01/07/17 - Dollis Valley GreenWalk

Distance - 10 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Start - Mill Hill Broadway
Finish and Pub - Bull and Bush, Hampstead
Walk Inspiration

This must be the final waymarked walk along a river in London.   I've ticked off the Celandine, the Wandle, The Waterlinks Way, The Thames Path from Windsor to Erith and the Darent Valley.

This walk follows the Dollis and Mutton Brooks from Source, to where they combine to make the River Brent.

The official start is Moat Mount Open Space, sharing the paths with the London Loop.  No hardship to be re-walking this great trail but getting there on public transport would involve some nasty walking along the A1.

So instead, I leave Mill Hill Broadway Station - complete with a taped off crime scene of spilled blood - and head through a town to Highwood Hill.  The Loop and the Dollis Valley Greenway are picked up at Hendon Wood Lane.

There's not a massive amount to say about the walk.  I fight my through the butterflies of Totteridge fields, watching as the stream grows (slightly) in girth and the walking resembles a park side amble on tarmaced paths.

The waymarking is universally excellent.  The waterways are nothing to write home about.

Dollis Valley Greenwalk

More Signage

Getting down to Dollis Brook

As well as sharing paths with the London Loop, we also pick up the Capital Ring at Golders Green.  I previously walked this leg on a Saturday back in 2012 and I had a complete sense of Deja Vu. Once again, the streets were awash with families in their finery heading off to Synagogues.

The best of the walking is at the end, where we meet some extensions to Hampstead Heath, heading through the well thought out named areas of Small Wood and Big Wood.   With no sense of an ending, the walk is over as we enter Hampstead Heath proper.

No sign, no ceremony, just delivered into some open space with all of North London's dog owners.

Entering Big Wood

And the Dollis Valley Greenwalk Terminates here.  

The walk may not have been one of the best on offer in London but I need somewhere better to finish than this.

Fortunately, I have completed my research.  I would normally recommend the Spaniards Inn or a Holly Bush / Flask combo but I have visited all of these in the last couple of years.  The Holly Bush, more than once.

So I'll get a new pub visit - to an historical London pub that has a song recorded in its honour.  I implore you to click on the link and have a bit of a knees up.

The Bull and Bush, North End Way, Golders Green - London Pride

One of London's famous historical pubs but not as well celebrated as say the Spaniards.   This was a day trip destination for the Cockney's to come and get a bit of country air.  There's even a "Ghost Tube" station close by, where the platforms have been built but never completed.

The pub is on a main road and initially, I think it's a fun fair.  There's a huge shriek of over excited kids.  Yep, I've come for a pint and found myself in a kids party.

Fortunately, there is a big enough beer garden to keep me away from the carnage.

Handsome Gaff - My seat next to these ladies.

Two real ales on, and the London Pride was in great condition.  At £3.95, its not too outrageous for this part of the world but I did have to request the rest of the pint.  First attempt was a classic example of a Mekon.  All head.

Better pints served on request

Sat next to the ladies of North London who Lunch, I learned many things.   Including the best milk is not from cows.  It's from almonds.

Who knew?