Inner London
Ramblers

Hampstead Heath Circular Walk

It is an easy walk of about 4 miles (6 km), mainly on surfaced or semi-surfaced paths.

The walk explores one of London’s best known and loved open spaces. It ascends the viewpoint of Parliament Hill, then skirts the edges of the Heath by way of the Hampstead and Highgate Ponds, before affording the chance to visit one of Britain’s most important art collections. It then plunges into the heart of the Heath before emerging by the Whitestone Pond, and returns to the start via one of Hampstead’s most delightful streets.

1. Turn left out of the station down Hampstead High Street. Take the first left into the part-pedestrianised Flask Walk. There is a pleasant mixture of buildings here, with cottages contrasting with the larger terraces and town houses. At the junction, continue forward past the Victorian Wells and Campden Baths and Wash Houses of 1888 (now housing), and at the next junction, by Burgh House, turn right to cross the ends of Gayton Road and Well Walk and descend along Willow Road. Burgh House dates from 1703 and is now a museum and arts centre.

2. Follow Willow Road right to its end, passing the tree-clad Preacher’s Hill on the left. At the end of the road, pause for a moment outside No 2. This building is considered one of the most important Modernist houses in Britain, and was built as a family home by Ernö Goldfinger in 1937-9. It contains a number of innovations. It was not appreciated by everyone, however. Ian Fleming, the author of the Bond books, lived locally and objected to the concrete house. Ernö Goldfinger’s wishes prevailed, and the story is that Fleming took his revenge by naming one of his principal villains after the architect. 2 Willow Road is now owned by the National Trust and guided tours are available.

3. Fifty metres further on, turn left into a short section of Downshire Hill, then cross East Heath Road to go through a traffic barrier onto the Heath. Almost immediately, turn right downhill on a broad gravel track, then left to reach the corner of the first of the Hampstead Ponds.

The 320 hectares of Hampstead Heath are now well cared for, but it was not always so. In the early 19th century, the Lord of the Manor, Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson, attempted to sell off parts of the Heath for housing, and some parts of the Heath have suffered from large-scale sand extraction.

In 1871 the Hampstead Heath Act enabled the-then Metropolitan Board of Works to acquire the Heath. The Act laid an obligation on the Parks Committee to preserve “as far as may be, the natural aspect and state of the Heath”. Successive local government reorganisation saw the Heath pass through the hands of a number of bodies, control finally residing in the hands of the Corporation of London, who look after it today. The Heath had its own protection society as early as 1897, now has its own constabulary, and the present Heath and Hampstead Society is still very much active in safeguarding the Heath.

The attractive ponds that skirt the Heath reflect its early use as a source of water supply for London. The ponds are fed by the River Fleet, which rises near here and flows into the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge, but which now runs entirely underground. The Heath’s landscape has proved attractive to many artists, the most famous of whom, John Constable, came to live in Hampstead in 1827 and made a number of studies of the Heath.

Hampstead No 2 Pond

4. Now follow the earthen path close to the left edge of the pond. Cross over a made-up path and continue along the left edge of a second pond. At the end of this, turn right, along a railed path, with a third pond — the Mixed Bathing Pond — on your left. Keep forward along this path as it swings right, then left, then keep to the right and go over a cross-path to ascend Parliament Hill.

Parliament Hill is said to get its name from its designation by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War as a defence point for London. It was formerly known as Traitor’s Hill. At the summit there is a viewpoint indicator which identifies buildings in the wide panorama over central London to the south. Looking over to the north-east is a verdant hillside climbing up to Highgate with the spire of St Michael’s Church prominent at the top. The green-domed building further to the right is St Joseph’s Catholic Church.

5. Keeping to the same path, fork left at the cross-path to descend to a T-junction near the corner of the Highgate ponds. Turn left here and, this time, take the hard-surfaced path (not the earth one). Once past the second pond, just past a concrete pillar on the right, turn right at a cross-path and, in 20 metres, right again at a second cross-path to take a fenced path with the third pond — the Model Boating Pond — on your left.

6. Don’t take the now-rising path out to a road, but swing left along the top of this third pond. As this begins to bend left, take the narrow worn track rising half-right over grass to come out on a rising path by toilets. Pass to the left of the toilet block and immediately right on a rise to come out on Millfield Lane in 20 metres. Turn left here, with an iron railing on your left and houses on your right. This tranquil, rough-surfaced, traffic-free lane passes alongside woods and even more ponds, one of which is a ladies-only bathing pond.

Millfield Lane

7. Keep along this secluded lane for about 800 metres. It eventually comes into a clearing, rises, and follows the boundary fence of Kenwood on the left. When Millfield Gate is reached, go through to join a path running parallel, and follow this to Kenwood House, the large mansion you see ahead of you.

