Parkland Walk

A disused railway line means a perfect long walk along this path that seemingly starts near Finsbury Park and for 45−60mins takes you to Highgate. It’s a wonderful stretch to walk along any morning or afternoon. A lot of people go to walk on weekends but also great to run or take dog out on. Some lovely little things you can see on the way and you can get off it every mile or so. Love it and come here a few times a month for sure.

A lovely path along a disused railway line stretching from Highgate to Finsbury Park. It really is a wonderful route to jog upon or pick blackberries in the Autumn. The route is great balance between nature and the urban. There are trees, and birds but its not uncommon to see spray cans at work on the old railway arches The walk is loved by joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, parents and kids alike, but also flashers as I found out one weekend morning as I set out for a run, so word of warning to you if you go down at a less busy hour.

Great for walking the dog in the morning and evening. Always see lots of friendly faces along here and almost everyone else walking their dog says hello. Can get pretty muddy here and there when it rains and gets particularly busy on sunny weekends. Graffiti on the bridges is updated every couple of days but a lot of it is really artistic and I love seeing what they’re gonna come up with next, it’s like a free urban art gallery!

We love the parkland walk. We go on it regularly and it’s a little slice of countryside squeezed into to busy london.
Lots of bikes, dog walkers and kids. Has some interesting features such as the man in the wall and constantly changing graffiti under the bridges and arches. Great route as it goes from Highgate wood to Finsbury Park. Feels safe, peaceful and a great little place to escape the city fumes.

Beautiful walk to forget you’re in London! I read about this place and as I live in Archway, it was on my bucketlist. Pick a nice and sunny day, get your walking shoes out (no heels as the path is just earth) and enjoy nature with lots of other walkers, runners and dogs. The only disadvantage would be the lack of tube stations close to the trail.

Having lived in Highbury, North London for almost a year now, I’m still astonished by how little I know about the surrounding area. As part of my quest to use my time more wisely in 2015 (less couch potato time, more time exploring), I decided to spend my Sunday afternoon walking along the southern part of Parkland Walk Local Nature Reserve, from Finsbury Park to Highgate. We live just a few minutes’ walk from Finsbury Park, which is where the southern part of the walk begins.
THE ROUTE
1) As we live south of the park, we took a quick detour through it, past the flying rats (aka pigeons)
2) To get to the start of the trail we headed across the Oxford Road Gate from the north-​western part of Finsbury Park:
3) Turn right and you’ll see a sign, with the next stops listed as Upper Tollington Park, wih the walk ending at Highgate via Crouch Hill.
Route along Parkland Walk — South
4) Along the way towards Crouch Hill, it’s basically mud, mud and more mud… and some vibrant graffiti
5) One of the best finds along the route was the former train platforms of Crouch End railway station. While the train station building has since been demolished, it was really surreal to walk through.
6) Following from this awesome find, you’ll see a plaque which tells you a bit more about the history of the park itself.
Once you’ve completed the walk, I would formally suggest a quick drink at the Boogaloo, or if you walk up Jacksons Lane you’ll get to Highgate High Street where you can pop into the the Angel Inn for a well-​earned lunch! We’ll definitely visit Parkland Walk again in the spring, and next time aim for Alexandra Palace :)

I love the Parkland Walk! It was such a surprise to discover it for the first time right next to Finsbury Park where I had been so many times. It’s even more surprising when you start walking and realise you’re somewhere entirely different from what you expect in London. Leafy trees, beautiful white flowers (cow parsley?), creeping ivy and an unusually high quota of adorable dogs (being walked by their owners, there isn’t a pack of adorable dogs living along the walk). And the Spriggan! How cool is that! It’s surprisingly un-​littered (or I could just say ‘clean’ I suppose) given its proximity to the lovely but filthy New River Walk along the reservoirs. I’m not even bothered by all the graffiti which seems more artistic than invasive, like you’re meandering through an outdoor art gallery. Anyway, this walk has loads of character and I don’t visit it nearly as often as I should.

