With Summer around the corner and the sun making an appearance, we all want to get out. But where to go in London to have a pleasant stroll without melting? Surprisingly, a walk around Welsh Harp, also known as the Brent Reservoir, comes as a nice surprise. Not so well known (except if you live locally), a walk at the Welsh Harp offers shade and fresh air. It’s a perfect place for a nice day out with friends and family.
Logistic for the Welsh Harp Walk
- Distance: 3.61 miles (5.81 km) for the whole tour of the Welsh Harp. Of course, you can shorten this walk depending on where you start or where you turn around
- Ascent: 61 m
- Difficulty: Easy
- Walking Estimate: 1 hour and 30 minutes at an average speed of 4km/hour
- How to get there:
- By Train: Trains to Hendon Station (Thameslink). It then takes 10 minutes on foot to get to the reservoir
- By bus: The closest stop is Hendon Broadway where you can find buses 32, 83, 142, 183
- By tube: The nearest station is Hendon Central on the Northern Line. You will then need to take bus 83 to West Hendon Broadway. Alternatively, you can take the Jubilee or Metropolitan line to Wembley Park and then bus 297 or 182 to Blackbird Hill. From there it is a short walk to the reservoir
- By car: To visit the North bank, park on Woolmead avenue. Please note that on weekdays the whole area is reserved for resident permit holders only. Additionally, there is a small free car park on Cool Oak Lane. For the South bank, park in Aboyne Road
- What to bring with you: Comfortable clothing and a pair of trainers. You cannot swim in Brent Reservoir so no need to take your swimsuit. You can bring your own food and drinks, or alternatively, there is a Co-op on Hendon Broadway where you will find what you need. I recommend you take sunscreen and headcover if you are going on a sunny day as there is no shade by the picnic tables
- Additional information:
- The paths in Welsh Harp are not suitable for prams and wheelchair users
- Public toilets are available on the North bank by the Environment Education Centre
The Welsh Harp
What is the Welsh Harp?
The Brent Reservoir also called the Welsh Harp, is managed by the Canal & River Trust. It was built between 1834 and 1835 by William Hoof and its purpose is to provide adequate water supply to the Grand Union Canal and the Regent’s Canal. It takes its name from the public house the Welsh Harp which was built in 1859 by the reservoir and then demolished in the 1970s.
Related Content: Brent River Park Walk
The site stretches across 170 acres and contains 1,600,000 m3 of water and is classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The open water and marshes make it the perfect habitat for wetland birds such as grebes and plants.
Things you can do at the Welsh Harp
Walking, cycling and running
Walking, cycling and running are definitely the most widely recognized activities you can do at the Welsh Harp. The entire visit through the site represents 5.81 km and can be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The question people frequently ask is: “Can you walk around Welsh Harp?” No, is the appropriate response if by walking around Welsh Harp you mean completing the whole tour by walking near the water. While it is feasible to walk by the water on the North bank, you would however need to leave the site to make a U-turn at the weir. On the South Bank, you would need to take a deviation and walk along the A406 to go around buildings blocking the way.
Bird Spotting
Bird spotting is another activity you can do at the Brent Reservoir. The site is the home of various species such as little grebes, great crested grebes, willow warbler and ducks. The Canal & River Trust has put together a spotter’s guide for kids with a list of the various species you can find in the waterway. It’s a fun way to discover and become familiar with the wildlife in places near you. Download your spotter’s guide for kids here.
Sailing
The reservoir is well-known for sailing activity. The site counts the following four sailing clubs:
The Welsh Harp and Wembley Sailing Clubs offer taster classes and training sessions for you and your family to discover water sports such as windsurfing and sailing without having to leave London.
Canoeing
The Phoenix Outdoor Center & Canoe Club runs a range of activities and days out for schools and youth communities as well as the general public. The Canoe Club however is only available for its members and offers kayaking and canoeing classes.
Environmental Education Centre
The Welsh Harp Education Centre is a 5.5 hectares wildlife haven composed of woodlands, ponds, meadows and a stream. They offer outdoor classes for children to learn about nature and build new skills. They also rent indoor and outdoor meeting spaces.
The Welsh Harp Walk
Start with a Picnic
Coming out of Hendon train station, cross the bridge and walk down the main road until you reach Hendon Waterside development. There you will find a Co-op. I would strongly suggest that you stop there if you are not carrying any food or beverages with you as this is the only supermarket on the way to the reservoir. When you come out of the shop, take a right on West Hendon Broadway and continue straight until you reach Cool Oak Lane. Turn right on Cool Oak Lane and you will see picnic tables by the water a little bit further down. This is the ideal spot to grab a bite before starting the walk. Sitting by the calm water and surrounded by nature you can even get a glimpse at the white rooftop of the beautifully designed Kingsbury Mandir Temple hidden behind the trees.
Take a walk on the left side
Once the picnic is over, get over to Cool Oak Bridge to join the starting point of the walk. On the other side of Cool Oak Bridge, you have the choice to go either right or left. I would strongly suggest that you do not take the path on the right side as this part is bushy, wild and less well-maintained. It is also a less popular path, therefore less safe if you are on your own.
You start the walk on the Capital Ring route and stroll alongside the reservoir. As the path can get really muddy you would have every once in a while to think outside of the box and come up with ideas to get on the other side. Don’t be afraid to come off the path into the bushes to go around it. On this bank, you will be passing by the Phoenix Club, Welsh Harp Open Space and the Sailing Clubs located at the end of the reservoir. You will even find a beach, but it is not allowed to swim.
When you arrive at the end of the North bank, you would need to leave the reservoir path and take Birchen Grove. Then turn left onto Neasden Lane North and finally join the South bank via Press Road. This is the only way for you to go around the weir.
Once on the South bank, follow the path right back to our starting point to close the loop. After you pass Neasden Park and the Kid Playground, you will be entering a forested area all the way to the end. At some point you will come face to face with buildings and the main path will stop there. You can either adventure yourself in the forest or leave the reservoir route and walk along the A460 for a short while. At the cross-road, turn onto the A5 and you will find a path leading back to the reservoir. It’s anything but a short stroll from there to go back to Cool Oak Bridge.
Let’s go to the pub
Now the walk is over, the time has come to go to the pub! Since the Welsh Harp was demolished in 1970, there are not a lot of options around the reservoir. You have the Midland Hotel by Hendon Station. I saw it when passing by. It looks nice but I would not make a recommendation as I did not go there.
Instead, if you are still in the mood to continue walking, I would suggest that you go towards Middlesex University where The Claddagh Ring Irish pub is located. They have a huge outdoor space, a smoking and non-smoking terrace, a large choice of meals and delicious ice cream! Bon appetit!
Map of the Welsh Harp Walk
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