Parkland Walk including Finsbury Park, Queens Wood, Highgate Wood and Alexandra Palace

 This point to point walk is about 5 miles in length and not suitable for wheelchair users. There are no restrictions for dog walkers on this walk as far as I am aware. My recording starts you off at Finsbury Park station and ends up at Alexandra Park station. This walk is all uphill but is slow to climb, however, if you do it in reverse you will start with a steep uphill challenge.

Route - Garmin

Once you have explored Finsbury Park - head over to the west side where the Tennis Courts are. Here, there is a footbridge over the railway. Take this bridge and take a sharp right afterwards and head up the tree-lined pathway. This is Parkland Walk South

You are now following the old route of the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway. Although there is no track anymore, familiar sights can be seen including the position of a station with the platform still present.

The station - Crouch End, stopped services in 1954. It was opened in 1867 so it had a good life and now it is preserved for its nature and of course, walking.

Keep walking up - its a very slow incline and you are heading in a slightly westerly direction towards Highgate. At the very end of this section, you can make out the tunnel, which is closed at both ends. No trains these days, you are more likely to find Bats in these tunnels. At this point take a left up a steep hill to the main road - at the traffic lights take a right ( Shephards Hill) and cross over the road - walk a short distance to an alleyway on your left - walk down this to Priory Gardens.

At the bottom of the alleyway do a right and cross over the road. Still heading along Priory Gardens you will come to another alleyway on your left as pictured below.

Take this path and walk into Queens Wood. This Ancient Woodland is well worth a good look around and is in 2 sections divided by a road. From the alley go straight unless exploring until you hit Queenswood Road - cross this and find an entrance to the other section of woodland. More exploring here- great fun for children of all ages. In this section go straight again and find the frog pool then left towards the corner of the wood and the main entrance. Here, you can grab a rest in the cafe.

I've made the last image above the exit - look for this and you can see the next point of interest on the far side of the road. The street is Muswell Hill Road and this requires crossing for the entrance to Highgate Wood. This is larger and busier than Queens Wood and has many routes through it.

You can make up your own route through the wood but head over to Cranley Gate in the North-East corner. At this gate you'll be leaving the park behind. Exit onto Muswell Hill Road again and do a left - you'll see a bridge - keep left and follow the path under it.

Going under the bridge you enter the northern section of Parkland Walk. This is similar to the southern section although some great views over the rooftops of houses in Muswell Hill.

You can make out the television mast at Alexandra Palace - that is where the trail is heading. Look right at this point and over the buildings you can make out the skyscrapers of the city in the distance. Carry ambling along the path and eventually, you'll come to a brightly coloured bridge which you should go under.

The footpath will take you up and into Alexandra Palace Park. From here there is lots to explore including top views of London. The palace was opened in 1875 and cost just over £400k - astonishing where you think about - however, that's about £40m these days. In 1935 it was loaned to the BBC for transmission of news services. Currently, it is being (partly) renovated but hosts live concerts and dance parties.

From here it's a nice stroll downhill to Alexandra Park station. However, there are many other bus stops etc that will take you where you need to go.

I hope you like the walk - please see below for other trails in and around London.

London Hikes - Walthamstow Wetlands Loop

It's important to check the opening times of the wetlands before planning this hike. However, there are many other options in the area, should the park be closed. Here's a link to the Walthamstow Wetlands website - https://walthamstowwetlands.com/ .  Here's a link to the route which is viewable on the Garmin Connect website - https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/39066733.

This is a flat route with no difficulties. Wheelchair users note there is a bridge to push over and one section of round ground which may not be suitable. Please note no dogs are allowed in the Wetlands Park - although fine along the towpath and connecting parks.

Start by getting a Tube to Tottenham Hale on the Victoria line. When you exit the station turn left along Ferry Lane. After a few minutes walking, you'll get to the bridge by Tottenham Lock. Go down to your left (if you are on the left side of the road) then go under the bridge. The river is the Lee Navigation which stretches down from this point to the River Thames at Limehouse.

You are soon away from the busy main road and pass under a railway bridge which supports the London Overground. There are lot's of waterfowl in the area and here on the river bend, you might see the Grey Heron which hangs out for food from the neighbouring houses. When you pass under a second railway bridge you'll see the entrance to Markfield Park on the right.

At Markfield Park you can take a small diversion to check out the Markfield Beam Engine and Museum (https://www.mbeam.org/) There is also a cafe in the park.

