Walks on Hampstead Heath - No.1 Golders Green to Hampstead

Exit from station booking hall and turn right along path leading to main road.Turn right, pass under the bridge and then take the first right along Rotherwick Road.Follow Rotherwick Road to T junction at the top and turn right along Corringham Road.Follow Corringham Road as it turns left until you reach T junction with Hampstead Heath Extension directly in front of you.

Cross the road onto the Heath and follow the path as it forks right across the open field.Follow the path as it passes between two buildings (toilets on right) and continues uphill.At the first path crossing walk a few paces to the right and admire the view back over North London (A). Return to the path and continue up leaving the fenced ponds on your left.Follow the path as it bears right, leaving a fountain on your left, until you exit onto a road.

Cross the road into Sandy Heath and continue some 50m in the same direction up a path with some steps and then turn left along a path which runs parallel to the road.Follow the path as far as it goes and then turn right uphill leaving a fence and houses on your left. Continue uphill up some steps until you reach a road near the Spaniards Pub.

Cross the road at the nearby pedestrian crossing and turn right for a few metres until you come to a gate on the left. Pass through the gate into Kenwood and follow the path downhill between fences.Bear left at a big tree and continue on the path downhill until you come to a major cross-path. Turn left along this path.From the crest of a slope you will see Kenwood Dairy (B) ahead and to the left. Before you are level with the dairy turn right at the path junction and walk through the gates into Kenwood House (C). Look at the Henry Moore statue on the right and continue ahead in the same direction bringing you to the front of Kenwood House (café and toilets).Go past the House. Ignore the main path on the right and turn left at a sign to the walled garden. Pass through the gates to leave Kenwood. Follow the path up a slope and stop to enjoy the view of the City of London (D).

Continue a few metres on the same path and then turn right at the path junction and follow that path until you come to a gate back into Kenwood. Pass through the gate and immediately turn left along a path which runs downhill. Follow the path into woods and keep on it until you reach more gates ahead of you where you will leave Kenwood.

Pass through the gates and immediately turn right along a path which climbs uphill. Follow the path keeping the fenced woods on your right, pass a shelter on the right above the path. At the top of the hill you will come to a path junction. Take the path straight ahead which runs downhill and over a bridge. You will shortly come to a T-junction with a cross-path.

Turn right along this path, passing toilets on the right, and follow it uphill until you reach a gate by a road. There are more views over London on the left.

Pass through the gate and turn left along the pavement with Jack Straw’s Castle and then the Whitestone Pond (E) on the other side of the road. Keep straight on at the traffic lights and the road (Heath Street) will take you downhill to Hampstead Station on your left. You can return to Golders Green by tube train or bus 268.