I encourage caching by public transport. Closest access is Bus C2 from Camden Town (Northern Line) to Parliament Hill Fields with about 800m (half a mile) walking distance (slightly uphill though). Alternatively, take the Northern Line to Hampstead, or any bus or train to Hampstead Heath, or a bus to Highgate Village - all resulting in a nice walk of just over 1km.
Even better, the cache is near one of the official bicycle routes through the Heath.
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is North London's largest and probably most important green space. The wildest of London's parks has fields to run in, long grass to roll in, woods to hide in and, most famously, ponds to swim in. In north London this is THE place to get back to nature. Strewn with picnickers, cyclists, families and the rest, the heath is large enough and has enough copses, hills and mounds that a quiet spot is never far away.
The Barrow/Tumulus, or Boudica's Grave (?)
There is a major archaeological monument on Hampstead Heath - a Bronze Age barrow, or burial mound, also called tumulus. It stands near the top of one of the meadows, on the false crest, and it has been planted with trees to make it a feature in the landscape.
Folklore calls it 'Boudica's Mound', in the belief that Queen Boudica (Boadicea), leader of the rebel Iceni tribe, was buried here after she and 10,000 other British soldiers had been defeated by the Romans at Battle Bridge in 61 AD. However it looks like a typical Bronze Age round barrow, dating to 2,000 to 3,000 BC.
However there appears to be considerable doubt as to whether it is a Bronze Age barrow. It does not appear on a sixteenth century map, the first appearance being in a drawing by Stukeley, made in 1725.
It is now surrounded by a fence to preserve it, as it is a scheduled Ancient Monument. There are also some benches from which it is possible to get a fine view downhill.
The Cache
Sit down and enjoy the quiet place. Would you think you are in the middle of one of the busiest cities of the world?
You do NOT need to cross the fence to retrieve the cache - the cache is outside the fence. You're looking for a 35mm micro (downgraded from small due to muggle activity), held in it's position by velcro. Please make sure to leave the cache securely attached.
Take note of the letter and number under the lid for the bonus cache.
Wheelchair Users
A good path brings you within 20m of the cache. The last 20m are over grass.
Hall of Fame
Congratulations to the first finders!
1. Gold went to... Ray.H on 8 October 2007
2. Silver for rodz on 11 October 2007
3. Bronze for bones1 on 12 October 2007, closely followed by renatopivano on the same day.