FKT: David Bone, Paula Bedford - Pymmes Brooke Trail (United Kingdom) - 2020-07-17

Route variation
one way
Multi-sport
No
Gender category
Mixed-gender team
Style
Unsupported
Start date
Finish date
Total time
1h 25m 55s
GPS track(s)
Photos
Report

Pymmes Brooke Trail is without doubt one of the strangest trail routes in London.

For starters it is possible the best signed trail I've ever done in my life. Every turn is sign-posted and they all look completely brand new.

We started in Barnet and walked from New Barnet station to the start - it's funny because you walk past all these streets and then the start is just tucked inside a small bush and on the London Loop route.

The first couple of miles follow roads and are fast. Then the next few miles course their way through parks (Arnos Grove, Broomfield - Palmers Green) these are all beautiful and a great escape from London's busy roads.

The trail then goes ugly! - It goes close to all the big ugly main roads - North Circular - and you weave your way under the underpasses. Just when you think it can't get any uglier it seems to get stuck around all the new development going on near Edmonton and Tottenham. Any students of the historical trail will realise that there are a few discrepancies between the walkers gpx and the trail signs. We stuck religiously to the signs but finished near the lock at the end of the gpx.

Having concluded the fkt we then went off to get some water near the lea valley lock and voila we found a load more Pymmes Brooke Trail signs.

All we can say is that this fkt is true to the original and that there is a possible option to create a brand new extended PBT that would end closer to Springfield Park.

Although we stuck to the original Barnet to Tottenham route you could do this in reverse - I am not sure there is much in it. It also lends itself to be a great out and back

One for the young London Speedsters!