In and around Jerusalem


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  • Summary of walks in JerusalemClick to open the Summary of walks in Jerusalem menu
    • The City of David - an engagement with Biblical history
    • An introduction to the Old City
    • The Temple Mount and its Temples
    • The Jerusalem Archeological Park and Davidson Center - Glory and destruction
    • The Jewish Quarter - Destruction and Renewal
    • The northern Rampart of the Old City wall and the Via Dolorosa
    • Mount Zion via the southern rampart of the Old City wall
    • Nachla'ot and the Mahane Yehuda Market ('the Shuk")
    • Teddy Kollek - the great builder of Jerusalem
    • Ein Karem and its artisans via the Jerusalem Forest
    • Yemin Moshe to Nahalat Shivah
    • Government, the Supreme Court and other highlights in Givat Ram
    • The German Colony and Liberty Bell Park
    • Jerusalem during the Mandate - from Mamilla Mall to the First Station
    • Intellectual pioneers of modern Jerusalem - Dr. Ticho, Ben-Yehuda and Rav Kook - in the city center
    • The Sherover and Haas Promenades at Armon Hanatziv and the water supply system for Second Temple Jerusalem
    • Exploring the haredi neighborhoods of Zikhron Moshe and Me'a She'arim
    • The Jerusalem Biblical Zoo
    • Nature walk: the Cedar Trail in the Jerusalem Forest.
    • Nature walk: Gazelle Valley Park
    • Nature walk: the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
    • The "Gazelle Trail" in the Ramot Forest
    • Mount Scopus - its university, botanical garden and lookout points
    • The Mei Neftoah (Lifta) Nature Reserve and Arazim Valley Park
  • The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overviewClick to open the The Judean Mountains (west of Jerusalem) - Summary of hikes and overview menu
    • The Shvil Hama'ayanot and Yad Kennedy memorial
    • Ein Hindak and Ein Karem via Ein Karem National Park
    • The springs in Emeq Refaim - Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar
    • From Tzomet Ora (near Hadassah-Ein Karem) to the springs of Ein Lavan and Mayan Itamar in Emeq Refaim
    • Ancient agriculture in Sataf
    • The unusual cave formations in Nahal Halilim
    • Crusader castle and bathing at Ein Hemed (Aqua Bella)
    • To Ein Tzova and the crusader ruins of "Belmont" on Tel Tzova
    • To Ein Hindak and Ein Bichura in the Sataf Reserve
    • The spring of Ein Kobi and the luscious ravine of Nahal Kobi in the Begin Forest
    • The popular Nahal Katlav
    • Stupendous views from Outpost 21 via the historic Burma Road
    • Hiking above Nahal Sorek
    • The spring of Ein Hod and Crusader castle Hurvat Ita'ab
    • Derech HaKaiser (The Caesar's Way) and overlook of Nahal Zanuach
    • Castel National Park
    • HaHamisha Forest and visit to the Harel Brigade Monument In Har Adar
    • Hiking or biking around Har Eitan
    • HaHamisha Forest and descent to Ein Kfira
  • IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and OverviewClick to open the IN THE SHEFELAH (LOWLANDS) - Summary of Hikes and Overview menu
    • A hike to Tel Azeka
    • A walk to the ruins of Qeiyafa - Goliath, will you please stop hollering?
    • Tel Tzafit and the Philistines
    • Neot Kedumim and agriculture in ancient Israel
    • A circular hike around Givat Hatourmusim (Hill of Lupins)/ Tel Socho
    • Hiking in the Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park
    • The ancient synagogue at Um el-Umdan, Sher Hill, and the Maccabees of Modi'in
    • Midras, Itri and the Bar Kochba Revolt
    • Burgin
  • The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractionsClick to open the The Judean Desert, the Dead Sea, and the Jordan Valley  - Introduction, summary of hikes, and attractions menu
    • Attractions from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, including Ma'ale Adumim
    • A nature walk In the wadis of Maale Adumim
    • Ein Prat
    • Ein Mabu'a
    • Ein Qelt
    • Nahal Og
    • Qumran
    • Bathing, swimming and nature strolls in Enot Tsukim (Ein Feshkha)
    • The Botanical Gardens in Kibbutz Ein Gedi
    • Ein Gedi - Nahal David to Ein Gedi Spring and ancient synagogue
    • Ein Gedi - Nahal Arugot
    • Along the Jordan Valley
  • South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal TekoaClick to open the South of Jerusalem - Herodium, Gush Etzion Springs and Nahal Tekoa menu
    • Herodium
    • The Gush Etzion Springs
    • Nahal Tekoa
  • North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and ShiloClick to open the North of Jerusalem - Nebi Samuel, Beth El, and Shilo menu
    • Look-out and Crusader ruins at Nebi Samuel
    • Beth El - the place of a dream
    • The Tabernacle at Shilo
  • Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean DesertClick to open the Fun family cycling in the Judean Mountains, Shefelah and Judean Desert menu
    • From the First Station to Ein Lavan and Ein Haniya
    • A desert ride around Ma'ale Adumim
    • The Arazim bicycle trail from Arazim Valley Park
    • Spectacular views from the Aminidav Forest and Yad Kennnedy
    • The Burma Road in the Shefela
    • From Tzafririm to the ruins of Itri in the Adulum Park - a village frozen in time
    • In Adulam Park - views, lupins and tels
    • Britannia Park and Tel Azeka
    • A ride around Har Eitan
  • Horseback riding close to Jerusalem
  • Outdoor swimming and bathing in and around Jerusalem - Places and detailsClick to open the Outdoor swimming and bathing in and around Jerusalem - Places and details menu
    • The Zippori Center in the Jerusalem Forest
    • The "Country Club" in Ma'ale Adumim
    • The Sport's Club at Ramat Rachel
    • Mesilat Zion swimming pool
    • Ein Lavan
    • The spring pool of Ein Hanya
    • Swimming in Shoresh
    • The swimming pool at Kibbutz Almog close to the Dead Sea
    • A natural-style rock pool by Mevo'ot Yericho in the Jordan Valley
    • The spring pool in the Mei Neftoa (Lifta) Nature Reserve close to the Central Bus Station
    • The kids pool at Rechelim
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Britannia Park and Tel Azeka



