Capital Ring: Section 12 & 13 - Highgate to Hackney Wick

Weather: Mainly sunny with a short sharp shower at the end

Playlist: Last FM Playlist

Time: 3 hours 30 minutes (including a lunch stop in Stoke Newington)

Decided to do some of the more remote (yeah right) sections of the Ring as double headers to maximise the walk/travel ratio. For once the tube gods were with me and the outward and inward travel links were as good as gold.

Each leg of the walk seems to be better than the last, this can't continue! This month the walk started along the Parkland Walk, a disused railway line lined with trees. Halfway along there are the disused platforms of Crouch End station with a surprising resident! I must admit even though I was expecting it I still jumped when I saw it!








Further along the route winds through Finsbury Park - another of London's green lungs. We are so lucky to have so many beautiful parks on our doorsteps. After this the New River wends its way along the contours providing water for London, even though it is neither new nor a river.

Saw numerous brown and blue dragonflies on this stretch which was very peaceful despite passing a large housing estate. Sight lines open up as the path goes past two large reservoirs where I had to cautiously pass seven preening cygnets who had taken up residence on the path. A disused pumping station in the form of castle (got to love those wacky Victorians!) brought a smile to my face though I don't think I'll be using the climbing centre that has been built inside!

Stoke Newington was a bit of a revelation - though I don't know what I was expecting - lots of nice coffee shops and an ideal place to take a break. I chose the Spence Cafe and was not disappointed, good coffee and BLT bagel combo set me up for the second half of the walk.

Abney Park cemetery was wild and eerie with overgrown and canted monuments on every side.

The main part of the rest of the walk from Stoke Newington to Hackney Wick was alongside the Lee (or Lea or Ley) Navigation. Industry on one side and open marshland on the other. Like all of this walk the going was easy as was the navigation. Lots of canal boats moored up on the navigation, many being fettled before the winter. The route gets a little grimmer towards the end especially the link from the canal to the station.

All in all a very enjoyable walk and I can't wait for the next walk in the sequence - another double header that will take me to and under the Thames.