Once part of the London and North Eastern Railway (and a proposed section of the Northern Heights route that was abandoned at the outbreak of the Second World War), today the Parkland Walk connects Finsbury Park with Highgate.
Established as a local nature reserve in 1990, it follows the old trackbed of the railway line for it’s entire length. The path starts off as a nosey neighbour’s paradise as it overlooks the back gardens of the houses on either side, but as the land rises around it the Parkland Walk eventually falls into a cutting, and the remainder of the route is shaded by tall trees on either side with the occasional set of steps leading up to the road. About halfway along there’s the site of an old station, Crouch End, although only the platforms remain. Just before the station, look up into the shallow brick arches and you might be able to spot the nature spirit – a Spriggan created by artist Marilyn Collins. He’s a bit out of place however – Spriggans are native to Cornwall rather than North London!
This little sliver of countryside through the urban landscape is particularly popular with bats – the Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s and Brown Long-Eared bat can all be observed along the route, and they can all be found in the rather menacing Victorian tunnels that run under Highgate that are now closed to public access. You can peer through to the sliver of light at the far end through the barred gates however…
The Parkland Walk is a delightful little find – the route only rises and falls very gently so it’s very easy to walk and given that it is just over 4 miles in length, at a moderate walking speed it should take about an hour and a half to go from one end to the other.