I love the Parkland Walk… let me refer to Wikipedia to give you a quick overview: «The Parkland Walk is a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) linear green walkway, in the London Boroughs of Haringey and Islington, which follows the course of the railway line which used to run between Finsbury Park through Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate and Muswell Hill to Alexandra Palace.»
This local reserve is great for walking your dog, riding your bicycle, jogging or simply going for a stroll. Living in Archway, I oftentimes use it as a means to get to Crouch End in a more «natural» fashion… really, it’s beautiful to walk along and you always run into smiling, chatting people… there’s something about it that makes people happy!
If you wanted to experience the entire walk, I suggest you start at Finsbury Park. It will take you approximately 40 – 45 minutes until you get to the backside of Highgate. You will emerge by a pub called the Boogalo. Right across from it is a café called «The Quarters Café» and I recommend you stop here for a nice cup of coffee, warm soup or a home-​made piece of cake.
The next part is a little tricky, but eventually you will reach Queens Wood, then Highgate Wood. Afterwards, you’re back on the old railway track and you’re circumventing Muswell Hill and you will be able to enjoy the stunning views over London. Eventually, you’ll reach Alexandra Palace and the entire London will stretch in front of you.
I recommend doing this walk on a Sunday, as you can then finish off with a visit to Ally Pally Farmers Market…

One of those amazing hidden green gems of north London. I discovered it while walking around Crouch End and fell in love with it immediately for its sweetness and unpretentiousness. Entering it from Crouch End, you come to what used to be a platform of a station, a testimony to the Walk’s history. You can go there to walk or cycle and explore the less known London.

I often run here as its a good distance (Finsbury Park to Highgate Hill) and is far more interesting and beautiful than the monotony of a treadmill. The walk is also popular for strolling and dog walking. A word of warning however– NEVER go here at night. Its notorious for trouble and is littered with condoms and the occasional needle. I’d also recommend going running with someone else, just for peace of mind.

This is certainly one of North London’s little know secrets, which I only found out about thanks to reading Kc30’s review! I started out at the Finsbury Park end (and had a little trouble finding my way on: you want to go out of the park via the footbridge and then turn right). Midwinter after several fairly grim weeks is not really the best time to see it I guess. Even the brambles were looking distinctly peaky on the first stretch and the path was a nice mix of sharp stones and slimy mud. Though there is a certain appeal to crossing roads and looking down on them from on high! Further on the ex-​railway line goes into a deep cutting with wooded sides. The mud and pools also get deeper! As a consolation though I did get a sighting of a long tailed tit. One of my favourite birds. There’s also graffiti covered bridges (nothing to write home about) and a system of boardwalks and a skateboard ramp at one point which might be of interest to kids.
I negotiated my way through Highgate and its woods, and found the entrance to the second stretch, unmarked, at the start of Cranley Gardens. Here I got my reward as this comes out onto a stunning viewpoint where you can see for miles over East London.
I ran the whole length. It’s definitely not for anyone who wants flat and fast! As an old railway line it avoids really steep hills, but I think it’s gradually climbing all the way. You also have to watch your feet. For me though it was probably just what I needed. I probably didn’t see it at its best and look forward to returning on a better day. It’s certainly quiet, different and the people I met seemed friendly.
From the Alexander Palace end I walked back along the roads via Crouch Hill, as it was getting too dark to go back along the Walk. And I never noticed when I crossed its path. It is well hidden when you are not on it!

What used to be a railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace is now London’s longest nature reserve.
Information boards along the Walk list the wildlife found here — orchids, hedgehogs and, apparently, a tiny Chinese deer called a Muntjac. I’ve been walking here for years and am starting to doubt their existence but getting kids to try and spot one will keep them occupied.
Parts of the Walk get very muddy (between Crouch End and Highgate) and the path is very uneven. Not great for wheelchairs or buggies. You have to leave the path and come onto the street at Highgate Station, go through Highgate Woods and rejoin it at Cranley Gardens.
Great for a Sunday stroll or for getting from A to B while pretending not to be in London. People have even been known to say «hello» here, which is practically unheard of in these parts.