From Archway Station, cross the island (home of the iconic Archway Tavern) into St John's Way. Walk along the left hand side of the road. Shortly, a wooded area appears on the other side of the road. Stay on the left side, until you reach Caxton House Community Centre. A sign announces Hillside Park. Turn left into the park and follow the path which climbs round the back of the community centre and up the hill. At the top entrance to the park, you'll find yourself in Cressida Rd, part of the Whitehall Park preservation area. Keep climbing up Cressida Rd, straight into Whitehall Park. Keep climbing until you reach Hornsey Lane. Turn left for about one hundred metres, when you'll find yourself standing on Archway Bridge, with a magnificent view over London. 

Retrace your steps along Hornsey Lane. On your left you'll pass Northwood Hall, an art deco building that became notorious during the Blitz because it's built in the form of a giant cross and was said to be an invaluable marker for German bombers. Continue past Whitehall Park and cross Hornsey Lane. The next left is Stanhope Rd. Walk down it, and soon you'll see what appears to be a tiny cast iron railway bridge. It's actually an abandoned track which now carries the Parkland Walk. Near the bridge, there are steps up onto the Walk. Climb them and turn to your left. If you have more time, a right hand turn will take you all the way to Finsbury Park, over two miles away. Or if you have a great deal of time and energy, you are currently walking on the route of the Capital Ring, a 78 mile long path which circles London, visiting many of its little-known green spaces. If you turn left you are heading towards Highgate Station. This is part of a planned extension to the Northern Line which would have joined Finsbury Park with Alexandra Palace via Muswell Hill. It was abandoned in the 1940s and the legacy is this fantastic walk and nature reserve - it really is difficult to believe you are in London.

When you reach the end of the Walk (at impressive pair of blocked tunnels) there is a gate up to your left. Exit from it and turn right, climbing the hill to Archway Rd. If you don't want to walk back down to Archway station, this is one of the very best places to take a ride on top of a double decker bus - the view really is amazing. (Buses 263, 43 and 134 stop a few metres down the Archway Rd and all go to Archway station.)