islington
LEISURELY WALKS
 The
Leisurely Walks Group has half-day walks of up to
three miles.Group Coordinator: Derek Harwood (click to contact) |
|
When
One walk each month on varying days of the week. If there is enough support and others are prepared to lead some walks, we will then increase the frequency. |
| Where Most walks will be fairly local
but some utilising public transport will be
slightly further afield (but still within
Greater London).
|
Main Walking Groups
Choice of walking groups:
- Leisurely: up to 3 miles at a leisurely pace taking 2 to 3 hours, one a month.
- Amblers: up to 5 miles at a reasonably steady pace, usually twice a month
- Shorter: between 5 to 7 miles usually at a moderate to brisk pace, three times a month
- Longer: between 8 to 14 miles at a reasonably fast pace, once a week
Background
Since Spring 2018 iU3A has had a Leisurely Walks group (in addition to the current Shorter and Longer Walk groups). This group offers a monthly half-day walk (on different days of the week) of up to three miles. The pace is leisurely, with pauses along the way. The start and end points are easily reached by public transport and are in the Freedom Pass travel zones. Some walks are local, e.g. Clissold Park and the New River Path; others are sometimes further afield, e.g. Trent Park. The walks may feature river or canal towpaths, parks and nature reserves, while others may be more urban and explore a London 'village’. They are ideal for members who like gentle outdoor exercise at a slower pace than the other walking groups. If you are interested in joining this new group please use the email link above to advise the Group Coordinator or join online through the Members' System ('Beacon') here.
Our experience of organising walks has suggested a few common-sense guidelines, to ensure everyone’s enjoyment and safety on our walks. You can see them here.
We won't have sign-ups per walk — you can just turn up on the day. But if you are late we won't be expecting you so we won't wait for you.
In addition to this Group if you don't see what you like here, you might want to look at our Discovering Islington Group here.
Our Next Leisurely Walks
Full walk details including meeting points
and times will be available a week or two before the walk.
You'll be able to see them (and print them if you like) from
a link on this page. Where it says 'Details here', click on
'here' when it is highlighted in blue.
Walk details and dates for September and October to be added.
Future dates:
Dates for the 2023/24 walks to be set once walk leaders are found. If you want to volunteer to lead one of these walks (help will be provided regarding the admin., etc) please use the contact link at the top to drop Derek an email.
Recent WalksWalk details and dates for September and October to be added.
Future dates:
Dates for the 2023/24 walks to be set once walk leaders are found. If you want to volunteer to lead one of these walks (help will be provided regarding the admin., etc) please use the contact link at the top to drop Derek an email.
July, Greenwich Circular: On
a lovely sunny day we passed the Cutty Sark and walked
through the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College, admiring
the Chapel interior and the view of the Queens House. On
entering the Park we straddled the Meridian Line on the
Millennium Sundial and gently ascended One Tree Hill to
admire the view painted by Turner. We patronised the
Ignatius Sancho Café and then meandered through the
beautiful Flower Garden regretting that none of the
interesting trees was named and admiring the colourful
circular beds. After a glimpse of Blackheath we ambled back
along the western perimeter via Queen Caroline’s bath down
to the Herb Garden and Parkside Café. Details here.
June, Whitechapel to Wapping: On a lovely sunny morning three of us made our way from Whitechapel Station through the back streets to St Dunstans and All Saints Church with a quick stop at Stepney City Farm where the goats were making the most of being out in the sunshine. After a visit to the Church we continued on to the Yurt Cafe for coffee. By now it was getting quite hot so we decided to make our way back to Highbury & Islington and leave the remainder of the walk for another day. Details here.
April, Finsbury Park: this was a effectively a continuation of the February walk at the south end. We set off from Highbury and Islington station, through Highbury Fields, past the Emirates station into Gillespie park and on to Finsbury Park. After coffee we did a bit of the Parkland Walk before turning round and finishing back at Finsbury Park station. Details here.
