Pymmes Brook is a less known river in London but a very attractive one. It is sourced near High Barnet and flows south east to merge with the Lea near Tottenham Hale. A waymarked trail follows the route and is around 13 miles in length so can be easily split into two halves at Arnos Grove. I followed the guidance in the excellent The Pymmes Brook Trail by Colin Saunders who has also written the guidebooks on the Capital Ring and London Loop which I used.
Today I completed the final section of the Pymmes Brook Trail, said by some to be the least interesting part. I was slightly delayed on my journey up as I found major delays on the Bakerloo line and had to use the Northern line out of Waterloo. So it was around 11.15 when I arrived at Silver Street station.
I first retraced my steps through Pymmes Park and picked up the route of the trail at the far end. This follows the route of the Pymmes. A large lake is fed from the brook.
The brook emerging from under the North Circular. Now follows a section parallel to the busy road and then through residential areas. The church of St John the Baptist is passed.
Along Leeside Road is an industrial and retail area and a large Ikea store. This is scheduled to close in August but seems already to have closed. The Pymmes is reached again as it bend south to run parallel to the River Lea.
The Pymmes is now is broad channel. A short diversion to Stonebridge Lock on the Lea.
The Pymmes and the Lea running just feet apart. The just after Tottenham Lock the end of the walk where the Pymmes flows into the Lea.
The final stretch of the Pymmes and another view of it flowing into the Lea from the bridge of Ferry Lane. I stopped for lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn which I had last visited on March 13th 2020 while walking the Lea. Just hours later that day Boris Johnson closed all pubs due to Coronavirus. I am pleased to say that lunch today was just as nice as it was then. Then the Victoria line down to Vauxhall and the train home.