Camden Healthy Ride to Waterlow Park

Why are there no Southwark Healthy Rides in Camden? Surely Camden cyclists can benefit from doing Healthy Rides just as much as Southwark cyclists can? Is it a bridge too far for a Southwark Healthy Ride to take place in Camden? Normally there would be strict rules that would prevent this from happening, but on a fifth Saturday anything can happen! This a day when when we can take the helm of a Southwark Healthy Ride and make it boldly go where no Healthy Ride has been before. We can try to get as many people to come on the ride as if it had been organised by Southwark Cyclists. Camden doesn't have as many parks its neighbouring borough Southwark, but it does have one nice park - Waterlow Park. The park covers 26-acres and sits in the south east of Highgate Village. It was given to the public by Sir Sydney Waterlow, as "a garden for the gardenless" in 1889. After being subjected to extensive vandalism and neglect the park was restored in 2005. Lauderdale House is at the edge of the park and is used as a tea room and for functions and arts events. It is a much modified very old timber framed house, dating back to the sixteenth century. To reach the park, we will first need to climb up Swain's Lane, the longest and steepest hill in north London. But don't worry - it's not much worse then climbing up to the top of Crystal Palace and some people have ascended this hill many times in one riding session. Unfortunately the newly refurbished cafe at Waterlow Park won't be open until the end of November and the pop-up cafe there is now closed. We will therefore go back down to Hampstead Heath for our refreshment break, which will be at the Parliament Hill Cafe. We will then return to South London, using a similar route to our outward route. The ride will finish where it began - at The Cut in Lambeth. Ride leader: Nigel Bee (tel 07415 315 690, email [email protected]) For more details, and the route, see https://www.cyclinguk.org/event/ride/southwark-healthy-ride-swains-lane-waterlow-park