A Secret Walk is a hidden route through the jumble of city life which affords one a measure of the peace and tranquility of the countryside without the hassle involved in actually going there. They exist because there are some areas in even the most congested cities which it is uneconomical or unethical to build on.

Finding a secret walk is one part detective work and one part blind chance. The first step is to have a good look at a street map to look for areas without streets...usually these will be public parks, cemetries of the banks of a water course. In the UK there was a fairly extensive canal network which is now only used for leisure boating and fishing and so can be very peaceful, and some of the railway lines have been closed and converted into cycle paths or bridle ways.

Dublin (Eire)

Lansdowne Road to the beach:This is a short walk through the south side of central Dublin. It is easy to get to and can be extended by simply walking down the beach ¹ Start at the rear of the rugby stadium in Landsdowne Parke Road and cross the road toward the DART station. There is a path which leads down behind the southbound platform of the station before crossing a smallish river. Leave this path on the far side of the river and go downstream on the river bank - there is a crude path but it is clear of nettles and thorns so you won't need a machette to get through. From here it is about a quarter of a mile to the next road bridge at which point you should turn right and head on a bearing to the smokestacks of the power station. This will lead you through to the coast road at the point where it meets the East Link road and crossing this leads you to the beach itself. If you go south along the beach you can walk along the Sandymount strand and (at low tide) out to the old bath house. Beyond this is the Martello tower which has a snacky restaurant open during the summer season.

Birmingham (UK)

Birmingham has been significantly cleaned up in the last decade and a half and as a result the canal network therein has been opened up for leisure use. In the centre, at Brindley place, there are pubs and cafe's on all sides but you don't have to go far along the towpath to be in a little tranquil world of your own.

City centre to Birmingham University Start by the James Brindley pub in the Gas Street basin.² Where the barges are parked in this basin is a canal which leads in a generally southerly direction. Follow this on the left-hand bank and you will be on the inside of a long curve of the canal which continues for about a mile with overhanging willows and an embankment on both sides to reduce the ambient traffic noise.