Parkland Walk Guide: Entrances, Route and Tips

If you live anywhere between Finsbury Park and Highgate, you have probably walked over or under the Parkland Walk without realising what it is. It is a green, tree-lined path that follows an old railway line, and it is one of my favourite places to send parents who need a walk that feels like an escape without leaving North London. This guide covers what the Parkland Walk is, where to get on, what the paths are like with a buggy or small children, and how to turn it into a bit of a workout.

The facts below come from the Friends of the Parkland Walk website. Paths and closures change, so check their site before you set off.

What is the Parkland Walk?

The Parkland Walk follows the route of a former railway. According to the Friends’ history page, the line opened in 1867, with the extension to Alexandra Palace opening in 1873. Passenger services on the southern parts ended in 1954 and the last freight train ran in 1970. In 1990 Haringey Council declared the Walk a Local Nature Reserve, and the Friends describe it as the longest linear nature reserve in London.

Today it is managed by Haringey and Islington Councils. The Friends of the Parkland Walk is a volunteer group that advises and supports, and works with The Conservation Volunteers on habitat work.

The two sections

The Friends’ access page splits the Walk into two parts:

• Parkland Walk South: just over 3km, from Holmesdale Road in Highgate to Finsbury Park. This is the section most people mean.
• Parkland Walk North: about 750m, from Cranley Gardens to Muswell Hill, where the path continues into Alexandra Palace Park.

The two sections are not joined. Linking them takes 1.3 to 1.8km depending on your route. The Friends suggest three options: along Archway Road and Muswell Hill Road; through Highgate Wood, leaving at Cranley Gate; or the quietest route, following Capital Ring signs through Queen’s Wood and Highgate Wood.

Where to get on: entrances and access

This matters if you have a buggy, a scooter or little legs. From the Friends’ access information:

• Finsbury Park (Oxford Road entrance): almost level access, with a reasonably firm surface as far as Blythwood Road. The best choice for buggies.
• Blythwood Road: almost level access too.
• Crouch Hill: a surfaced ramp that is quite steep, and the path then crosses an embankment with no side barrier, so keep small children close.
• Hillside Rise (behind Ashmount School): a ramped access point.
• Holmesdale Road, Highgate: a steep slope.
• Other entrances: steep steps up embankments or down cuttings.

The surface is generally coarse, with occasional rough stones and tree stumps, and the stretch from Stapleton Hall Road to Oxford Road can get muddy after rain. Some slopes up to bridges may be too steep for unpowered wheelchairs.

Getting there

• Finsbury Park: Victoria and Piccadilly lines, National Rail and buses.
• Highgate: Northern line and buses 43, 134 and 263.

A family-sized route

For younger children, I would start at the Oxford Road entrance in Finsbury Park and walk towards Crouch End, turning back whenever legs or patience run out. It is the flattest, firmest bit, and you can make it as short or long as you like. With older kids, walk the whole southern section one way and get the bus or tube back.

Turn it into a game: look for birds, butterflies and bugs. The Friends’ website has wildlife pages covering bats, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, trees and pondlife, which are great to look at with kids before you go.

Always check the Friends’ homepage first. When I checked, they were reporting a major diversion in Islington between Crouch Hill and Blythwood Road, and closures like this can change your plans.

Turning the Parkland Walk into a workout

Brisk walking counts as moderate intensity activity according to the NHS, and adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. Because the Walk is a long, gently graded path, it is ideal for steady brisk walking. Some ideas:

• Brisk intervals: walk fast for 3 minutes, easy for 2, and repeat for the length of the walk.
• Bench stops: every 10 minutes, find a bench and do 10 incline push-ups and 10 sit-to-stands.
• Steps: where entrances have steps, walk up and down them a few times before you head home.
• Be considerate: the path is shared with cyclists, runners and families, so keep to one side when you stop.

If you have back or joint pain, a health condition, or are pregnant or postnatal, check with your GP or physio before adding harder intervals.

Looking for more places to explore? Read my roundup of family walks in North London, or my guide to Highgate Wood with kids, which pairs nicely with the end of the Walk at Highgate.

Where a bootcamp fits

Walking is a great base. Two short strength sessions a week on top make lifting kids and shopping easier. That is what SYP Bootcamp is for: small indoor classes in Archway, 45 minutes, £15. See this week’s class times on the booking page.

FAQs

How long is the Parkland Walk?

The southern section, from Holmesdale Road in Highgate to Finsbury Park, is just over 3km. The northern section, from Cranley Gardens to Muswell Hill, is about 750m. The two are not directly connected.

Where does the Parkland Walk start?

Most people start at Finsbury Park, using the Oxford Road entrance, or at Holmesdale Road in Highgate. There are several other entrances along the way, some with steep steps or slopes.

Is the Parkland Walk suitable for buggies?

Parts of it are. The Oxford Road entrance at Finsbury Park has almost level access and a reasonably firm surface to Blythwood Road. Elsewhere the surface is coarse, some entrances are steep, and it can be muddy after rain.

Enjoy the Walk, and when you are ready to add some strength work, book your £15 bootcamp class in Archway. If you are nearer the Crouch End or Holloway end and want 1-1 support, see personal training in Upper Holloway and Islington.

About the author

Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.