This is a walk that uses the trackbed of railway line (originally the Edgware, Highgate and London Railway) that used to run from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace. There were intermediate stations at Stroud Green, Crouch End, Highgate, Cranley Gardens and Muswell Hill.
There are good Wikipedia pages about the railway and the walk, and there is a website for The Friends of the Parkland Walk.
The Southern part runs from the Southern portals of the original Highgate tunnels to a footbridge that crosses the East Coast Main Line to reach Finsbury Park, about 400 metres North of Finsbury Park station, and is downhill all the way – something I just did not consider when I walked it the other way on July 15th 2019, which was too warm to be doing anything like that.
Here are some photos that I took – I have sorted them in North to South order, although the captions still reflect that I was actually walking the other way. I missed quite a lot, so will go back and take more at a later date.
The path in that direction is a dead end.
The path in that direction is a dead end.
Directions to the Northern part.
Directions to the Northern part.
From the West.
Presumably, it wasn’t originally approached up a slope this steep!
From the West.
Presumably, it wasn’t originally approached up a slope this steep!
Showing very clearly that this is a new structure.
Showing very clearly that this is a new structure.
Looking South
Looking South
Looking North.
Looking North.
Looking back to Crouch End Station.
Looking back to Crouch End Station.
It’s 43 miles from Woolwich Foot Tunnel to Richmond Bridge, which is good to know.
More to the point it’s 1 and a half miles to Finsbury Park , which is (almost where I started) – and it’s all uphill to here.
It’s 43 miles from Woolwich Foot Tunnel to Richmond Bridge, which is good to know.
More to the point it’s 1 and a half miles to Finsbury Park , which is (almost where I started) – and it’s all uphill to here.
Actually, the line has turned slightly to run WNW, but you know what I mean.
Actually, the line has turned slightly to run WNW, but you know what I mean.
These
These
At Crouch End station.
At Crouch End station.
The platforms at Crouch End still survive.
The platforms at Crouch End still survive.
Crouch Hill Park is to the left, and this footbridge was built at the same time as the railway to preserve pedestrian access between the 2 sides of the cutting.
Crouch Hill Park is to the left, and this footbridge was built at the same time as the railway to preserve pedestrian access between the 2 sides of the cutting.
This is next to The Cape. I thought I’d managed to take a shot without any children in it but failed.
This is next to The Cape. I thought I’d managed to take a shot without any children in it but failed.
This building was originally built to house switchinng gear as part of the plan to incorporate the line into the Northern Line. It is now a council run community resource. This bit is a new addition.
This building was originally built to house switchinng gear as part of the plan to incorporate the line into the Northern Line. It is now a council run community resource. This bit is a new addition.
Unless it’s Crouch Hill underbridge – sorry, I just can’t remember!
Unless it’s Crouch Hill underbridge – sorry, I just can’t remember!
Actually, this is looking North West. After this bridge, the embankment turns to a cutting, as the land gets higher, and the line turns to run almost exactly Westwards.
Actually, this is looking North West. After this bridge, the embankment turns to a cutting, as the land gets higher, and the line turns to run almost exactly Westwards.
The overbridge itself. Over a road above a tunnel.
The overbridge itself. Over a road above a tunnel.
The Goblin Line between Harringay Green Lanes and Crouch Hill is in tunnel almost directly beneath this spot. It runs NE/SW here and enters just to the right of the building with the arcade on the right.
This was the site of Stroud Green Station.
The Goblin Line between Harringay Green Lanes and Crouch Hill is in tunnel almost directly beneath this spot. It runs NE/SW here and enters just to the right of the building with the arcade on the right.
This was the site of Stroud Green Station.
Looking North from the same spot, showing Upper Tollington Park overbridge.
Looking North from the same spot, showing Upper Tollington Park overbridge.
Looking South from Upper Tollington Park overbridge.
Looking South from Upper Tollington Park overbridge.
The first few yards. It’s a pretty good surface.
The first few yards. It’s a pretty good surface.
This is at the southern end and shows how far you have to go.
This is at the southern end and shows how far you have to go.
This is the view West from the bridge. The Capital Ring continues back behind, while the Parkland Walk is off to the right.
This is the view West from the bridge. The Capital Ring continues back behind, while the Parkland Walk is off to the right.
The view from the bridge over the West Coast Main Line at the bottom of the Parkland Walk South. The other side of the line is Finsbury Park itself and the path is The Capital Ring
The view from the bridge over the West Coast Main Line at the bottom of the Parkland Walk South. The other side of the line is Finsbury Park itself and the path is The Capital Ring