This is an excellent walk for a Sunday afternoon particularly if you take it in two sections, each lasting about 2 hours. The walk can be repeated throughout the year as the seasons change.
The Happy Valley section begins at post no. 11 which is reached from the car park by walking northwards, then right at the cattle fence/grid and across the Downs into the woods until you reach the woodland footpath. Turn right and you will soon see the post with the red disc marked no 11.
The going is easy and the signage is easy to follow, even though some of the red direction discs are damaged. Children will enjoy ticking the boxes and looking for the rabbit warrens in Happy Valley. The flowers and trees are not difficult to find and identify. There’s a lot of interesting local history also included in the text.
The Farthing Downs section starts from the car park. Walk north from the car park toward the cattle grid where a very sun bleached disc No 2 can be found on a nearby fence post. Be aware that from here-on some of the direction posts are missing while others are lying on the ground and this does make the walk challenging. Plans are in hand to renew the signage and update the booklet during 2013.
If you do decide to take it on you will discover much about the ancient inhabitants of the Downs as well as the rare wildlife and enjoy the panoramic views. Best seen in the autumn and winter, when the grass is short, are the numerous ant hills of the flourishing Yellow Meadow Ant colonies (an astonishing site), Celtic field boundaries and Saxon Tumuli. In the summer the top of the Downs are carpeted with wildflowers of all colours and varieties, many of them nationally rare like the Greater Yellow Rattle.
The booklet is available from:
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/city-commons/farthing-downs/visitor-information/Documents
Additional Information
Wear good walking shoes;
Wear wellingtons following rain – footpaths can be muddy;
Remember to note closing time of the car park when setting out;
Keep in mind that Farthing Downs is generally cooler than the local temperature so always take some extra clothing, just in case!
