Vole O'Speed: Boris Valley Path, and cycling to Brent Cross

Link to Vole O'Speed web site

"In exploring the Brent Cyclists route to the Great Divide Ride starting point at New Southgate, I was able to confirm that at least one small good thing has happened for cycling in Barnet recently (which I had already read of in newspaper reports): the stream-side path from Hendon Lane to Hendon Avenue, through Windsor Open Space,  has been re-vamped, and given new (rustic, wooden) signage, and the signs banning cycling are gone (though I did not see any specifically encouraging cycling either).

"...  The new shared path is only half a mile long, and there is some merit in the arguments of opponents, to the extent that it is not actually wide enough for sharing. Beyond Hendon Avenue the path continues but has not been resurfaced, and is un-cycleable, so one must return to the road. The cycle path could, in principle, with sufficient investment and political will, be made to go the whole four miles or so along the stream from Totteridge in the north to Hendon in the south, or even to Brent Cross, and link in to another path, now banned to cyclists, east-west along the Mutton Brook from Hendon to East Finchley, which would give cyclists a nice route parallel to part of the North Circular Road. 

However, such grander 'Greenway' plans have never made much progress in this part of London, despite some abortive efforts by Sustrans."

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Long Distance Walkers Association

The profile above is of the Dollis Valley Greenwalk, from the Long Distance Walkers Association web site (the lowest point is crossing the North Circular Road). 

"Dollis Valley Greenwalk is a 10-mile riverside walk from Mill Hill to the northern friges [sic] of Hampstead Heath linking areas of public open space along the valley of the Dollis Brook, a tributary of the Brent, that rises near Arkley. It passes through Moat Mount Nature Reserve, Barnet Gate Wood, an ice age forest remnant, Totteridge Fields, and under Mill Hill viaduct. It provides many habitats for plants and other wildlife. Spot colourful flashes of the Kingfisher in Finchley or Ragged Robin in Brook Farm open space.

Most of the route is moderately flat and surfaced, and is suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The path is waymarked with white direction arrows on a green disc. It is designed to link with the public transport system, and also links the London Loop with the Capital Ring, and is coincident with each for part of its route."