Join us on Saturday 18 January for this wonderful exploration of the New River in North London.

The New River is neither new nor a river. Built when Shakespeare was alive, it is a water aqueduct, completed in 1613, to bring drinking water from Hertfordshire to North London. The aqueduct is Thames Water’s oldest manmade asset, pre-dating some of London’s more famous historic sites like Buckingham Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral by decades.

The 25-mile river, which rises at Chadwell Spring in Hertford and ends at the East Reservoir at Woodberry Wetlands in Stoke Newington remains a vital artery supplying drinking water to 700,000 Londoners over 400 years later. The New River used to end at New River Head in Islington, but the route has been covered over time. (in the 1850s, in an attempt to prevent Cholera in London)

Our walk picks up the New River Path in Wood Green. We follow it to Alexandra Palace, then to Finsbury Park and the beautiful water reservoirs, where we can watch the birds and see the castle, which was once a pumping-house and is now a climbing centre – which was designed in 1855 and inspired by Sterling Castle in Scotland.

Much of the route is flat, passing through green spaces as well as along some roads, but there are some stretches that could be muddy. Bring good footwear, preferably waterproof with good profile on the soles.

How to find us:

We will meet at Saturday 18 January 9.45 by the Northern Line entrance to Elephant and castle Tube station, from where we take the underground to Kings Cross station. From there we change to the Piccadilly line to Wood Green. (Wood Green has step free access)

If this is easier for you, you can also meet us at Wood Green station, where we should arrive around 10.45 am.
Please make sure you text me on 078 078 3456 4 to tell me you plan to do that, so we don’t hang around waiting for you at Elephant and Castle! 🙂

Terrain and length of the route:

The route is about 7 miles/ 11 kilometres. Much of the route is on a firm level path. There are however some grassy tracks along the route, where mud is possible.

Toilets, food/drinks & what to bring:

Wood Green station is step free and there are plenty of cafes on the high street if we need a toilet stop before we start our walk. Most of the walk is in an urban setting, so we should be able to find a nice cafe for lunch.

This walk will happen in any weather, unless it is unsafe. Please check the forecast and bring a (warm) hat, plenty of water and waterproofs. Waterproof trainers with a good grippy profile are highly recommended.

Who can join?

Anyone who can comfortably walk 7 miles. Feel free to bring a friend or family member, with or without poles. Nordic Walker or not, you are very welcome to join us, if you are Fit (enough) and Happy! 😊
Cost:

£10. If you are one of our regular Fit and Happy Outdoors walkers I can recommend buying a ten-session card for £89.
(Train tickets and food or drinks at café not included)
Nordic Walking:

Many of our regulars are nordic walkers, but you can join this walk with or without Nordic Walking poles.

Curious?

If you have never Nordic Walked before then our free taster sessions are probably the best option to feel what Nordic Walking can do for you, and how it is different from just “walking with sticks”. However, I am happy to lend you some poles, and I am sure some of the walkers will give you some quick tips. Of course, if I do happen to have a spare moment, and don’t need all my wits to make sure we don’t get lost, I am happy to give you some pointers too.

Don’t have your own poles? Would you like to borrow some from me? Text me the MORNING OF THE WALK on 078 078 3456 4 and I will bring you some. (please, please do not ask me days before, as I will forget and that will make us both unhappy!)

How to join this walk

New to Fit and Happy Outdoors? Please fill in the registration and health questionaire, which you can find here and email them to walks@fitandhappyoutdoors.com at least 24 hours before the session, mentioning in the header which walk you want to join. That will give us enough time to get back to you and discuss your needs and experience.

Please sign up for our Meetup Group to easily RSVP and find out when the next walks are.

Not on Meetup (yet)? You can also use this contact form: