Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Circular
London
Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood are two surviving fragments of the ancient Forest of Middlesex, facing each other across Muswell Hill Road, with shady oak and hornbeam rides that dogs can explore off lead. Highgate Wood, 70 acres cared for by the City of London, has a managed, parkland feel, with bluebells in spring, an old earthwork of uncertain age and the site of Romano-British pottery kilns from around AD 50 to 100. Queen's Wood, once called Churchyard Bottom Wood and renamed in 1898 in honour of Queen Victoria, is wilder and steeper, with wood anemones and a deep valley. This loop of around 4km from Gypsy Gate circles Highgate Wood on its perimeter path, then crosses the road to drop through Queen's Wood and climb back out. The paths are undulating earth and gravel, with short steep sections in Queen's Wood and mud after rain, and roughly 70 metres of climbing.
This is a dog friendly walk with shade all the way and no livestock. Dogs must be under proper control and kept out of the children's playground, and there is enough room under the trees for a dog with good recall to be off lead. The woods are busy with other dogs, runners and families, and there is no stream to drink from, so bring water in summer. There is no car park. The Pavilion Cafe is in Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Cafe sits on the edge of the second wood.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 15 min
- Walk Type
- Woodland, Historic
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- High
- Livestock Risk
- None
- Facilities
- Pavilion Cafe and toilets in Highgate Wood; Queen's Wood Cafe on the edge of Queen's Wood.
- Parking
- No car park; two blue badge spaces by the Highgate Wood cafe and restricted street parking nearby. Highgate station (Northern line) is about 5 minutes' walk.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Circular, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Circular dog friendly?
Yes, this circular walk through two ancient London woods rates 8 out of 10 for dog friendliness. There's no livestock to worry about, shade throughout the route, and cafes at both Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood if you need a rest stop. Dogs do need to be kept out of the children's playground in Highgate Wood, and kept under proper control throughout.
Can dogs be off lead at Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Circular?
Dogs with good recall can enjoy off-lead time under the oak and hornbeam trees across both woods. Highgate Wood has a more open, parkland feel with space to roam, while Queen's Wood is wilder and steeper. Bear in mind that both woods are popular with other dogs, runners and families, so a reliable recall is important.
What should I know before visiting Highgate Wood and Queen's Wood Circular with my dog?
There's no stream along the route, so bring water for your dog, especially in summer. The paths are earth and gravel with some steep sections in Queen's Wood and can get muddy after rain, so it's worth checking conditions before you go. There's no car park on site, but Highgate station on the Northern line is around 5 minutes' walk away, making this an easy trip by tube.
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