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Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) walk

Finsbury and Clissold Parks, Woodberry Wetlands (two reservoirs), The New River (a canal supplying water to London) and Abney Park (a Magnificent 7 Cemetery)

Easy London Short

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Mon, 18-Apr-22 Monday Walk - Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) - a glorious cafe and pub crawl 16 sunny
Mon, 27-Aug-18 Bank Holiday Walk - Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) [Short Walk] 25 overcast but warmish
Mon, 29-May-17 Bank Holiday Walk - Café Crawl in Stokey: Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs) [New Walk] [Late Start] 17 sunny initially becoming overcast and muggy
Thomas G
Length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi) [or 5.0 km/3.1 mi with the Manor House ending]
Net Walking Time: 1 ½ hours

Meet at 11.00 outside Finsbury Park Station (Main Line Services from Kings Cross or St. Pancras I'nal, and Victoria and Piccadilly Lines).

Return trains from Stoke Newington Overground go to Liverpool Street or to Enfield Town or Cheshunt (in case of track work-related closures on the day: buses will take you to L’pool St as well). Manor House is served by the Piccadilly Line.

Woodberry Wetlands is a Thames Water-owned and London Wildlife Trust-run urban nature reserve on East Reservoir, one of the two Stoke Newington reservoirs on the New River (which – famously – is “neither new nor a river”). The reservoirs were built in 1833 to hold water from the New River, a man-made canal supplying drinking water to London from springs near Ware in Hertfordshire. The reservoir had been off-limits to the public for more than 180 years until 2016, when Woodberry Wetlands and its fantastic café in the former coal house opened.
The route starts with a meander through Finsbury Park before entering the Wetlands and then continues along the New River past the West Reservoir to Green Lanes, to then lead south, then east through Clissold Park (and its café in Clissold House) and along the very charming Stoke Newington Church Street to Abney Park cemetery (one of the most splendid and enlightened of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ London garden cemeteries) and from there to Stoke Newington Overground.

An Alternative Finish goes north from the West Reservoir along Green Lanes back to Manor House Underground (or even back to Finsbury Park Station, this adds 1.4 km)

Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve.

Lunch/Tea: umpteen cafés and 3 pubs en route (see webpage or pdf for details).

For summary, map, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.26

  • 17-Apr-22

    If you turn left for the circuit of the reservoir look out for the swans nest which a couple of weeks ago had a decent clutch of eggs which now may well be hatched.

  • 18-Apr-22

    15 at the station (incl. 3 first-timers) plus 1 other 15 mins behind due to the Thameslink Central London stretch being snarled up (a broken rail at St Pancras), ie 16 in sunny weather.

    Delightful weather, plenty of people out and about, indeed with nesting swans on the New River (thanks, Pete B), also with some bluebells and some wild garlic (in the cemetery).

    A couple stopped at the cafe on the reservoir, others dropped out on Stokey's thoroughfare for food or drink, 8 eventually had lunch (solid or liquid) at the Three Crowns.

Thomas G
Length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi) [or 5.0 km/3.1 mi with the Manor House ending]
Meet at 11.30 (eleven-thirty!) outside Finsbury Park Station (Main Line Services from Kings Cross, and Victoria and Piccadilly Lines).
Return trains from Stoke Newington Overground go to Liverpool Street or to Enfield Town or Cheshunt. Manor House is served by the Piccadilly Line.
Woodberry Wetlands is a Thames Water-owned and London Wildlife Trust-run urban nature reserve on East Reservoir, one of the two Stoke Newington reservoirs on the New River (which – famously – is “neither new nor a river”). The reservoirs were built in 1833 to hold water from the New River, a man-made canal supplying drinking water to London from springs near Ware in Hertfordshire. The reservoir had been off-limits to the public for more than 180 years until 2016, when Woodberry Wetlands and its fantastic café in the former coal house opened.
The route starts with a meander through Finsbury Park before entering the Wetlands and then continues along the New River past the West Reservoir to Green Lanes, to then lead south, then east through Clissold Park (and its café in Clissold House) and along the very charming Stoke Newington Church Street to Abney Park cemetery (one of the most splendid and enlightened of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ London garden cemeteries) and from there to Stoke Newington Overground.

