Hampstead Heath

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

I've been looking at the caches on Hampstead Heath, I haven't been near there since a visit to The Royal Free Hospital in the 80s. If my memory serves me correctly the area is a bit hilly.

 

If I was to start at the X X Factor House or Hampstead Heath Extension caches and work south, would that be the wisest move by off road wheelchair?

 

Comments or suggestions welcome please.

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

Bumping this in the hope someone knows a bit about the hills round there!

[+rutson]

Have you tried PMing the cache owners?

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

Have you tried PMing the cache owners?

 

Luzian is busy traversing South America right now with little online access ... giving London FTF'ers a bit of a look in.

[+Team Noodles]

you could pm alicephilippa, she has done them (or most of them) and I'm sure she'll be more then willing to give you some intel.

[+Amberel]

you could pm alicephilippa, she has done them (or most of them) and I'm sure she'll be more then willing to give you some intel.

I've done them a long time ago, but I don't remember enough detail to be able to reliably advise, and I think it's probably very dependent on the precise route. I'm likely to have taken the shortest route, where there might be an longer but easier alternative. Also I can't visualise just what sort of country DorsetGal can cover in a X country chair, or if she can get out of the chair to reach the final location. I seem to recall that many of the locations would have not been easy to reach from sitting in a chair.

 

I didn't respond the first time as I felt I couldn't offer anything useful .

 

Rgds, Andy

Edited June 16, 2010 by Amberel

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

Thanks ... maybe if I am a little more specific ....

 

Are the paths hard ... anyone know?

 

Is it one big hill, as I remember it, or undulating up and down several?

[+Amberel]

Thanks ... maybe if I am a little more specific ....

 

Are the paths hard ... anyone know?

 

Is it one big hill, as I remember it, or undulating up and down several?

Some tarmac paths, some not. The caches generally aren't on the paths, I mostly went cross country.

 

If you look at the contours on a map I guess you could say it is pretty much one hill, but it's not a regular shape and as the caches are dotted about irregularly you go up and down it more than once anyway.

 

Rgds, Andy

Edited June 17, 2010 by Amberel

[+PopUpPirate]

There's quite a bit of generally undulating terrain - check out the contours, which are pretty true on the ground. TBH as rural & accessible caching goes - it's pretty good. I say do it.

[+goldpot]

Thanks ... maybe if I am a little more specific ....

 

Are the paths hard ... anyone know?

 

Is it one big hill, as I remember it, or undulating up and down several?

 

It has been ages since I did many of the caches up here, but I do know that most of the caches are hidden away from the paths and what paths there are many are dirt tracks - hard and bumpy in summer, soft and boggy in winter.

 

The hills are undulating up and down.

 

I hope this helps in some way.

Edited June 18, 2010 by goldpot

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

Thanks for the advice Pup and Goldpot, sounds like I should give it a go (with companion just in case i get stuck anywhere).

[+Dorsetgal & GeoDog]

Although we are in town all week, we have decided to abandon a caching trip to Hampstead Heath, although sadly I don't have Caesar, Kaz has Coco her medical alert dog, and we have heard that a number of dogs have been stolen on the heath this week, we don't know the exact circumstances - so giving it a wide berth for the time being.

 

Others should also be aware if they intend taking their dog there just now.

It may be just a one off, but who knows?

 

Dog Lost website poster

 

We took Coco (for an off lead run) to Battersea Park instead and did some of Curry Kevs caches there.

[+lodgebarn]

Sorry you can't make it to the Heath at the moment, I was there last night and conditions couldn't be any better. Paths were all hard. I had a great time. Getting very close to all the caches should be ok but I reckon you would need help for some of the cache retrievals.