Want to know more about this one? Try any of these podcasts:
The Perfect Start London Unrolled Where London Begins
Border Country…steeped in history
The above’s a link to a detailed podcast about Hadley Wood, our beachhead, our jumping off point. Why it’s special. Prefer reading to listening? There’s a script to go with it.
The Curtain Rises at Hadley Wood
And The Curtain Rises at Hadley Wood – also a link – makes two. A second, different, detailed podcast about the starting point for this walk. It includes a really good tip if you get there early. Prefer reading to listening? There’s a script to go with it.
Dr Livingstone, I presume
And this one’s my (David’s) response to the walk. I went on the first one. This podcast goes over the ground. It reports back. Yes, there’s a script if you’d rather read than listen.
This is it…
The start line of an epic journey across the capital – one foot in Hertfordshire, one in London. Move off dipping down the Broadgate meadows with their Green Belt ‘mosaic of habitats’ to enjoy the pasture beyond. And pause. Is this where London’s green belt is too tight for its housing appetite? Might it be loosened? Diving into Hadley Woods, it’s easy leave that thought behind.
And as you emerge onto Hadley Common the Tudor tower of St Mary’s church heralds the village of Monken Hadley clustered round its green and village ponds. Really? In Greater London? Yes really.
Imposing house fronts speak of centuries of well-to-do living –in touching distance of the city. The cottage clusters may have serviced Great North Road coaching inns – one change of horses out from London. Then the view – a great vista of what’s ahead on this journey before the hill plunges towards High Barnet. To finish, you’re on the ground of the Barnet horses fairs, where Romany and traveller families bought and sold, where horses raced till the railway cut the course in half. This is a London like you’ve never seen it.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Michael Stolz –
Charlie‘s walks across London are exceptional. I just followed the first two episodes this Sunday. We went through unknown parts of the city‘s surroundings even not known by fellow walkers who had lived in the areas: small villages, woodland, areas with gorgeous views towards London. Charlie‘s comments are very instructive and entertaining. Highly recommendable!
Dorothy MacDonald –
Great start to the Ultimate London Walk with sections 1 & 2 yesterday. This promises to be a fascinating journey, who would have believed these woodlands and meadows still exist. As always Charlie is a fountain of knowledge presented in such a fun and lively way.
Dorothy MacDonald –
Great start to the Ultimate London Walk with sections 1 & 2 yesterday. This promises to be a fascinating journey, who would have believed these woodlands and meadows still exist. As always Charlie is a fountain of knowledge presented in such a fun and lively way.
Patricia Pledger –
Today I joined the first and second walks of 14 in the Ultimate London Walk with Charlie. Always wonderful value and full of fascinating information, Charlie never fails to give the “ultimate” in content and interest, and this was no different. Both walks took us through countryside, fields, woods and villages from Hadley Wood on the Hertfordshire border to Woodside Park and it was hard to believe one was in London. This is a totally new area for me and I will be joining walks 3 and 4 next Saturday to continue the adventure.
Mary Alden –
I just finished section 1 and 2 of this walk. It was fantastic. Charlie created a wonderful route that included a lot of green space. As always, Charlie has very interesting comments and information. I highly recommend these walks