March, Whitechapel to Wapping: no-one turned up for this walk. Which was rather a shame as it would have been an interesting walk.
February, Parkland Walk: this time we walked from North to South (Highgate to Finsbury Park). Although the weather forecast was good we did get caught in a brief shower. However, it was mild and the blossom was out in full already. Details here.
February, Camden and Regent's Park: This was our second ad hoc weekend walk for the Ambler and Leisurely groups. Eleven of us had a gentle stroll on what turned out to be a brilliantly sunny morning. We set off from Camden Road, through the newly extended Camden Lock area then along the Regents Canal. Climbing Primrose Hill for the magnificent and ever changing panorama across central London, we then crossed into Regents Park. There was a distinct feeling of early spring with snowdrops and plum blossom in evidence as we continued by the boating lake to a stop for coffee at the Inner Circle cafe. Then via the Japanese garden and the Broad Walk we returned to Camden along Parkway, about 4½ miles in all. Detail of route here.
January, Tower Hill: from Tower Hill we headed via Spirit Quay, Tobacco Dock, Shadwell Basin and King Edward Memorial Park to the Thames Path. We looked inside Ten Trinity Square, formerly headquarters of the Port of London authority and now the Four Seasons Hotel, but decided to get coffee in a less exclusive place in St Katherine's Dock. A quiet route through former docks and Shadwell Basin to Limehouse. Part of a walk from Aldgate to Greenwich in Beyond the End of the Line by Jeff Lock. After following that we had lunch at the Yurt Cafe near Limehouse station, then afterwards proceeded through Limehouse to the station. A popular route for joggers......
Archway to Kenwood: This was an experimental walk jointly for the Ambler and Leisurely walkers, which proved popular as 18 people turned up on a cold but clear day. Starting from Archway station we climbed Highgate Hill as far as Waterlow Park, which we crossed, passing Highgate Cemetery, then through the mock Tudor Holly Lodge Estate, entering Hampstead Heath by the Highgate ponds. Then we climbed Parliament Hill to pause and admire the view, before descending to Hampstead Green, where the Leisurely walkers left us after about 2½ miles. The Amblers continued a further 2 miles, north across the Heath to the Hill Gardens with its magical pergola and then on to stately Kenwood House for lunch.
Angel to Victoria Park: leaving the Angel station we soon picked up the canal and turned east. The number of runners and cyclists wasn't too high. We were favoured with glorious autumnal weather with golden browns and yellow on the trees. We turned into Victoria Park and via the pagoda made our way to the west cafe taking in the variety of bird life on the lake. Details here.
London Wall Walk: Six walkers took the route of the Roman London Wall as it stood in Roman times. Starting at info panel no. 1 by the ruins of a medieval postern gate near the Tower, we walked through the City and past the former city gates following the remaining Museum of London information panels. The best surviving section of the wall was through the entrance of the hotel behind Cooper’s Row, although we had our coffee overlooking the new Vine Street Museum stretch of Roman Wall. A sunny but breezy day, we enjoyed other City sights, including old churches, a few sculptures and a Victorian bathhouse, and learned that Houndsditch is probably named after an area of ditch around the wall where the Romans buried their dogs. We passed greener spaces through the Barbican area — the site of the original Roman fort c. 120AD — plus remains of the wall at the Salters’ Hall garden before the final impressive section at Noble Street, uncovered by WW2 bombs. We finished at the last panel (No. 21) in Aldersgate where a few of us walked through the Postman’s Park before heading for home. Details here.
June, Whitechapel to Wapping: On a lovely sunny morning three of us made our way from Whitechapel Station through the back streets to St Dunstans and All Saints Church with a quick stop at Stepney City Farm where the goats were making the most of being out in the sunshine. After a visit to the Church we continued on to the Yurt Cafe for coffee. By now it was getting quite hot so we decided to make our way back to Highbury & Islington and leave the remainder of the walk for another day. Details here.