Carry on walking in the same direction - east. You'll pass many brightly coloured narrowboats on the way - a nice area to get some photos. Along with the narrowboats, you may well see some rowing teams. When you get to the Lee Rowing Club you'll see a footbridge on your left - this needs crossing. There are a few steps to navigate if you have a wheelchair.

View below is from the bridge looking west, to where you have come from.

Once you have crossed the river you will lose sight of it for a while. Follow the track until you reach a turning left or right.  Follow it round to the left towards a low railway bridge.  Don't go under the bridge, instead, go right into the field and walk diagonally through the centre. This is Walthamstow Marsh - worth noting that in the winter and spring, this can flood. If it is flooded, go under the low bridge instead, this leads to the Walthamstow Wetlands entrance. Wheelchair users may prefer this route.

However, most year-round the marsh can be crossed easily and is firm underfoot. When you get through you'll pass an open gate and under another railway bridge to your left. Here the trail gets rough with loose pebbles underfoot. When you get to the footbridge on your right, turn left and follow the path at a right angle. Make another left at the end and you'll head down a tarmacked path with Blackberry Bushes on either side. Eventually after going under a couple of bridges you'll end up at the low bridge, this time on your left. There is a car park here and you'll need to turn right and walk over to the (rear) entrance of Walthamstow Wetlands. 

The Wetland is a collection of large reservoirs made into a nature reserve. Thousands of birds live and migrate here. There are many routes you can take through - see the map for more details but basically follow your nose through in the same direction along the lakes and pylons. Waterfowl include Swans, Egyptian Geese, Grey Heron and the wonderful Tern. There are many species of duck found here too. As said at the top of this blog, make sure you check opening time before you visit.

Look out for the Engine House with its distinctive chimney, this is a nice place for a coffee and a rest at the end of the walk. However, if you prefer a pint, leave the park to Ferry Lane and find the Ferry Boat Inn on the other side of the road. From the Ferry Boat, you can find your way back to Tottenham Hale Tube for your trip home.

I hope you have enjoyed this read and you get to try the walk - please have a look through my blog for some other trips around London.

London Hikes - Bishop's Stortford to Sawbridgeworth

This beautiful walk is along the banks of the River Stort in Hertfordshire just north of London. According to my notes, the trails is 8.64 km long which is just over 5 miles.  The ground is flat but not paved and may not be suitable for regular wheelchairs.  See my record of the walk here > https://www.strava.com/activities/3701844920 .

Take the train to Bishop's Stortford railway station - get a return even though you will not travel back from this station. Leave the station through the car park and head to the metal steps to your left.  When you get to these steps you will see they bridge over the river, however, do not cross, go left here along the towpath.

Metal Step Bridge - Bishops Stortford

This section of the 'river' is called the Stort Navigation and is clearly a canal. The actual river is about 24 miles long and leads into the Lee in north London and finally the Thames at Limehouse. Carry on the left of the river as you walk south until you reach an intersection with a road. Cross the road and the path will continue through a signposted entrance on your left.  The trail has now crossed the canal and you are walking on the right of it.

The leafy surroundings create small tunnels which the narrowboats travel through. This is especially visible in the summer, when I walked the route though I enjoyed it so much I'll be going again in the winter.  There are many views and moments to capture if you have a camera, lots of sidings too that take you off in different trails on nature walks and reserves.

When you get to South Mill Lock 1, cross over using the small bridge and carry on down the left of the river.

A couple of walks to mention are Rushy Mead Nature Reserve - a small quiet location. And Thorley Wash Nature Reserve, as I understand it these are bird sanctuaries and no dogs are allowed on walks in them. Not long after Rushey Mead Nature Reserve you will need to cross another road - this is Pig Lane. Here you will keep to the left of the canal.

Very popular with canal boats, you'll find a few marinas along this section. Make sure you are looking left and right, there is plenty to see and people to say good day too. After Pig Lane the countryside opens up to ploughed fields and meadows. Before long you'll come across Thorley Wash which is over a white bridge on the opposite side of the water. At this point, you are over halfway to Sawbridgeworth.

On this occasion, I didn't visit the Wash Meadows but I would advise if you are a keen bird watcher. As the canal twists and turns, you'll pass farms and hills to the left and right.  There are lots of locks on this walk which are always good stopping points.

So finally, you'll come to a road which you 'can' pass under. This is the point where you can end your walk as you are in the town of Sawbridgeworth and a left turn and 2 minute walk will get you to the station. However, you can carry on to Harlow and or Roydon which are further down the line and both have stations on the same line.

I hope you enjoy this walk - feedback is welcome, please look through my other London based hikes in easy reach of the capital.