Access
A number of public footpaths are available. The ones at the north-western end are short and cross the upper valley (see map). There are paths around Darlands Lake: access can be obtained from various points bordering the valley including from Woodside Park (along the Dollis Brook); Laurel Farm; Burtonhole Lane; opposite St Andrew's Church in Totteridge Village, and from The Close (off Totteridge Village - ignore the 'Private Road' sign as there is a public right of way through here but the Public Footpath sign is situated after you go into The Close through the 'Private' gate!).
A circular walk from Burtonhole Lane
This walk takes about 90 minutes at a typical birding speed and passes through a variety of habitats. Wellies are advisable if there has not been a significant period of dry weather. Park your car in Burtonhole Lane just past the left turn to Finchley Nursery (or walk down from the 240 bus stop near the National Institute for Medical Research). Go down past the nursery to reach the gate of Folly Farm and turn right on a fenced footpath alongside Folly Brook. Where the fenced path turns left, go straight ahead into a field and cross it diagonally to a small gate. Through the gate, continue forward on a fenced path for 300m until the path bends slightly left. At the bend you will see a hole in the fence on the right with a clear footpath leading away from it. Climb through the hole and follow the path for another 300m or so to a fork. Take the right fork, which leads round the southern side of Darland’s Lake, rather than the left fork, which follows the lake's north bank. Where the two paths meet again, turn right on a substantial track and continue a short way until it bends left. Here take a path leading off to the right, which after a while crosses the lake’s outflow stream and then follows it through a narrow strip of woodland. Eventually the path comes out into a field of rough grass with young trees. Turn right along the centre of this field, climbing over a hill and down to a band of trees through which you join another footpath. Turn right and after some 200m the path comes out onto Burtonhole Lane, which here is an unsurfaced track. Turn right and follow the lane past Burtonhole Farm and back to your car.
(Data from London Bird Wiki by Ian Ellis Feb-12 , Sash Tusa Dec-09.)
A number of public footpaths are available. The ones at the north-western end are short and cross the upper valley (see map). There are paths around Darlands Lake: access can be obtained from various points bordering the valley including from Woodside Park (along the Dollis Brook); Laurel Farm; Burtonhole Lane; opposite St Andrew's Church in Totteridge Village, and from The Close (off Totteridge Village - ignore the 'Private Road' sign as there is a public right of way through here but the Public Footpath sign is situated after you go into The Close through the 'Private' gate!).
A circular walk from Burtonhole Lane
This walk takes about 90 minutes at a typical birding speed and passes through a variety of habitats. Wellies are advisable if there has not been a significant period of dry weather. Park your car in Burtonhole Lane just past the left turn to Finchley Nursery (or walk down from the 240 bus stop near the National Institute for Medical Research). Go down past the nursery to reach the gate of Folly Farm and turn right on a fenced footpath alongside Folly Brook. Where the fenced path turns left, go straight ahead into a field and cross it diagonally to a small gate. Through the gate, continue forward on a fenced path for 300m until the path bends slightly left. At the bend you will see a hole in the fence on the right with a clear footpath leading away from it. Climb through the hole and follow the path for another 300m or so to a fork. Take the right fork, which leads round the southern side of Darland’s Lake, rather than the left fork, which follows the lake's north bank. Where the two paths meet again, turn right on a substantial track and continue a short way until it bends left. Here take a path leading off to the right, which after a while crosses the lake’s outflow stream and then follows it through a narrow strip of woodland. Eventually the path comes out into a field of rough grass with young trees. Turn right along the centre of this field, climbing over a hill and down to a band of trees through which you join another footpath. Turn right and after some 200m the path comes out onto Burtonhole Lane, which here is an unsurfaced track. Turn right and follow the lane past Burtonhole Farm and back to your car.
(Data from London Bird Wiki by Ian Ellis Feb-12 , Sash Tusa Dec-09.)