April, Finsbury Park: this was a effectively a continuation of the February walk at the south end. We set off from Highbury and Islington station, through Highbury Fields, past the Emirates station into Gillespie park and on to Finsbury Park. After coffee we did a bit of the Parkland Walk before turning round and finishing back at Finsbury Park station. Details here.
March, Whitechapel to Wapping: no-one turned up for this walk. Which was rather a shame as it would have been an interesting walk.
February, Parkland Walk: this time we walked from North to South (Highgate to Finsbury Park). Although the weather forecast was good we did get caught in a brief shower. However, it was mild and the blossom was out in full already. Details here.
February, Camden and Regent's Park: This was our second ad hoc weekend walk for the Ambler and Leisurely groups. Eleven of us had a gentle stroll on what turned out to be a brilliantly sunny morning. We set off from Camden Road, through the newly extended Camden Lock area then along the Regents Canal. Climbing Primrose Hill for the magnificent and ever changing panorama across central London, we then crossed into Regents Park. There was a distinct feeling of early spring with snowdrops and plum blossom in evidence as we continued by the boating lake to a stop for coffee at the Inner Circle cafe. Then via the Japanese garden and the Broad Walk we returned to Camden along Parkway, about 4½ miles in all. Detail of route here.
January, Tower Hill: from Tower Hill we headed via Spirit Quay, Tobacco Dock, Shadwell Basin and King Edward Memorial Park to the Thames Path. We looked inside Ten Trinity Square, formerly headquarters of the Port of London authority and now the Four Seasons Hotel, but decided to get coffee in a less exclusive place in St Katherine's Dock. A quiet route through former docks and Shadwell Basin to Limehouse. Part of a walk from Aldgate to Greenwich in Beyond the End of the Line by Jeff Lock. After following that we had lunch at the Yurt Cafe near Limehouse station, then afterwards proceeded through Limehouse to the station. A popular route for joggers......
Archway to Kenwood: This was an experimental walk jointly for the Ambler and Leisurely walkers, which proved popular as 18 people turned up on a cold but clear day. Starting from Archway station we climbed Highgate Hill as far as Waterlow Park, which we crossed, passing Highgate Cemetery, then through the mock Tudor Holly Lodge Estate, entering Hampstead Heath by the Highgate ponds. Then we climbed Parliament Hill to pause and admire the view, before descending to Hampstead Green, where the Leisurely walkers left us after about 2½ miles. The Amblers continued a further 2 miles, north across the Heath to the Hill Gardens with its magical pergola and then on to stately Kenwood House for lunch.
Angel to Victoria Park: leaving the Angel station we soon picked up the canal and turned east. The number of runners and cyclists wasn't too high. We were favoured with glorious autumnal weather with golden browns and yellow on the trees. We turned into Victoria Park and via the pagoda made our way to the west cafe taking in the variety of bird life on the lake. Details here.
London Wall Walk: Six walkers took the route of the Roman London Wall as it stood in Roman times. Starting at info panel no. 1 by the ruins of a medieval postern gate near the Tower, we walked through the City and past the former city gates following the remaining Museum of London information panels. The best surviving section of the wall was through the entrance of the hotel behind Cooper’s Row, although we had our coffee overlooking the new Vine Street Museum stretch of Roman Wall. A sunny but breezy day, we enjoyed other City sights, including old churches, a few sculptures and a Victorian bathhouse, and learned that Houndsditch is probably named after an area of ditch around the wall where the Romans buried their dogs. We passed greener spaces through the Barbican area — the site of the original Roman fort c. 120AD — plus remains of the wall at the Salters’ Hall garden before the final impressive section at Noble Street, uncovered by WW2 bombs. We finished at the last panel (No. 21) in Aldersgate where a few of us walked through the Postman’s Park before heading for home. Details here.
Archive
For the archived details of previous leisurely walks have a look here:
For the archived details of previous leisurely walks have a look here: