Discover London’s very own bat cave and walk along an abandoned railway on the Parkland Walk.

The full route goes from Alexandra Palace, incorporating a walk through Highgate Wood and Queen’s Wood, but the main stretch runs from Highgate Station to Finsbury Park. There’s a helpful map below.

Alexandra Palace to Highgate

Starting from Alexandra Palace – enjoying one of the best skyline views over London – you follow the Parkland walk (North) trail until it joins with the Capital Ring, leading you through Highgate Woods and Queen’s Woods

Highgate Woods are 28 hectares of ancient woodland, today managed by the City of London Corporation. It was mentioned in the Domesday Book and was later owned by the Bishop of London.

Within the woods I spotted this lovely dedication on a bench;

Highgate Station

Once you leave Highgate Woods you follow Archway Road past Highgate Station.

The Abandoned Railway

Today it’s on the Northern Line, the underground opened in 1941, but there was an earlier railway station built in 1867.

If you peer over the car park wall beside the Archway Road entrance…

Image from Google Maps

You can just about see the abandoned station platform below.

Built by the Great Northern Railway in 1867, the line ran from Finsbury Park, via Highgate and up to Edgware. Further branches were added to High Barnet and Alexandra Palace in the 1870s.

Dotted lines show the lost rail routes on an information board along the walk 

The ambitious ‘New Works’ plan would’ve seen all the lines combined with the Northern Line on the Underground, but the project was only partly complete at the outbreak of WWII. Some passenger trains ran until the 1950s and freight trains until the 1960s but it was eventually mothballed.

Creating the Parkland Walk

The Parkland Walk officially opened in 1984, following part of the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway. Designated as Metropolitan Open Lane, it’s also London’s longest nature reserve.

On that theme, we then join the main section of the walk, following the signs for Parkland Walk (South).

But before heading off to the right hand side, starting along the path, it’s worth doubling back on yourself and walking towards this dead end.

These are London’s very own bat caves! Hosted in the former tunnels of the railway line.

From here the path follows a straight line along a slightly raised level above the streets. Rather like the famous New York High Line which opened in 2009, The Parkland Walk is sometimes suggested as an inspiration for the US project.

Varying between woodland and more open paths, there’s plenty of evidence of what looks like former platforms along the route.

As well as the ubiquitous aerosol decoration which – depending on your tastes – is either a colourful addition or eyesore.

One thing to make sure you look out for is this playful sculpture of a green man. It’s known as the Spriggan Sculpture and is by Marilyn Collins.

Peering down at passersby, the sculpture and walk supposedly inspired Stephen King’s short story ‘Crouch End’, which features a police investigation about a missing person and a monster on the loose.

But don’t let that put you off! Personally I find him rather friendly-looking.

The walk comes to end as you reach Finsbury Park, finishing with a colourful bridge across modern railway lines. It’s then a short walk to Finsbury Park Station.

So if you’re looking to get back to nature but still want a walk with urban features then try the Parkland Walk. It was a glorious sunny day when I tried it, but it’s great all year round.

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