Length: 8.7 km (5.4 mi) [Shorter and longer walks
possible, see below
Ascent/Descent: 154m
Net Walking Time: ca. 2 ¼ hours
Meet outside Stanmore Station (up the
steps) at 18.30. Journey time from Baker Street is 28 minutes. Save some
minutes by taking the Met Line to Wembley Park and change there. If you travel
on the Jubilee Line from any station south of Baker Street, change at Finchley
Road.
Stanmore is the northerly terminus of the Jubilee Line and in Zone 5.
This undulating route in a leafy part of North London almost completely
eschews roads and housing to lead through three separate large Nature Reserves
or Commons with a couple of smaller green areas in between, providing for a
large variety in ecologies, including secondary and ancient woodlands, streams
and ponds, coarse grassland, unimproved neutral grassland, acid grassland,
heathland, scrubland, open glades and wetlands. Many areas are rich in
wildflowers, butterflies and moths.
You rise up through the fine Modernist Warren Estate and through the
wooded Stanmore Country Park to Wood Farm Local Nature Reserve with the London
Viewpoint and its panoramic views across London from Alexandra Palace to
Heathrow via The City, Wembley and Harrow and out to the North Downs.
Descend through grassland and reascend through Cloisters Wood to reach
the ridge of Stanmore Hill at Little Common. You pass Stanmore Common’s
Brewer’s Ponds and in the decidedly wilder Common proper have a choice of
routes through it.
Lastly, the descent through Bentley Priory NR, location of RAF Fighter
Command during WWII, enchants with quiet grasslands and varied woods, as well
as more vistas to parts of London. Also passed are a large artificial pond with
a very old oak tree and a private deer park (the latter on a shortcut).
Walk Options:
Bus Line 142 travels along The Common (the A4140) and its
Stanmore Priory Drive stop is passed 4.3 km into the walk. This connects to
Stanmore and Edgware Tube Stations or to Watford Junction.
Extensions are described in Stanmore Country Park (add 350m),
Stanmore Common (add 1.0 km) and in Bentley Priory NR (add 400m). The longest
version of the route has 10.5 km.
Shortcuts are possible by cutting out the loop through
Stanmore Common and by taking a more direct route through Bentley Priory Park,
along the Deer Park on tarmac rather than through the grasslands and woods and
past the ponds on partly mud-prone paths, or by taking a clockwise route around
the pond.
An Alternative Ending leads along the
main road through Stanmore (the A410), past more tea options.
Bus Lines travelling along the A410 through Stanmore to the
Station cut up to 1.1 km on this option.
Refreshments:
There are no pubs in Stanmore.
For walk directions, maps, height
profiles, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
#2026-09-17T18:30 t=short.56
1 comment:
Despite problems on the Jubilee Line #4 met at Stanmore station on a #mild-clear evening. We waited the customary 5 mins however no further trains arrived, with the next arrival still 7 minutes away (apologies if anyone turned up on that train). We proceeded to Stanmore Country Park via the first mini extension which gave pleasant views to the east. The viewpoint higher up was enjoyable, clear skies gave great views in all directions from Hampstead Heath to Wembley Stadium though we couldn't quite make out Heathrow. There was a fallen tree blocking the path between Marker Posts 10 and 9 (top of second para in text) though easily bypassed by the previous left turn. We all took the right hand turn option through the Rugby Club passing some attractive ponds - by this point the light was fading making navigation difficult. Upon reaching the cricket ground and main road we evaluated options. Despite one being well prepared with a headtorch, we decided walking in the dark through woods wasn't appealing especially with the resident long horned cattle - that as well as one walker's long return journey to furthest South East London. Heading down the road to the station we passed the regular dining spot Bistro which had only 1 table occupied, however we decided to try out the other recommended venue Agra. Service was quick, staff friendly. My starter was nice but the main a little dry, others seemed to enjoy their meals. Topics discussed included one walker's upcoming Cortina visit, the SWC 30th bash and the related post about attracting new members. Upon settling the bill, the waiter offered us a complimentary drink, which I've never come across on an SWC walk - maybe that will entice higher walk numbers in future... However without other Thursday night regulars to encourage us, we declined and headed back to the station around 930pm. Overall an enjoyable evening where we got a decent walk in before darkness. It might make a good short weekend walk option during train strikes if all extensions are done.
Post a Comment