Click here any time to go back to the HOME PAGE.
Walking Group Photos
Walking Group
Since the first walk on 20 May 2006 monthly weekend walks have taken place locally, on the fringes of London, in central London and further afield. Longtime residents have led groups around local hidden paths and alleyways, winter walks have explored the City and followed the Thames, and in summertime members have hopped on a train and gone out into Hertfordshire or up to the Chess Valley for country walks. There have been weekday walks, and for the past couple of years there has been a new development: summer evening walks, ending at a local pub. We're a friendly group - do give it a try!
Click here for Guides to some of the Group’s favourite walks, with directions starting from Bowes Park or Bounds Green, information about how long they are, maps and what is of interest along the walk.
Contact Us:To contact the group to join the next walk or for more information please click the link here to go to the "Contact us" form and there is a drop down menu to direct the email to the Walking Group contact.
NEXT WALK
Sunday 26 February - a walk through royal parks. Leader: Jane Fish
Meet at Bounds Green tube station at 1.30pm for a short linear walk through St James's Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. About 4 miles, mostly on park paths. Approx. duration (excluding refreshment stop) 2 hours. We will take the tube to Piccadilly Circus to walk to St James's Park via the Duke of York steps and The Mall. Walking through the parks we can stop for refreshments (and toilets) in the cafe by The Serpentine in Hyde Park. The walk ends after we leave Kensington Gardens - a few minutes from High Street Kensington station (Circle and District lines). Many options for those who wish to leave the walk earlier including leaving the parks at Lancaster Gate (Central line).On the 26th you can contact Jane on 07906 943716FUTURE WALKS
Sunday 25 March - Little Venice, Kensal Green; leader: Robert Young
Saturday 21 April - Cuffley via Whitewebbs and Hillyfields parks to Gordon Hill;leader: Caroline Wall
Sunday 27 May - Shooters Hill, Eltham Palace, King George’s walk, Mottingham;leader: Dave Flett
Sunday 24 June - Totteridge/Mill Hill area;leader: Kevin McGarry
Saturday 28 July - Penge West, Crystal Palace, Horniman’s museum(prettier than it sounds!); leader: Robert Young
NB: Always dress appropriately and take water with you.
Saturday 28 January: The New River Path south
Fifteen people and two dogs enjoyed the walk down the New River south on Saturday 28 January. Starting from Finsbury Park the river curves through residential and old industrial parts of Haringey and past the East and West Reservoirs, which were constructed in the early 1830s. We popped in to the pumping station at the West Reservoir Centre
and then skirted the dramatic castle pumping station, now a rock-climbing centre. Turning into Clissold Park, we followed the course of the New River to where a recent restoration has uncovered it, and stopped at Clissold House for a cup of tea at the café.
South of Clissold Park the river is mostly underground, but its course is clear, running down the centre of very wide roads in Highbury a charming small park where the river is visible. Walking down a stretch of Essex Road we passed a taxidermy shop and a café used in the film, Quadrophenia. We paid our respects to the statue of Sir Hugh Myddleton, whose New River Company constructed the river; it opened in 1613 so there will be big celebrations next year. A long thin park down the middle of Colebrook Row follows the river’s course, and in the Duncan Terrace section we were diverted by a ‘Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven’, a bird metropolis of 300 nesting boxes. From there it was a short walk round Myddleton Square to Myddleton Passage which leads to the New River Head, once a major centre for distributing the water, but now a peaceful garden. The walk ended convivially at the nearby Shakespeare’s Head pub, which has hardly changed since the 60s. Thanks to Catharine Perry who led the walk.
This walk will be one of some additional walk guides which will be issued in the spring.
1 January Shadwell to Westferry
It was a good turn-out for a New Year's Day walk - 13 in all. Setting off from Shadwell, we stopped to look at the mural depicting the fight betweekn local residents and the British Union of Fascists in 1936 on the old town hall, then the modern church inside the shell of St. George in the East. The former tobacco warehouse was shut, so we continued via Shadwell Basin, then a short stop for lunch by the Thames with good views across to Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. Rain clouds were coming over so we pressed on, looking at Limehouse Basin, then along Narrow Street to the Grapes pub with its Dickens connections. This was shut so we stopped for a coffee break in the Booty's pub next door. Afterwards, the rain was coming down, so we decided to cut short the rest of the walk. We split up, some people going on to Westferry, while the remainder headed through a park to look at St. Ann's Church. An enjoyable walk, but nicer if the weather had held out. Thanks to Clive Allen for leading the walk.