This partially circular ride through Britannia Park in the Shefela includes a must-see stop-off at Tel Azeka. Details of this tel are covered in the hike "A visit to Quiyafa and Tel Azeka". Because this is a park rather than a forest, there are exceptional unobstructed views of the Shefela. 

 

Distance: about 14 km.

Difficulty: The roads are paved or have a firm and reasonably smooth surface and this ride is suitable for hybrid bikes. The park is quite hilly and you will need to be in good shape if you want to keep up a fast pace.

Starting point: The beginning of this ride is the parking lot of the recreation area by the northern entrance to Britannia Park. There are pleasant picnic areas here and also liberally spaced along the route. 

Directions: Enter "Britannia Park" or "פארק בריטניה" into Waze. This locates the northern entrance to the park which is exactly where you want to be. To reach the park from route 38, turn right at Tzomet Azeka and proceed along route 383. The park entrance is 1.3 Km from the junction on the left and is the first paved road you come to. The entrance to the park is not well sign-posted, but you will see a Keren Kayemet sign as you enter. After entering the park, take the first turning on the left to park your car in the recreation area. 

 

The Bicycle Ride:

  • Follow the green-labelled main road through the middle of the park signposted  "דרך הפארק" ("derech hapark").  
  • After a short distance, turn left at the first intersection to ascend to Tel Azeka. This road is black-labelled and indicated with a green arrow. The entrance to the tel is well marked and is at the top of the hill.
  • After visiting the tel, continue on the same road marked with a green arrow to "משואה בית גוברין". There are wonderful views of the Elah Valley as you descend the hill. At the bottom of the hill, the road joins up with the green-labelled "derech hapark".  
  • Continue on this green-marked road to route 535. Along the way you will come to an observation area which includes two signs identifying the views in front of you. On a clear day you can see all the way to Ashdod.
  • When you come to route 353 you have the choice of either turning back or making a loop on the other side of the road. The roads of this loop are also green-marked. This part of the tRail is not quite as hilly, but the surface of the road is also not quite as good. This road brings you eventually to Chanyon Sherigim where there is a WC and water, and from here it is only a short distance to route 353.
  • Turn left and continue on route 353 until you reach the green trail and "derech hapark" on the right side of the road. Retrace your steps on this road. At a signpost for Tel Shaklon make sure you make a sharp left to keep on the green trail. This road is signposted "יציאה צפונית" ("northern exit"). On this return journey, do not take the detour to Tel Azeka, but continue along the green-marked trail to the starting point of the ride. 

 

Map of the park. Entry into the park in this ride is at the arrow at the top of the map, which is the northern entrance to the park.

 

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arnoldslyper@inandaroundjerusalem.com