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Haringey: Downhills Park

Difficulty Easy

Walking time 34 minutes

Length 1.1km / 0.7mi

Route developer: Michael Young

Route checker: Janine Chin-Saunders

Start location West Green Learning Centre
Route Summary Short circular route that includes external roads and internal paths of Downhills Park, Haringey, London N15.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there

By bus: W4, 41, 230, 341

By tube: Turnpike Lane, Piccadilly Line, and then by bus, or walk, about 15-16 minutes.

Description

This route starts and finishes at the gates to West Green Learning Centre, via Philip Lane and Keston Road, entering a corner of Downhills Park at the junction of Downhills Park Road and Keston Road, before going West and then South through the Park to Philip Lane, West Green Road, and the West Green Learning Centre (Park Academy) again.

 [1] Coming out of West Green Learning Centre (Park Academy), turn left and walk along Philip Lane, past the Philip Lane entrance to Downhills Park.

Note, on the left there is the Wisdom Primary and Secondary School, housed in an impressive Victorian building, set back from the road.  At this point, to the right, are the West Green Neighbourhood gardens, set around a memorial to local people who died in the Great War (1914-18)

[2] Carry on in the same direction along Philip Lane, past the Harris Primary Academy and the New Testament Assembly place of worship, until reaching the traffic controlled Keston Road (F).

[3] Turn left, walk slightly uphill, along Keston Road, past "I & C Memorials" entrance at 1A, to the top where the road bears right and a prominent warning sign “Elderly People” is located at a point of access for traffic to the Goan Community Centre, the Sure Start West Green Playgroup, and Haringey Council property (G).
Negotiate this crossing and others further along with care, continuing to the end of Keston Road (H), ignoring Ripon Road on the other side.

[4] At the end of Keston Road, the junction with Downhills Park Road, turn immediately left into Downhills Park (I).  Follow this path past the council’s park notice board, straight on passing a pavilion and bowling green space on the right and tennis courts to the left, until reaching a junction of paths. 

There is an abundance of wildlife in the park including many, often regularly fed and quite tame, squirrels one of which can be seen in an accompanying photograph.

[5] Take the left hand path, curving South, with tennis courts well to the left. Use it to reach a main North/South path (J) through the heavily wooded are and the ornamental Italian Gardens at the heart of Downhills Park. They are to the West and North respectively.
On reaching this point (K) it will be found that there are children’s play areas ahead on the left of the main path; these play areas being separated into two sections to cater for younger and older children.

[6]  Continue walking South, slightly downhill (A), along the main path through a magnificent  avenue of deciduous trees, until reaching a large ‘roundabout’ where four paths would otherwise cross (B).

[7] This railed-off grassy ‘roundabout’ can be accessed through gates in its perimeter, but notice that this access is not available to dogs.  Within the railed off area are a number of refectory-style tables and benches making it a good point at which to rest and perhaps take refreshment, weather conditions allowing.

[8] The path South continues, with a slight kink to the left (C), towards the park exit. Ignoring a path at a right angle, on the left, which provides access to the primary section of the Wisdom School. The exit onto Philip Lane is soon reached (D), whereupon a sharp right turn along the pavement for 50 metres brings the walker back to the West Green Learning Centre (Park Academy) entrance, where West Green Road and Philip Lane meet.  

POI information

Downhills Park has been a winner of the prestigious Civic Trust Green Flag award every year since 2006.

The formal Italian Gardens to the East of the park retain the elegant early 19th Century design that was put in place when it was previously the Mount Pleasant Estate and the location of a now long-gone manor house, a few remains from which can be found in the stone balustrade North of the basketball and tennis courts.

The beauty of the formal gardens, rose beds, and annual bedding, changes of course with the seasons, and is probably seen at its best in the Spring and early Summer.

There are plenty of places and seats at which to stop to enjoy the flora and fauna. 

London Borough of Haringey website: www.haringey.gov.uk.

 

 

 

Notes No details available.
Acknowledgements

London Borough of Haringey, Parks and Environmental Services - www.haringey.gov.uk

  • On the right, memorial to those who lost their lives in World War One.
    On the right, memorial to those who lost their lives in World War One.
    By - Michael Young
  • Greenery
    Greenery
    By - Michael Young
  • Tree path
    Tree path
    By - Michael Young
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