About the Author
Peter Aylmer discovered the joys of walking in London as a way of relaxing after work – first by walking back home through Epping Forest, and then by using the Regent’s Canal instead of the Central Line. Over many years he has found just how good London can be to walkers, if you know where to look.
While writing this book, Peter was chair of the London branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association, which offers both long day walks and short evening walks in and around the London area. Beyond London, Peter has completed many long-distance trails and has developed his own routes from the south to the north of each of Wales, England and Scotland. Keen on Britain’s wild places as much as its greatest city, he is publications editor for the Mountain Bothies Association. Peter's website is www.trailman.co.uk.
WALKING IN LONDON: PARK, HEATH AND WATERSIDE WALKS
25 walks in London's green spaces
by Peter Aylmer
JUNIPER HOUSE, MURLEY MOSS,
OXENHOLME ROAD, KENDAL, CUMBRIA LA9 7RL
© Peter Aylmer 2017
First edition 2017 Reprinted 2019 (with updates)
ISBN 9781783625451
Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
All photographs are by the author unless otherwise stated.
Acknowledgments
The London Wildlife Trust, and in particular its Director of Conservation Mathew Frith, helped to point me in the right direction for some of London’s great wildlife habitats, which form a theme throughout the book. Mark Gorman, a historian of London’s open spaces, has provided valuable comment on this aspect, another key theme. Thanks also to the wildlife photographers whose work features in this book, several of whom are linked to the Wren Wildlife and Conservation Group.
Two local groups have been of inestimable help in putting these walks together: the London branch of the Long Distance Walkers Association and the Wren Group, whose main interest is Wanstead Flats. Both found themselves taken to far-flung parts of the capital with draft walk directions thrust in their hand, to make sure that I could distinguish left from right. Any remaining errors rest with the author, alas.
Updates to this Guide
While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/813/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, Juniper House, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL, United Kingdom.
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CONTENTS
Walk 1 Rainham Marshes and Coldharbour Point
Walk 3 Epping Forest from Chingford
Walk 4 Wanstead Flats and Park
Walk 5 Olympic Park and Greenway
Walk 6 River Lea
Walk 7 Enfield Chase
Walk 8 Regent’s Canal
Walk 9 New River and Parkland Walk
Walk 10 Royal Parks
Walk 11 Hampstead Heath
Walk 12 Dollis Valley Greenwalk
Walk 13 Ruislip Woods
Walk 14 Yeading Brook
Walk 15 Crane Park
Walk 16 Bushy Park and Home Park
Walk 17 Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park
Walk 18 Kew and Isleworth
Walk 19 Wandle Trail
Walk 20 Happy Valley
Walk 21 Hills and woods of Croydon
Walk 22 Sydenham Hill Wood
Walk 23 Woodlands of south-east London