Healthy Heritage Walks

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Audio guided heritage walks

Download our free audio guide walks and maps and listen to interesting stories about historical and natural points of interest in Barnet. 

The walks are 5 to 10 kilometres or 3 to 6 miles and you will walk approximately 5,000 to 10,000 steps. 

The walks have been created with our Wellbeing Champion, Cllr Caroline Stock, together with support from the Ramblers and the British Guild of Tourist Guides.

Audio walks and maps

Listen to the walks on a podcast

The audio for each of the walks are available on podcast platforms. Search for, Barnet healthy heritage walks, in your podcast app and download the audio to your phone. 

Podcast platforms:

Hendon to Mill Hill Walk

A gentle stroll through the heart of Barnet; experience a mix of unique urban heritage and leafy green spaces. This walk is mostly paved, with some park walking which could become muddy during wet weather. This is not a circular walk.

Totteridge Walk

A beautiful countryside walk through Totteridge Common, a stone's throw away from the hustle and bustle of suburban London. Most of this walk is on unpaved ground, which is at times uneven, through Totteridge Common woodland and fields. This is a circular walk. This route is unsuitable for people with buggies or wheelchair users.

Barnet and Hadley Walk

This walk through High Barnet and Hadley is filled with history; it has more than 10 heritage points of interest. Including how "Chipping Barnet" got its name, to the Battle of Barnet in Hadley Green. This walk really gives a sense of the boroughs past. It is mainly an urban trail.

East Finchley to New Southgate Walk

This walk starts in East Finchley and finishes New Southgate, passing through St Pancras and Islington Cemetery, Coppetts Wood, and eventually arriving in Friern Park and the building which was previously
Colney Hatch Asylum. This is not a circular walk. The route is unsuitable for people with buggies or wheelchair users from point five onwards.​​​​​​

Mill Hill Walk

This walk takes you through interesting sites of Mill Hill and includes the original Mill Hill Village along The Ridgeway, where some notable large houses and quaint cottages survive. It is mainly an urban trail, however there are some grassy slopes and steps.

East Finchley to Finchley Church End Walk

This linear walk is from East Finchley and ends at St. Mary’s-at-Finchley Church, in Finchley Church End. Can you find the key stone? See if you can spot Spike Milligan sitting on a bench! This is mainly a paved, urban trail.

Get ready for your walk

Plan your route

Work out how you will travel to and from the start and end points of the walks. Visit TFL journey planner

Wear appropriate footwear

Wear walking shoes or trainers that are comfortable these will provide good support and help prevent blisters.

Be comfortable

Wear clothing that you can freely move in and dress accordingly for the weather. If it's sunny weather, remember sun cream.

Stay hydrated

Bring water to drink, especially on hot days and bring some healthy snacks.

Keep safe on your walk

  • Be aware of your surroundings and watch your footing.
  • Stay on public footpaths.
  • If you are listening to the audio at the highlighted points, we advise you to keep one ear uncovered while listening and remove headphones while crossing roads.

The benefits of walking

Walking is simple, free, and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. A brisk 10 minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.

Regular walking is proven to reduce your risk of some chronic illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, asthma, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer.

Walking can also improve your mood and reduce your risk of depression. For older people, walking more often is great for increasing general mobility and muscle strength in your lower body which reduces risk of having a fall.

Discover nature on your walk

As you enjoy the sights and sounds on your way through the green spaces of Barnet, you might like to learn about the trees, flowers, insects and animals you see:

Share your walking experience

Take some photos on your walk and share them using #BarnetHealthyHeritageWalks 

Tell us about your walk

We want to continue to improve on these walks for you so any feedback, comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Contact us: publichealth@barnet.gov.uk