The good thing about London is that you do not need to go far to track down some exceptionally decent walks. Take Horsenden Hill for instance: who would have thought that you could walk through meadows, a farm, a forest and along a Canal, all within a London postcode and accessible by tube? And you can! A walk through Horsenden Hill will definitely make you forget you are in the city.
Logistics of the Horsenden Hill walk
Distance: There are a variety of walks you can do on Horsenden Hill including a Gruffalo Trail which is ideal for kids. I have put below the map of 2.7 mile (4.3km) walk I have done as a reference, but there are many more you can do
Total Ascent: 279 ft (85 m)
Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate depending on your ability to climb the hill. The climb is the only difficult part of the walk
How to get there: Central Line to Perival then it is a 10-minute walk to the car park where the trail starts. Alternatively, you can take bus 297 which will take you much closer. Get off at Perival Community Centre stop and walk to the car park
What do I pack: Comfortable clothing and a decent pair of shoes. You will be climbing a hill as well as walking through a forested area where the path can get muddy if it has been raining during the week. I would recommend hiking shoes or a pair of trainers if you do not mind getting dirty. Bring with you a snack and a packed lunch as there is a kids’ playground which is perfect for a picnic. On a bright day, bring sunscreen and a headcover as you will be walking through open lands
Highlights of the Horsenden Hill Walk
- Community Farm & Farm Shop
- Gruffalo Trail
- Horsenden Hill Trig point
- Horsenden Wood
- Playground
- Grand Union Canal
- Horsenden Hill Activity Center
- Sudbury Golf
- Walk part of the Capital Ring
Horsenden Hill Walk
What is Horsenden Hill?
With 254 acres, Horsenden Hill is the biggest nature conservation site in the borough of Ealing. It is located between Sudbury, Perival and Greenford at the border with the borough of Brent. If you are looking for more walk ideas in the Greenford area, check out the Brent River Park Walk guide.
It is the highest point in Ealing, rising at 85m above sea level. The hill is formed of London Clay with a layer of Dollis Hill gravel at the top to protect it from erosion. The hill was settled 2500 years ago as shown by a large number of potteries found on the hill. These days, the hill is managed by the Ealing Rangers and a volunteer group called the Friends of Horsenden Hill.
Horsenden Farm
Ideally, the walk starts and end at the car park of the Farm where you can stop and buy the local products at the farm shop on your way back. Farming on the hill is dated back to the fifteenth century and remains today. Runs for the most part by volunteers, you can find products such as juice, fruits, jam and bread at the farm shop.
The Gruffalo Trail
Looking for a walk where you can bring the little ones along? Not to worry, Horsenden Hill is the ideal place for them to have a great day out! From Gruffalo Trail to a playground, there is everything they need.
The Gruffalo trail is a fun way to bring to life the animals of Julia Donaldson’s bedtime story. Come and enter the dim forest searching for the Gruffalo and his companions’ sculptures following a map, answering questions and learning about the forest wildlife. This treasure hunt across the woods will bring fun and adventure to your walk!
Horsenden Hill Climb
Unfortunately, when I did the walk, the farm was closed to visitors, therefore I started the walk somewhat further up. The map below shows my exact starting point but, I will encourage you to start at the farm. From there, follow the Gruffalo trail and then turn left to join the main path leading to the top of the hill. Once you arrive at the end of the path turn right and take the stairs to reach the most elevated point of the hill where you will find a trig point. And don’t forget it does not count if you don’t touch it!
Related Content: Best Hill Walks Near London
Horsenden Wood
From the highest point of the hill, you can admire the view over Greenford, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Wembley Stadium. Once at the top if you cut across the field where the trig point is located, you will find Horsenden Hill Activity Center. There you can play Footgolf, Discgolf and Pitch & Putt golf, a fun and alternative way to spend the day!
Take the path just before getting to the Discgolf course to enter Horsenden Wood. This forested area counts over 50 unique types of trees from Oaks to Hornbeams. This is the perfect location to forget that you are in the city, giving you the feeling to be immersed somewhere out of this world. This is without mentioning that you are surrounded by the birdsong of the parakeets. Very popular in West London, there are numerous legends about how these green parrots came to be here. The most well-known one is that Jimi Hendrix freed a pair of birds from his house in Mayfair to breed. It only needs some palm trees and you are on some remote island.
Follow the path across the woods all the way to the bottom and turn left towards Horsenden Lane North.
Horsenden Hill Open Space
Once you go across the road, you arrive in open lands with meadows separated by hedgerows. You will find a variety of wildflowers and some ponds. It is worth having a quick peek at the other fields as you are descending towards the Canal. The map below shows my wonders across the various fields.
The Grand Union Canal
Once you arrive at the base, you come face to face with the Grand Union Canal, Paddington branch. You cross over the bridge and then turn left. You walk along the canal bordered by houseboats, and you can admire ducks to swans drifting around. Beware the cyclists as the towpath is quite narrow and they are not all very experienced!
Related Content: Best Canal Walks in London
At the Paddock Pond, cross over to the opposite bank and you are back at the farm where we started. It’s an ideal opportunity to get to the farm shop and buy some local products.
After the shop, go back to the main road and take the path along the Grand Union Canal. A little bit further down, you will find a playground. It is the perfect way to end this walk if you came with kids and it is a nice spot for a picnic. Bon appetit!
Making the walk longer
If you want to make this walk longer and see more of the surrounding area, here are a few options for you:
- Grand Union Canal: Don’t cross back at Paddock Pond and progress forward on the Grand Union Canal. This branch of the Canal goes all the way to Limehouse Bassin, passing by Little Venice and Camden. It will take approximately 5 hours to complete if you want to go all the way to the end of the branch
- Pitshanger Park: If you fancy visiting a park after your walk, I would advise that you go to Pitshanger Park in Ealing. Located 30 minutes walk away (or 10 minutes if you take the 297), the park is composed of a Golf Club, Tennis courts, Football fields, a playground and allotments. With areas covered in grass, it makes it a nice spot for a picnic and a well-deserved rest
Final thoughts
As much as I love Horsenden Hill (I live nearby so I am a bit biased), this heaven-like piece of countryside in the city has its downsides.
Horsenden Hill can be quite popular on a weekend with kids running around looking for the Gruffalo, dog walkers and locals stretching their legs. However, on weekdays it very well may be abandoned and can feel a bit scary.
On the off chance that you chose to continue on the Grand Union Canal towards Central London, be aware that before you reach lovely Maida Vale, the Canal go through areas such as Alperton and Willesden Junction which do not have a great reputation when it comes to safety.
So, be mindful of the above when you plan your walk, especially if you are going on your own.
Map of the Horsenden Hill Walk
Looking for more walks in London, why not check these articles?
Orpington to Knockholt: An Easy Sunday Walk
Epping Forest: A Walk Accessible By Tube
Circular walks in Essex: 3 loops in Epping Green
Thames path: Belvedere to Greenwich walk
Kingston Loop: A Perfect Sunny Day Walk
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