An Alternative Finish goes north from the West Reservoir along Green Lanes back to Manor House Underground (or even back to Finsbury Park Station, this adds 1.4 km)
Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve.
Lunch/Tea: 14 Cafés and 3 Pubs en route (see webpage or pdf for details).
For summary, map, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.26
  • 27-Aug-18

    22 assembled at Finsbury Park, 2 joined at Manor House, 1 ran late and caught up with the group at the Wetlands, so 25 in overcast but warmish weather.

    nobody stopped at any of the many cafes en route, so 2 peeled off at the end to go to a nearby pub, most everyone else strode back through the cemetery to Stokey Church Street for a meal. About 10 then went across the street to the Auld Shillelagh, the 'best Irish pub outside of Ireland', one of many no doubt. A longish session ensued, after which a handful strode back to Islington. A rather full day out for a short walk...

Thomas G
Tired after a gruelling trip to Glencoe? Tired after two strenuous SWC walks on Saturday and Sunday? Tired of life? Come to Stokey!

SWC Short Walk 26 – Woodberry Wetlands (Stoke Newington Reservoirs)
Length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi) [or 5.0 km/3.1 mi with the Manor House ending]

Meet at 11.30 (eleven-thirty!) outside Finsbury Park Station (Main Line Services from Kings Cross, and Victoria and Piccadilly Lines), Station Place/National Rail Exit.
Return trains from Stoke Newington Overground go to Liverpool Street or to Enfield Town or Cheshunt. Manor House is served by the Piccadilly Line.
Woodberry Wetlands is a Thames Water-owned and London Wildlife Trust-run urban nature reserve on East Reservoir, one of the two Stoke Newington reservoirs on the New River (which – famously – is “neither new nor a river”). The reservoirs were built in 1833 to hold water from the New River, a man-made canal supplying drinking water to London from springs near Ware in Hertfordshire. The reservoir had been off-limits to the public for more than 180 years until 2016, when Woodberry Wetlands and its fantastic café in the former coal house opened.
The route starts with a meander through Finsbury Park before entering the Wetlands and then continues along the New River past the West Reservoir to Green Lanes, to then lead south, then east through Clissold Park (and its café in Clissold House) and along the very charming Stoke Newington Church Street to Abney Park cemetery (one of the most splendid and enlightened of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ London garden cemeteries) and from there to Stoke Newington Overground.

An Alternative Finish goes north from the West Reservoir along Green Lanes back to Manor House Underground (or even back to Finsbury Park Station, this adds 1.4 km)
Please note: Dogs are not allowed in the Nature Reserve.

Lunch/Tea: 16 Cafés and 2 Pubs en route (see webpage or pdf for details).
For summary, map, photos, walk directions and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.26
  • Anonymous
    22-May-17

    this sounds bliss and just what I need!

  • 29-May-17

    Delightful stroll through some parts of London unfamiliar to me, with much wildlife, including nesting birds. I strolled along, taking many pics, and getting left behind by 10yds for every shot - but enjoyed the walk in the way I like - smells, views, bird songs, pauses for the views and was amazed by the astonishing Abney Cemetery at the end. Super walk directions - thank you, with extra nudges to see less obvious points.

    Here are the flickr pics taken on my leisurely stroll

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/ramblinros/albums/72157684321053256

  • Karen
    29-May-17

    17 sunny initially becoming overcast and muggy

    17 walkers started out on this exploration in North London, 16 departing at the posted time and 1 playing catch up (but who managed to overtake the group without noticing them, or they noticing her). A pleasant stroll through a bustling Finsbury Park, surprisingly peaceful Woodberry Wetlands, busy Clissold Park, and atmospheric Abney Park cemetery. We paused at the Coal House in the Woodberry Wetlands where some had refreshments and 2 stayed on. Another walker was tempted into Clissod Park Cafe. Near the end of the walk, Church Street in Stoke Newington is an impressive stretch of independent eateries and shops - a refreshing change from the usual chain-packed high street. 7 were tempted to return at the end of the walk and ate and drank well in one such establishment, before going their separate ways at 17:00ish. A nice introduction for those who haven't spent much time in this part of North London.