2014 In the steps of C1 John Fowler Dixon
Centurions Social Walk 7 December 2014
The walk was led by Jill Green and Jim Catchpole (but mostly by Jim who had scoped out the route!!)
Jim organised a good social winter walk ensuring we did some “distance” (nearly 12 miles) and finished in good time before dark.
A group of thirteen turned up at Archway Underground station promptly at 0930 – Centurions, friends and family and LDWA walkers from far afield – Dorset, Bristol, and closer to home from London.
Weather? Cool, damp, verging on the (very) wet but, remarkably, at our lunch stop – the sun came out! Lunch over and so was the sunshine!
Jim’s route incorporated walking on road – even part of the famous Capital Ring which many Centurions have completed, plus a bit of grass (and some mud- but not too much!)
From Archway tube station a bit of uphill to Waterlow Park. Which, it turns out to be at one spot, the same height as the dome of St Pauls Cathedral (not that we could see it!)
From there the route took us to Highgate Cemetery. Sounds macabre – but many notable people are buried here. Including John Fowler Dixon – the very first Centurion. This part of the Cemetery is private and visitors have to be pre-arranged,. So we just peered in through the gates…
From here, we moved on to Parliament Hill Fields. Through the low cloud we could make out the impressive skyline of London (see photos below). Onwards through the complicated pathways of Hampstead Heath and up by the Ponds to Kenwood House.
Our route then headed towards Cherry Tree Woods, Highgate Woods and parts of London we never knew existed. Finally finishing at Highgate underground station and then Wetherspoons for a well earned cuppa!! Well not quite… A matter of no room at the Inn as Wetherspoons was full, so the group went to a very nice traditional tea room in Archway, for cuppas all round.