Sunday hike, Green Belt, High Barnet - Totteridge - Arkley circular, 10 mls

Discover Green Belt countryside around Barnet, Totteridge and Arkley including some little-known footpaths at Darlands.
Meet 10:30 for 10:45 start outside the ticket office at High Barnet Underground Station (Northern Line), Barnet Hill, Barnet EN5 5RP. We meet at the station entrance a little way up the hill, not the entrance by the car park.
Nearest post code: EN5 5RP
Lat/Long (WGS84) 51.65054, -0.19427
OSGB National Grid Ref. TQ250962
If you miss us at the start, send us a message, take the tube to Totteridge and catch up when we pass Totteridge and Whetstone station about 11:30.
HIKE DESCRIPTION:
A hike in Green Belt countryside around Totteridge with a pub stop at lunch time. From High Barnet Station take Dollis Valley Greenway via Totteridge and Whetstone station to Woodside Park. Go through Darlands Lake Nature Reserve to the Three Hammers pub at Mill Hill. Then via Highwood Hill, Totteridge Fields Nature Reserve, Whitings Wood (Woodland Trust) and London Loop back to Barnet. Walk starts and finishes at High Barnet Tube Station.
About 85% of the route is on footpaths, some tarmac and others may be muddy in places. The other 15% is on roads in built-up areas with pavements. Total distance 10.04 miles (16.15 km) with some hills, 149 metres (489 ft) of ascent and descent.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Darlands Lake Nature Reserve, Totteridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darland%27s_Lake_Nature_Reserve
Whitings Wood (Woodland Trust) https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood/4629/whitings-wood/
The Three Hammers pub, Mill Hill https://www.emberinns.co.uk/nationalsearch/london/the-three-hammers-hammers-lane
HIKING MAP:
Ordnance Survey 'Explorer' 1:25,000 scale, Sheet 173, London North.
ONLINE MAP:
This route was devised by South Herts Hikers. There is a static map in the event photo above and we have also uploaded it to Wikiloc. See: https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/high-barnet-woodside-park-mill-hill-loop-v1-43548015
You can select map or aerial view (OpenStreetmap recommended) and you can zoom in. Navigating the trail outdoors using the Wikiloc app needs the premium version but you can also set up a free Wikiloc login then download a .GPX or .kml file to a mobile device to use with a GPS app such as OSMand, Komoot, All Trails, Outdoor Active, Organic Maps or Google Maps.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO MEETING LOCATION:
London Underground, Northern Line to High Barnet Station or TfL buses 34, 107, 184, 234, 263, 307, 326.
Train to New Barnet Station from Potters Bar, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City then 25 mins walk.
CAR PARKING NEAR MEETING LOCATION:
High Barnet Tube Station car park is expensive (£6.00 Sundays) so you could park free in nearby streets such as Vale Drive EN5 2ED without parking restrictions on Sundays. Please park considerately.
WHAT TO BRING
Much of the route is on public footpaths in the countryside. Some of these may be slippery, muddy or stony in places. We recommend:

• adequate footwear, preferably hiking boots, with thick soles and good grip
• waterproof jacket or umbrella for rain
• sun hat if sunny
• drink essential (1 - 2 litres)
• packed lunch recommended.

IMPORTANT TO KNOW
There will be a 10 minute mid-morning stop 5.8 km from the start at Darlands Lake Nature Reserve and a lunch stop 9.9 km from the start at the Three Hammers pub, Hammers Lane, LONDON NW7 4EA. There may not be time to order food so we recommend a packed lunch. There is a small green area opposite the pub with a seat where you can eat packed lunch. There will also be a 10 minute mid-afternoon stop 12.2 km from the start at Whitings Wood.
Although this event is shown on Meetup as free, from 1st Jan 2025, this group has introduced a monthly membership subscription of £4 per month. You only pay for months when you actually attend an event. Anyone who attends an event needs to be a member of South Herts Hikers, including guests and your membership subscription lasts for one month from the date when you pay. During that time you can attend any other Group events with no extra charge. There will normally be at least one more event in the 31 days after you join, possibly more. This subscription contributes towards the costs of running this Meetup Group including the fees that organisers need to pay Meetup which increased by 80% from July 2024. You can use cash or Paypal https://paypal.me/SouthHertsHikers
Please note our membership criteria and guidelines. From this Meetup Group's home page https://www.meetup.com/southhertshikers/ see What we're about > Read More
For our policy on dogs on our hikes, please see our FAQ page, http://southhertshikers.uk/faq/