After a joyous 78 mile (give or take a diversion or two) hike around the outskirts of London I’ve reached the end of my Capital Ring walking adventure.

I published the last of my blogs on the fascinating walk yesterday. And if you want to catch-up on any of the instalments you can read all the posts here.

Over the past few weeks I’ve got involved in many conversations about the Capital Ring route. But probably the question I’ve been asked most frequently by people is: “Which is the best bit?”.

This is not something that’s easy to answer though. In the truth, the biggest joy for me about the Capital Ring has been encountering areas of London that I wouldn’t otherwise have visited.

Some attractions on the route are pretty famous, but it was sometimes visiting local parks (typically visited only by those in local neighbourhoods) that brought the most enjoyment during my walk. They aren’t necessarily enough to justify traveling all the way across London on their own account, but stitch a few together – as the route does – and you will be rewarded.

Here, though, are what I consider to be the blockbusters of the Capital Ring:

• Abney Park cemetery – a fascinating place in Stoke Newington where a number of Dissenters, such as Salvation Army founder William Booth, and musical stars are buried. Enjoy a great Sunday guided tour.
• Eltham Palace – enjoyed by Henry VIII as a child and re-founded as a 1930s Art Deco home.  English Heritage at its best.
• Wimbledon Windmill – distincitve 19th century structure on Wimledon Common. Climb to the top and admire the views.
• Grand Union Canal – built to provide a link between London and the growing industries in the Midlands. Perfect for a Sunday stroll.
• Severndroog Castle – an 18th century brown bricked triangular folly. Take in the fine views on the surrounding area.
• The Rookery – community gardens that reveal traces of Streatham Spa, a place enjoyed by Queen Victoria. Get some peace in quiet.

But why pick and choose? My advice is to do the walk the whole Capital Ring trail over the course of a series of weekends. Once you reach the end of the route, you’ll probably want to do it all over again.