N London urban walk: Finsbury Park to the river
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Total route: 9km/5.5 miles Possible early drop outs at 4 and 7.5km and elsewhere Easy walking on hardstanding throughout, mostly level No public toilets except at Farringdon station and Paternoster Square (near St Paul's) but there are many cafes and pubs en route This route in some of the most built up parts of north London nevertheless takes you through many parks and gardens with surprisingly few roads to cross. Starting on the south east side of Finsbury Park station, on Station Place, you will see across Seven Sisters Road the tiny entrance to Gillespie Park (red arrow), up a short flight of steps. Take this and walk along the gravel path beside the railway. This park was established as a local nature reserve by Islington council, and is a stronghold for biodiversity in the area. Continue always keeping to the right nearest the railway, following a tarmaced path down the hill past the Ecology Centre, then turn right onto Drayton park, past the Ars