Hampstead Heath

  

The doyenne of all dogs walks, a nirvana for Newfoundlands, an acme for Akitas, the Holy Grail for Hounds, the mecca for all mutts has to be the haven that is Hampstead Heath. Okay, whilst I may be able to give Leonard Sachs  (in his capacity as MC of “The Good Old Days”) a run for his money I’ll try and curb my alliteration.

The wildest of London’s parks, Hampstead Heath has fields for your dogs to run in, long grass for them to roll in and, most famously, ponds for them to swim in. In north London this 791 acre heath and woodland is the place for you and your dog to get back to nature. At times strewn with picnickers, cyclists, families and the occasional packs of “professional” dog walkers, the Heath is large enough and has enough copses, hills and mounds that a quiet spot is never far away.

  

The Heath is rich in heritage and history, flora and fauna and is composed of magical glades, woodland, heathland and meadows.

With its ponds, valleys and hedgerows and ancient trees the area is a rich habitat for many birds such as kingfishers, reed warblers and all three species of British woodpecker. Billy Oddie is frequently spotted “twitching” here. If you’re interested in celebs I’ve also spotted Pearce Brosnan, Billie Whitelaw, Sandy (Lady Lean), Boy George and George Michael (prior to his little incident when he crashed in to Snappy Snaps where some wit has  now written “WHAM!” on the shop frontage.

“Chronicles of Narnia” author C.S. Lewis lived near Hampstead Heath and local folklore asserts that it was its picturesque rises, ponds and woodland glades which inspired his mystical land.



Parliament Hill is a beacon in the midst of this sprawling expanse of natural beauty. Its summit provides a view of the city almost in its entirety. One can spot the dome of St Paul’s juxtaposed by the ultra-modern Canary Wharf towers in the distance. This is also the perfect kite-flying spot.

The Heath hosts a variety of events ranging from Bat Walks to Barnet Brass Band. All tastes are catered for and include Ghost Walks and Dogs Shows. What more could one ask for? In Golders Hill Park behind and to the right of Jack Straw’s Castle there is even a lovely little zoo.

Hampstead Heath is renowned as a rich conservation area and parts of it are designated as areas of scientific interest by English Nature. For those of you interested in magic mushrooms there are over 300 species of fungi found in the nooks and crannies of the woodland and grassland and more than 650 species of flowering plants and ferns have been recorded.

Especially during the summer months hoards flock to the refreshing water of the Heath. There are designated Men’s and Women’s ponds as well as a specifically designated Dog Pond. There is at times a pair of nesting swans on the Dog Pond. Please take care if the swans have cygnets as they really don’t take any prisoners. Swans have been reported to attack and drown dogs if they feel threatened. To my knowledge there have not been any incidents of this nature at Hampstead.



Along the edges of the Heath are a number of attractions that will attempt to lure you away. There’s the lido at the south, Kenwood House at the north, South End Green and Hampstead Village at the west and Highgate to the east.

There are plenty of dog friendly pubs all of which I can personally recommend dotted around the edge including: The Spaniards Inn (Spaniards Road), The Holly Bush (22 Holly Mount) which does the best ever Bloody Mary and my own personal favourite The King William IV on Hampstead High Street also great for their Quiz Night every Wednesday evening. Dogs are always welcomed with treats and a water bowl.

Summary of Bus Routes to Hampstead Heath
C2, C11, 214, 210, H3, 268, 24, 46, 168