THE SALMONS BROOK TRAIL
Salmons Brook at Cheyne Walk Open Space
The 18.3 km (11.4 miles) Salmons Brook Trail goes from Hadley Wood Station to Meridian Water Station, entirely within the London Borough of Enfield. The trail has been developed in co-operation with Enfield Council and The Enfield Society.
The trail follows, of course, as closely as possible, Salmons Brook, a tributary of Pymmes Brook, and there’s a link with the Pymmes Brook Trail* at Meridian Water. It passes through many green spaces, including Enfield Chase, one of the finest stretches of open countryside in Greater London, where almost a hundred thousand trees have recently been planted on what was poor quality farmland.
In more urban surroundings, the trail is often in parkland (Vicarage Farm Meadows, Cheyne Walk Open Space, Bury Lodge Wetlands, Churchfields Recreation Ground and Montagu Recreation Ground) and follows a short stretch of the New River. It passes the handsome, art deco ‘church in the orchard’ at Grange Park, and the impressive Nagapooshani Ambaal temple in Edmonton, and goes through the conservation areas at Hadley Wood, Grange Park and Edmonton Church Street.
The route is mostly level, though there are two short but fairly steep uphill stretches. The guide provides information for those following it with cycles or buggies. It passes seven pubs and eight cafés, and you can break your journey at many places, either passing or linked to Gordon Hill, Enfield Chase, Grange Park, Bush Hill Park and Edmonton Green Stations, plus many bus stops.
Click here for the very detailed route guide by Colin Saunders, author of many acclaimed trail guides, with descriptions of the many points of interest that you pass. The price is £10.00, which includes a £5 donation to the Pymmes BrookERS (short for ‘Pymmes and Salmons Brook Restorers’), a volunteer-run river action group that looks after the Pymmes and Salmons Brooks in north London. This will enable them to acquire equipment such as strimmers, saws, waders, litter-pickers etc to help with keeping the brooks and banks clear of litter.
The price also includes a PDF version (without photos), which can be installed on a mobile device to follow while walking if preferred.
*You can order the companion guide to the Pymmes Brook Trail here.