The Capital Ring Walk consists of fifteen segments that completely encircle London. The total distance is about 125 km, with each segment consisting of from 7 or 8 km to 15 km or so, easily manageable in two or three hours. The start and finish of the segments coincide with Underground or rail stations. Maps and guides for each segment are available here.

We will organise this as a group, walking every two or three Sundays, weather permitting, with an 11 AM start, and either conclude with a lunch somewhere at the end of the walk, or stop along the way. Perhaps in the warmer months we can plan on a picnic.

We will not walk in the rain, or if there is a strong likelihood of rain or similar foul weather.

Participants are encouraged to make comments and post photographs. If a walk is to be postponed because of bad weather, this will be announced on the blog a few hours before the start.

18 March 2012

Highgate to Stoke Newington

Penelope, Susan and Nadia
We held the second in our series of walks today. The weather wasn't as warm as three weeks ago, but at least it didn't rain. We are still only four (Penelope Soteriou, Nadia Bernaz, Susan Scott-Hunt and myself). A few who promised to join us didn't make it, possibly because of the delayed effects of St. Patrick's Day celebrations last night. Highgate underground station was the starting point. Highgate is famous for its cemetery, where Karl Marx is buried, and for other reasons too. 
From the Highgate tube, the route goes almost immediately to the Parkland Walk. It is actually the right of way of a former railway line, that operated from 1867 to 1970, that went from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace and Edgware. Now it is a nature reserve, and there are even some deer although we didn't see any today.
At one point, the Parkland Walk passes through an abandoned station. All that remains are the platforms. There are other signs of railway activity, including various bridges and arches. There has been a lot of decorating by graffiti artists. The route was filled with other walkers, people strolling with their dogs, and many joggers.
Former Crouch End rail station.

Graffiti-covered arches and a spriggan.

Viaduct over the main London to Scotland rail line.
The Parkland Walk continues for perhaps 3 km. At the end, it passes over the main London to Scotland railway line. Then the route enters Finsbury Park. There are some lovely spots in the park, and a café with seats reserved for dog owners!
Café in Finsbury Park with a "Seating area for dog owners".
 The route leaves the Park and then runs along the New River. The path is not paved and it was quite muddy in places. On the right is the Woodberry Down Estate, which is the largest council housing estate in all of Britain. On the left, are industrial sites. Eventually, the path comes to the end of the New River and to two reservoirs. In one of them, there were sailboats and kayaks.
Along the New River.

Swan building a nest on New River.

The Castle was formerly the pumping station.
 After leaving the reservoirs, the route crosses Clissold Park and then reaches Church Street in Stoke Newington. We'd been walking for a couple of hours without a real break, and quickly found a place to have lunch. We stopped in the Fox Reformed, which sits on the site of a former school where Edgar Allan Poe was a student for three years when his father was working in England. The food was delicious: pies made with sweet potato and goat cheese, and beef and stilton cheese. We lingered over wine and desert before deciding to make our way home.
But the high street beckoned. It has some lovely shops, including Homage, where some members of the group indulged in a bit of retail therapy. The Daniel Defoe pub acknowledges one of Stoke Newington's famous residents.
It was a great walk, refreshing and informative. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Please join us on 8 April for the third segment. We start at Stoke Newington, at the rail station, and end at Hackney Wick.
Old churchyard and burial ground in Stoke Newington.

The Fox Reformed.

Formerly a fountain pen repair shop.

Shops in Stoke Newington.
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