27th November Holborn to the City
On a pleasant day in November about 12 of us started the walk from Holborn station via the spooky abandoned entrance to the Kingsway tram subway, then through the British Museum and via Russell Square, Bloomsbury Square and Gordon Square with their association with the University of London and the 'Bloomsbury Set'. Leaving the well known parts of London we followed little-known back streets to emerge by Coram's Field - a park that can only be entered by adults if accompanied by a child. Continuing past Charles Dicken's old house, we soon arrived on the edge of the City at Clerkenwell Green. One sight here was the Marx Memorial Library - containing an office once used by Lenin and now the last refuge of Trots and Reds in London. Passing through St Johns Gate we walked through Smithfield and plunged into Little Britain - no jokes please - to reach Postmans Park. Passing a rare bit of London's city wall we entered the City of London and soon were at the Guildhall. A brave few continued a little further to Bank where the walk officially finished.
30 October Golders Hill Park, pergola and Hampstead Heath
On Sunday 30 October, a pleasant autumnal day, Bowes Park Walking Group took the 102 bus from Bounds Green to Golders Green. The cafe in Golders Hill park proved too tempting for the walkers and we stopped for refreshment in spite of being only 10 minutes into our walk.After the break, we made our way to the Hill garden and Grade II listed pergola. Even though the pergola garden was seasonally bare, everyone enjoyed its aspect, especially the view it gave of the changing colours in the wood below. We admired Inverforth House built at the beginning of the nineteenth century,then restored and enlarged by Lord Leverhulme. The ‘house’ then became part of the Manor House hospital and has now been made into exclusive apartments.
We left the Hill garden area and made our way to Hampstead Heath. Our walk then took us down through the Vale of Health, a name bestowed on what was originally a swamp in order to make it more appealing to rich residents. Apparently the ploy worked as it appears Elizabeth Taylor lived there at some time. We continued down through the heath. Some people left us near South End Green while others continued up to Parliament Hill and its wonderful view over London. A few more then made straight for Gospel Oak train station. A final four had some lunch at the cafe and finally there were none. As the walk leader, I really enjoyed the day. Hope everyone else did too. Sue Baylik
24 September Welwyn Garden City Station to Welwyn North Station
Eight of us on arrival at Welwyn Garden City station passed through the Garden City to join the Ayot Green Way, an old branch railway track heading out to Wheathampstead and beyond. We then entered Sherrards Park Wood an ancient woodland just to the west of Welwyn Garden City which is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve. We exited the woods west to cross the A1(M) to the village of Ayot Green. Two of our number lingered on to explore the village as the rest of us followed field paths and a further section of old railway track before collecting the others and adjourning to the Waggoners Pub in Ayot Green. Turning homeward, we returned to a clearing in Sherrards Park Woods with a fine carved bench before leavingthe woods. We then headed through Digswell Park, noting the fine railway viaduct opened by Queen Victoria in 1850, to reach Welwyn North Station.Thanks to Caroline Wall for leading the walk.
27 August River Brent and Osterley Park
The Perivale to Osterley Park walk on Saturday 27 August was enjoyed by twelve of us in mostly good weather. After crossing the A40, with a veiw of the Hoover Factory we went down a leafy lane and stopped at the Grade I listed Church of St. Mary the Virgin, one of the smallest and oldest churches in Middlesex dating from the 12th century. This was also the beginning of our walk through the linear Brent River Park to the Grand Union Canal. We had a refreshment stop at Perivale Park and later stopped for lunch at the attractive Brent Lodge Park, which has a small cafe and park zoo. On leaving the park we passed under the impressive Wharncliife Viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, finishing the Brent River part of the walk at the Hanwell locks where the Brent River merges with the Grand Union Canal. After a short rest stop we carried on down the canal to the only crossing point over the canal and neighbouring railway line to the Osterley Park side. After a cross country walk we entered Osterley Park on its eastern side and walked through the park to arrive at Osterley House for our well deserved afternoon cream tea. We then finished our walk through the park stopping at the farm shop on the way to buy fresh farm produce. We returned home on the Piccadilly line from Osterley Park station.
Summer evening walks
Tuesday 26 July East Finchley to Alexandra Palace through woods and the Parkland Walk, led by Helen Wollstencraft.
Tuesday 12 July A ramble round the Enfield area, including parts of the New River and the picturesque Gentleman's Row, led by Kevin McGarry.
Thursday 30 June An architectural ramble led by Catharine Perry from Arnos Grove underground station (grade 2 listed) via Arnos Park to Southgate underground station and Parade, ending at the Cherry Tree Inn on Southgate Green.
Tuesday 14 June Barnet to Hadley Green: led by Kevin McGarry the walk went through quaint parts of Barnet, across Hadley Green and King George's (the 5th) Field to the Mitre pub in Barnet High Street, a hostelry we can thoroughly recommend.
Fancy getting out into the fresh air this weekend?
The Bowes Park Walking Group have put together a short series of local walks, some of which you can do straight from your front door, others via a quick tube or train journey. They include walks in the Bowes Park area, some exploring other London neighbourhoods, and a few a little further away in the countryside but readily accessible by public transport.
Each write up includes detailed directions, information on public transport, approximate length and timing and a map of the route.
1) New River North to Winchmore Hill and Enfield
2) Circular walk from Bowes Park to Old Southgate
3) Regents Canal from Islington to Limehouse