Extra Walk 257 – Highgate to Hampstead
Length: 15¼ km (9.5 miles), with many ways to shorten. Toughness: 4/10
Take a Northern line tube (High Barnet branch) to arrive at Highgate by 10:30. Turn left past the ticket barriers to meet by the Priory Gardens exit.
Late Risers could take the tube one stop further and start from East Finchley. Unless they're tempted by a very early coffee stop in Highgate Wood, the main group should be passing through the station at around 11:00.
On the Saturday before Christmas I thought an urban stroll through the leafy suburbs of London's ‘Northern Heights’ might appeal. The afternoon leg is essentially a clockwise circuit of Hampstead Heath and the walk document points out several possible short cuts if you want to finish early and catch up on all those last-minute preparations.
A pub lunch is possible halfway round at the Old Bull & Bush in North End, with the nearby café in Golders Hill Park as an alternative. In mid-afternoon you could visit Kenwood House (free entry) and/or have a break at its large café. And there are lots of possible refreshment places in Hampstead if you're not in a hurry to get away.
You'll need to bring the walk directions (with maps) from the Highgate to Hampstead walk page. T=swc.257
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3 comments:
It might be a good idea to do the early start from Finsbury Park and drop out at lunch time to avoid the rain!
Walk report for 21 Dec
Loads got out at Highgate with most to discover that when they had left home it was sunny but now that they were emerging from the underground it was raining and no matter how many checked their Dark Sky or BBC weather app it continued to rain.
Before we even did names 3 turned back down the stairs to abandon the walk. 17 set off from Highgate and 3 joined us at East Finchley - by which time the rain had slaughtered us and then abated completely.
A couple of walkers bailed at East Finchley and then the rest of the day was not so inclement. So it goes.
Happy Christmas and Belated Solstice Greetings
Bridie
Total of N=20 walkers Weather was let's say w=mixed
A considerable number of walkers congregated at the Highgate's station entrance dismayed by the incorrectly forecast rain. I'd say about n=20, but correct me if I am wrong. Four procrastinated and headed back down the station platform where they set off to do an alternative walk around Hampstead Heath I believe. The remainder headed off to Highgate wood during a brief lull in the rain, which came back with a vengeance shortly after. More folk joined at East Finchley and as the weather eased, and most set off to Hampstead Garden Suburb. Some caught a glimpse of the Nativity play rehearsals at St. Jude's Church and others took to the road to circumnavigate the somewhat waterlogged Hampstead Heath extension. A large table was nabbed at The Old Bull & Bush where the walk's poster appeared and others who had gone to East Finchley. The staff were courteous and attentive and apparently the freshly made mulled wine was excellent. I think most took a short cut, briefly visiting the Hill Garden and Pergola before heading for Hampstead tube. Weather w=Rain_dismal_and_some_sunny_periods
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