it. The old one was held on with about six cut nails banged into wood fillets in the brick mortar courses and was absolutely solid and well nigh impossible to shift. Having got it off and repaired the plaster , I fitted another (from a builder's merchants). I used about 15 no12 screws - no matter what I did, it was never as solid as the original - the original builders were clearly supermen! You have been warned! Take a roof rack as well - you can hardly saw it up to transport!

They rust in nicely! You can do the same, but it means raking out the joints and whacking plugs in, etc. Screws are OK but the plastic plugs can be a problem...

Take it on the bus.

Put it vertically out through the roof window[1] and avoid low bridges and overhead live wires.

Owain

specifically

I used about 8 large screws and a lot of no nails. It is now fixed solidly to the wall and I only hope it is not me who has to take it off as they will probably have to replaster the wall.