There’s no shortage of green spaces to walk your dog in London but sometimes it’s worth striking out and going to a new place. I did this yesterday with a train journey into central London and then a 20 minute stint on the Northern Line to Highgate.
Just a few minutes’ walk from the station (Mill Hill Lane) you enter one of the many gates into Highgate Woods. The minute you step away from the road you are in woodland heaven. Rather than formal paths you follow the heavily trodden earth paths through the trees. Whilst there are enough joggers, families with buggies and dog walkers so that you don’t feel alone, there is so much space that you can easily find a little peaceful solitude.
The trees overhead mean that you are not exposed to strong sunlight so your dog can scamper around and explore quite happily. There are lots of fallen trees, logs and stumps on the ground that make excellent sniffing points. Soon we came across the wooden huts belonging to the park keepers – there were notices about events and wild life. Nearby is a large fenced area containing a playground with all manner of climbing frames, swings and slides if you have children with you on your walk.
We continued through the sun dappled woods until we came out into a large meadow. Even though there are football and cricket pitches here there was plenty of space for a game of ball. We watched a rather regal Red Setter race around with his family.
There was a wild flower patch here – and the poppies were just about to explode into colour. The field was surrounded by trees all around offering further walking options and lots of benches hidden in the shade if you needed a short rest. Picnic tables too. Then we came across another hut – the signs indicated that green woodpeckers had been spotted nearby.
There was a lovely old brick building here – with a large clock on the front – the Pavilion Café. It looked busy although our view was obscured by the high bushes all around it. Sadly, dogs are not allowed in here but we found an ice cream stall just to the side so we were happy.
We continued through the woods and spotted a large, scruffy crow. He was quickly chased away. At a fork in the path – one leading up a hill into more woodland, the other returning to the road we found a water fountain where there was a low stone container for dogs to drink.
Further along the path, there was a Border Collie working very hard fetching a stick. Then another Border Collie joined in – although a Staffy got a little over enthusiastic with the game. A moment of dog walker happy chatter and we all moved on in different directions. Later we crossed the road and had an explore of Queen’s Woods. More natural woodland – dog heaven.
