From nature reserve to skyline: Parkland Walk & London hills
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From a wander along an old railway line (and London's longest Local Nature Reserve) to a hunt for views. We're hiking in London but pretending we're not. Join us for a Sunday stroll, with a good pace and some altitude gain.
Note: the route has not been pre-walked. So any notes on type of path, traffic etc is an estimate. We may take a breather here and there as we find out where to turn next, especially in the parks, which will contribute to that adventure feeling ;)
The route
You can see the route here.
The length is about 9-10 miles (15-16 km) with some 300m of altitude gain.
Our walk starts by briefly exploring Finsbury Park before heading onto Parkland Walk.
Parkland Walk follows the route of an old railway. It is said to be a great way to enjoy some tranquillity and being-in-nature feeling while really still in London. With a remarkable range of habitats and wildlife we might even see some Muntjac deer as we journey to Alexandra Park.
Alexandra Park is host to Alexandra Palace a grade II listed entertainment venue, dating a couple of centuries back with lots of history (especially fire related it seems... you know I'm writing this with Wikipedia open to the side, right?). We will have a quick wonder in the park, enjoy the views (one would hope) and retrace our steps briefly, to then set off for another round of views hunting.
Hampstead Heath appears in records dating back from around the 1000. The park has over 25 ponds (and we will pass some) with some open for bathing all year round (perhaps for another event?). With clear weather, we should be successful in our hunt as we reach the top of Parliament Hill, from where we will then switch from enjoying views to looking forward to the traditional ODL post-walk pub stop, somewhere near Hampstead tube station.
All photos thanks to Geograph and credited in the image. Should the credits not show: Finsbury Gate by Robin Sones; Finsbury Park by Rob Purvis; Parkland Walk photos by Oxyman and David Howard; Alexandra Palace by Nigel Mykura; Alexandra Park by Malc McDonald; Queen's Wood by Julian Osley; Wood Pond by Peter S.; Parliament Hill views by Martin Addison; Hampstead by Peter Trimming.
What to bring
The path should mostly be paved, although we cross some woodlands too. I would therefore suggest to bring your normal hiking boots/shoes or if trainers then some you don't mind getting wet or muddy. I cannot foresee the traffic on the path (kids, cyclists, handsome runners, cute dogs and the likes) but we should be safe from field cows!! Wear wet-weather gear if rain is forecast including waterproof trousers or gaiters and dress as you would for a countryside hike.
Food & drink
Please bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink, as you would for a countryside walk (as we will not be making stops to buy food or snacks) - this will give us flexibility on deciding where and when to stop for lunch.
I will do my best to plan strategic stops near public toilets during the day, as being in a more urban area we may be limited on forestry to hide behind.