Capital Ring 11 and 12: Hendon to Finsbury Park

Introduction

Another walk on the Capital Ring long-distance path (section 11 and part of section 12).

Hendon

We started from Hendon Central station, walked through Hendon Park, and then along residential streets and onto Brent Street. Near the road junction, the River Brent runs beside the road and there are two strange-looking gazebos either side of it.

Gazebo.
1/60 at f4, 23mm, ISO200
Gazing at the opposite gazebo.
1/30 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

According to our guidebook, these survive from the gardens of a hotel that was demolished in 1974.

But there’s a nice block of flats still there.
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200

The route then goes through parkland beside the North Circular.

Say No to Meat.
1/30 at f4, 23mm, ISO200
Green pond. (And a duck.)
1/30 at f8, 23mm, ISO200
White streaks on a bit of fence.
1/125 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200

Given the previous graffiti, it might be ironic that the next part of the walk ran alongside Mutton Brook. (It’s a tributary of the River Brent.)

Bridge over the brook.
1/30 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′13″N 0°12′38″W
Tunnel taking Mutton Brook under the North Circular.
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′14″N 0°12′32″W
Tunnel lighting.
1/30 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′14″N 0°12′30″W
Water running down a side wall.
1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′14″N 0°12′29″W

We walked through a residential area for some time.

Private property (nice sign).
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′8″N 0°10′59″W
This may be the world’s ugliest car. If not, it’s probably still the reddest.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′5″N 0°10′22″W

After East Finchley station, we walked through a small park and then into Highgate Wood.

East Finchley station with archer statue.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′14″N 0°9′51″W
Bridges near station.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°35′13″N 0°9′50″W
No wood is complete without a three-piece suite.
1/15 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′48″N 0°8′30″W
Nice wall for walking on.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′44″N 0°8′25″W

There was a short stretch along roads.

‘Never play cards with a man named Doc’; mural next to a bar.
1/60 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′34″N 0°8′37″W
Black and green garage door.
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′33″N 0°8′34″W

We then descended to join the route of a disused railway line.

These two tunnels, in the opposite direction, are gated off.
1/40 at f4, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′35″N 0°8′35″W
They are used, apparently, as a home for bats.
1/15 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 51°34′35″N 0°8′34″W
Bricks, tree, and graffiti.
1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′30″N 0°7′40″W
Stairs out of the railway cutting.
1/60 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′28″N 0°7′37″W
Footbridge.
1/125 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′27″N 0°7′32″W
KZA graffiti. Oh, and a spriggan climbing out of the wall.
1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′27″N 0°7′29″W
Shadows.
1/125 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′27″N 0°7′24″W
Getafix? Probably just a mad scientist. (DRYER.)
1/30 at f2.8, 23mm, ISO800 51°34′27″N 0°7′21″W
Sunlight on brick, graffiti, and tree saplings.
1/30 at f5.6, 23mm, ISO200 51°34′26″N 0°7′10″W

This part of the route ended at a footbridge over the mainline railway (where the disused line had once joined it). We then crossed the park to Finsbury Park station, and took the train home.

Bowling alley.
1/250 at f8, 23mm, ISO200 51°33′54″N 0°6′19″W

All images © Samuel Marshall. All rights reserved.