Take a walk – there’s plenty to see outdoors around Wembley

If your older friend or relative is still able to walk a reasonable distance – or even if they’re in a wheelchair – there are some superb outdoor walks within a short distance from the centre of Wembley. At Home Instead Wembley, we’ve been having a think about some of the ones we love to wander along – so here they are…

Fryent Country Park

In Kingsbury, a lovely place to take an older guest is Fryent Country Park. This is a designated nature reserve that is open land and is classified as a wildlife site of metropolitan importance to London. It’s a very peaceful area for a nice stroll with a senior – and the car park and the entrance are both wheelchair accessible. However, it’s worth noting that the car park (which can hold about 50 vehicles) has a rough surface. It can be accessed from the western side of Fryent Way.

The park has open fields and woods, hills, paths and an area where ponies are allowed to roam and graze. The Capital Ring footpath runs through part of the park. On a quiet walk, there should be plenty of opportunities for you and your elderly loved one to see some of the wildlife that inhabits the area.

Belmont Nature Trail

The Belmont Nature Trail is a long path (described as a ‘wildlife-rich corridor’) on the edge of Harrow. It’s basically what remains of an old railway line, closed in the 1960s. There are four sections: probably the best place to start is from Belmont Circle Car Park (there’s a charge of about 30p an hour, paid by the ‘PayByPhone’ app). From there, you can walk north to Vernon Drive or south to Dobbin Close. There’s also a walk from Dobbin Close to Christchurch Avenue, Kenton. The final section is the small wildlife reserve opposite Wealdstone Cemetery.

The trail is bordered by both trees and open spaces. As you walk, see if you and your elderly loved one can see some of the rich variety of wildlife and wildflowers that live alongside the path. These include birds such as parakeets and jackdaws and animals such as deer, foxes, voles, badgers, and hedgehogs. The entire trail is only about a mile long.

River Brent Walking Trail

To the south west of Wembley, you can find the River Brent Walking Trail. This is potentially a much longer walk. In fact, there’s some dispute about how long it is (five, six, seven or nine miles!) However, you might only want to take your elderly guest for a little way along it. The shorter route starts from Brentham Meadows near Hanger Lane tube station and ends at Osterley Lock. The route is also shared by the Capital Ring and the Grand Union Canal Walk. The longer route carries on from here to Brentford High Street.

The trail is flat and winding (as it follows the course of the River Brent) and is waymarked. Once again, there are plenty of wildflowers and other wildlife to see along the route – which passes through various riverside parks and by some weirs. Its’s a perfect place to have a peaceful stroll for a while, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

One Tree Hill Recreation Ground

One Tree Hill Recreation Ground is a large grassy area in Wembley. Its name comes from the time when it was just a hill with a single tree on it. It has since been landscaped, and now has a range of trees and shrubs – including a line of poplars either side of the tarmac path that goes across the park. There’s also a specific wildlife area that used to be an allotment.

If your senior can manage the climb, there are great views from the top of the hill, over Wembley, Harrow on the Hill and central London. Unfortunately, there isn’t a car park by the recreation ground but there are many bus routes that stop alongside it, particularly down Bridgewater Road. There’s good pedestrian access from all sides of the park.

Barham Park

A little way west of Wembley Stadium is Barham Park, just a short walk from Sudbury and Harrow Road train station. There’s also a small car park (with room for about 16 cars) at the site, and good pedestrian access from the Harrow Road side. The park itself also has some great pathways that are easy for you to walk along with your elderly relative or friend.

The area is described as a “gently undulating park, with pathways and many mature trees”. Barham Park was established in Victorian times. It was once the site of Barham Mansion, and some of its walls and ornamental gates can still be seen. The park now features include a children’s play area and a walled garden where visitors can often be found relaxing.

So why not give your favourite older person a breath of fresh air? It can be an easy and fairly stress-free experience (as the saying goes, it’s like a walk in the park!) We’re very fortunate, because there are some lovely, tranquil areas to explore, even in and around a busy area like Wembley.

And when you have a little time to spare, why not pick up the phone and find out about the various home care services in Wembley that we provide? There’s nothing to lose and there could be an awful lot to gain….