Kenwood House is said to be the finest 18th century country house in North London; it was remodelled by Robert Adam in 1764-79. It contains a fine art collection, donated by Earl of Iveagh in 1927, together with the house and grounds. The collection includes works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Turner, Gainsborough and Reynolds. The house and parkland, including extensive woods, are now in the care of English Heritage and entry is free. A good map of Hampstead Heath can be bought at the shop. A restaurant and toilets can be found in the service wing, and Kenwood is noted for its summer open-air concerts in the great bowl below the house.

8. Once your appetite for coffee, cakes and culture has been satiated, ascend the steps from the service wing, turning right alongside the house to pass through an ivy arch at its corner. Now walk left of the house for about 25 metres to find a path passing underneath overhanging shrubbery. This path alternates between lawn-edges and more shrubbery. Look for a modern sculpture, Barbara Hepworth’s “Monolith-Empyrean” on the left and take a path sharp left to go past it. This short path ends in a double-kink before emerging onto a wide terrace. Turn right here. Don’t go through the wooden gate, but swing left on this path, passing Henry Moore’s sculpture “ Two Piece Reclining Figure No 5” at the edge of a large lawn on the left. Follow this path downhill as it swings round left to the Wood Pond in the valley bottom. You will have come in a wide semi-circle, with Kenwood House resplendent on its hill to your left.

Kenwood House

9. Go forward over Stone Bridge into the woods and immediately turn right, keeping by a wire fence overlooking a shallow valley on the right, to a slight clearing, where sits a plaque commemorating the 1987 hurricane. Ignore the path coming in from the left just past this and ease around to the right. Continue on the obvious fenced path, again ignoring a gate to the right. The wire fence on your right becomes iron railings. Shortly before the path turns back on itself you will find a padlocked gate ahead. Just before this point, look for a gate on the right, go through it, then swing around to the left. Ignore the first set of junctions, but continue between barriers formed from recumbent tree branches. These have been placed here to protect a group of ancient trees. Where these barriers finish at a another multi-pathed junction, turn firmly right on a gravelled path running downhill through trees, which drops to cross Bird Bridge. Immediately after this, fork right up a rise and, in another 20 metres, turn right at the junction.

10. Go uphill along this broad path, a deep valley visible to your right. You will pass a mock half-timbered building, containing toilets, on your right. The next point of interest is a small building with a conical roof, just off-route on the left. This was an ice-house, used before the days of modern refrigeration. Ice would be collected from frozen ponds and lakes during the winter and stored in these semi-subterranean buildings, being further insulated with straw. This was a means to keep meat fresh, or simply to provide a supply of ice during the warmer months.

11. Still keep to the rising main path, ignoring other paths joining towards the top of the hill. Swing left to keep on the main path, but soon take an earthen path running parallel to its left along the edge of the hill. From here enjoy fine views over the Vale of Health to central London. The path briefly descends into trees before rising up steps to emerge on Spaniards Road opposite Jack Straw’s Castle.

Jack Straw’s Castle was one of Hampstead's most famous pubs but, alas, now longer functions as such. It claimed to be the highest pub in London. Originally a coaching inn, built in 1721, it has been largely rebuilt several times, especially after extensive war damage. Jack Straw was a ringleader in the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, and is said to have taken refuge hereabouts.

12. Turn left to go over the pedestrian crossing and continue in the same direction to cross Whitestone Walk with care, keeping Whitestone Pond and the flagstaff on your right. Cross West Heath Road at the lights and go forward into Hampstead Grove, offset slightly to the right from the main road.

Hampstead Grove is one of the most pleasant streets in Hampstead with many fine houses and several rewarding byways just off it. Further on, Fenton House is passed on the right. This dates from 1693, and is another National Trust property. It contains fine furniture and one of the largest gardens in Hampstead, but is chiefly known for the Benton Fletcher collection of early keyboard instruments. Most are in working order, and recitals are regularly given.

13. Where Hampstead Grove gives way to Holly Bush Hill, swing left, soon turning into Holly Mount and the Holly Bush pub. A few metres past the pub, take steps down a wide passageway on the left to reach Heath Street. Go across the pedestrian crossing and turn right for 100 metres to return to Hampstead Underground Station.

Recommended pub: Hampstead is not short of good pubs, but the Holly Bush is one of the best. Inside, it feels as if this has always been a pub, but the building began life as stables and was converted to a pub in 1896. There is a good selection of real ale, proper home-cooked food, and even a resident ghost!

© Mike Biggs, Inner London Area Ramblers’ Association, 2006-2007.

If you have any comments about this walk, or notice that it needs updating to take account of changes on the route, then please contact Mike at mikebiggs4@aol.com.