Coronavirus walk no. 188, Mill Hill, 23rd December 2023
Distance
10.6 miles (total on foot)
Just a handful of photos from somewhere I’d been considering visiting for a while, Mill Hill, in the London Borough of Barnet. Like previous walks, winter’s dreariness takes its toll.
Mill Hill Broadway stationTwo locomotives passing by — I should know what class they are but … I don’t! (Someone on Imgur helpfully pointed out that they are British Rail Class 73 electro-diesel locomotives.)Red double-decker buses, in case I wasn’t sure I was in London
I did have a set route to follow, vaguely at least …
Station Road, Mill HillSome shops and stuff …A random variety of housesMill Hill Park looks forlorn in this seasonNot every walk gets to be a scenic tour of the British countryside!The houses remind me of Watford, which is not that far away …
The first post box …
A George V pillar box (dating between 1910 and 1936) that—like so many—has seen better daysManufactured by Carron Company, StirlingshireLooks diseased …
You thought that one looked worse for wear, compare it with the next one …
George VI pillar box (dating between 1936 and 1952)Royal cypherThis is meant to be red paint but it could almost be the seabed …Also Carron Company
Back to walking …
I ought to visit at least one town in the spring or summer; even in winter you get blue skies but not this yearSome curious trees. Can’t be bothered to look them up.Flowers growing in a garden offer a tiny bit of natural colourOne of those red buses again!And a funny little bus … it had gone past before I had chance to take a clear photograph.
Mill Hill Village is a separate location; the route slowly heads in that direction.
Looks like a nice place to liveTwo days to Christmas Day, for those who celebrate it; I don’t celebrate anything.Walking up Milespit HillHouses up the hill
I drew out a very general outline map in order to bound myself, but I had no specific route picked out, and had some expectation of exploring natural routes as well as roads. This one looks interesting. The map however is not clear whether I can actually exit the other side or not.
Let’s see where this goes.Not sure what the sense is of a gate when you can just walk around it!Some posh house viewed from the footpath.Another one on my mental list of places that will be a nice spring visit. I can’t do them all, as there is a limit to how many weeks you get those lovely spring green leaves.Still, there is still greenery here.But also mud …Lots of mud! Hopefully my shoes will clean up before I get back to the train, although Thameslink at least don’t carpet theirs.
And lo …
OK, so we can’t get out!
It seems that you really can’t exit Arrandene Open Space along the north side. Time to turn around and head all the way back to the road.
Back on the road:
That same posh house, just from the other side, now we are back on Milespit HillGreen roofs show up here and thereMill Hill Village has some strange houses …Arriving at Mill Hill VillageMore strange houses …And tiny onesThis place is no Aldbury but ponds are always niceChurch seen from across the pondInscription on those tiny housesIgnore the colourful lights on the gates; this place is clearly a trap.A mixture of nice old places …… and drab modern houses
Time to return to the station.
Easy to get this shot as every vehicle set off this sign!A quick snap of a nice viewMill Hill School. You know, the nice people blocking my exit from the woodland!Somewhere suitably posh. The sunlight is fading now.War memorialDucks are a serious threat around this place. Peace is never an option.Weird little Japanese vanThe Three Hammers pubMill Hill Village was up a hill, and what goes up must come downLooking down across London from up the hillFunny how quickly it gets dark … Back on the Broadway, heading towards the station.Time to head home
