Bluebells in the Evening - Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood

Length: 5.5 km/3.4 mi 

Ascent: 144m 

Net Walking Time: ca. 1 hours 20 mins

 

Meet at 18.30 hours downstairs at East Finchley Station (exit to the left) on the High Barnet Branch of the Northern Line. Journey time from Bank is 24 minutes.

Highgate is one stop closer to Central London. Both stations are in Zone 3.

This is an undulating meandering route in the Borough of Haringey through a couple of remnants of the ancient Forest of Middlesex, in one of the highest parts of Inner North London. Both woods are very different in character and feel: Highgate Wood is only part ancient wood and has been managed for a long time, with several areas having been coppiced and others having been cleared, and it mostly has the appearance of a parkland wood. Queen’s Wood has a wilder, less managed and more challenging feel and consequently features a greater mixture of flora and fauna. And while Highgate Wood is famous for its bluebell displays in season, these are largely confined to the northeasterly corner of the wood. In contrast, Queen’s Wood displays a fine mixture of wildflowers in season, amongst which are bluebells, wood anemones and daffodils. Both woods feature ancient – possibly pre-historic – earthworks and they also boast cafés for refreshments.

Walk Options: 

A Short Walk – of 3.7 km and with half the ascent – omits the more undulating Queen’s Wood. 

An Extension leads to Finsbury Park along the Parkland Walk, part of a dismantled railway line and now a very charming linear and raised Local Nature Reserve. This adds 3.5 km and is map-led.

 

Tea: See the pdf. The cafés are closed at the time we get there, but The Woodman will certainly be open.

 

For walk directions, map, photos, height profile and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.49