Completing all Warwickshire parkruns

There are currently 6 parkrun events in present-day Warwickshire of which I have not yet completed any. There are a further 6 parkrun events in the part of the Historic County of Warwickshire which are now in the present-day Ceremonial County of West Midlands.

The first event in Historic Warwickshire was Coventry which started on February 6th 2010. The newest is Holbrooks which started on August 5th 2023. I’m not aware of a collective name for having completed all Warwickshire parkrun events, but let me know in the comments below if you know of one.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Babbs Mill

 

Bedworth

 

Brueton

 

Coventry

 

Edgbaston Reservoir

 

Holbrooks

 

Kingsbury Water

 

Leamington

 

 Rugby

 

Stratford-upon-Avon

 

Sutton Park

 

Warwick Racecourse

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Warwickshire, EnglandComment
Completing all Suffolk parkruns

There are currently 18 parkrun events in present-day Suffolk of which I not yet completed any. The first was Brandon Country Park which started on March 9th 2013 and the newest is Beccles Quay which started on October 4th 2025. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is That’s All Folks (for both Norfolk and Suffolk).

Gorleston Cliffs was park of the Historic County of Suffolk but is now in Norfolk.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Suffolk parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Alton Water

 

Beccles Quay

 

Brandon Country Park

 

Bury St Edmunds

 

Chilton Fields

 

Christchurch Park

 

Clare Castle

 

Felixstowe

 

Great Cornard

 

Harleston Magpies

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Inaugural: September 25th 2021

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Haverhill

 

Kesgrave

 

Lowestoft

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club and is also the most easterly parkrun on the mainland UK.

  • Inaugural: October 31st 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Mildenhall Hub

 

Rendlesham Forest

 

Sizewell

 

Thomas Mills

 

Thornham Walks

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Suffolk, EnglandComment
Completing all Norfolk parkruns

There are currently 22 parkrun events in the present-day county of Norfolk of which I have completed 2. The first was Gorleston Cliffs which started on April 25th 2009 and the newest is Fitzmaurice Park which started on March 29th 2025. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is That’s All Folks (for both Norfolk and Suffolk).

Gorleston Cliffs was park of the Historic County of Suffolk but is now in Norfolk.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Norfolk parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Blickling

 

Brundall

 

Catton

 

Colney Lane

 

Dereham

 

Downham Market Academy

 

Fitzmaurice Park

 

Flegg High

 

Gorleston Cliffs

Gorleston-on-Sea, including its iconic cliffs, was historically part of Suffolk, with the traditional county boundary running along the River Yare and Breydon Water, placing the land to the south (Gorleston) firmly within the northern reach of Suffolk. This historical county division was noted as far back as the Domesday Book. However, as the port of Great Yarmouth (which was in Norfolk) expanded and became the dominant civic and economic centre of the area, the administrative geography was adjusted. Gorleston was first brought into the Great Yarmouth parliamentary constituency in 1832 and officially incorporated into the Municipal Borough of Great Yarmouth in 1836 under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. While the borough itself straddled both counties for a time, a final administrative change in 1891 placed the entire borough, including Gorleston, entirely within the county of Norfolk, thereby moving the coastal cliffs permanently to their current county

 

Great Yarmouth North Beach

 

Holkham

 

Hunstanton Promenade

 

King’s Lynn

 

Lingwood

 

Loch Neaton, Wattonham

 

North Walsham

 

Norwich

 

Sandringham

 

Sheringham

 

Sloughbottom

  • I completed this event on: November 5th 2022 with a finish time of: 25:43

  • Other routes touched (walk): Cross-Norfolk Trail, Marriott’s Way

  • Inaugural: May 11th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Swaffham

 

Thetford

  • I completed this event on: July 30th 2016 with a finish time of: 25:17

  • Other routes touched (walk): St Edmund Way, Little Ouse Path, Thetford Architectural Trail, Thetford River Trails Purple Route

  • Inaugural: February 23rd 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Norfolk, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Coleman Green and Wheathampstead

Walking through Devil’s Dyke, Wheathampstead

Start & Finish: East Lane Car Park, 13 East Lane, Wheathampstead, St Albans, AL4 8SB
Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 99m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Hammonds House Farm to the River Lea: 4.15 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, The Romans and Nomandsland, Devil’s Dyke and Nomansland, The Old Railway and River Lea, Lea Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 57, Ayot Greenway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Wheathampstead at the start and finish plus the John Bunyan pub at Colman Green (5.5 km in)
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Wheathampstead, Nomansland Common, Heartwood Forest, Devil's Dyke, Wheathampstead Station, River Lea

The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked at the free car park on East Lane, Wheathampstead. Be careful not to use the car park next to it that is for customers of the Bull Pub. Walk in a southerly direction down Wheathampstead High Street, continuing onto the B651 “The Hill” for approximately 2 km until you reach the corner of Nomansland Common. Take a left onto a footpath just before Drovers Lane and follow it in an easterly direction through fields, across Coleman Green Lane and into Heartwood Forest. After passing through the farm buildings at Hammonds House farm you’ll reach the Hertfordshire Way at Hammonds Lane.

Take a left onto the Hertfordshire Way, following it in an east/north-easterly direction. After ~300m leave take the footpath on the left to leave Hammonds Lane but keep on the Hertfordshire Way. Follow the edge of the woods for ~700m then take a left to leave the tree line and continue along the Hertfordshire Way across the fields to Coleman Green. Just under 1 km from Coleman Green take a right onto Devil’s Dyke Lane. You can continue along the Lane, but I highly recommend finding the path on the right running through Devil’s Dyke. This is the remains of a prehistoric defensive ditch which is generally agreed to have been part of the defences of an Iron Age settlement belonging to the Catuvellauni tribe of Ancient Britain.

At the end of Devil’s Dyke Lane cross over Marford Road and continue along Sheepcote Lane until you reach the River Lea. The river is the boundary of what I call the Greater Chilterns Area and and is the final part of this series of walks along the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way. There’s one final surprise in this walk though. North of the River Lea take a left onto the Ayot Greenway. This is part of a disused railway path that connects Wheathampstead to Welwyn Garden City. We’re following a short section of it as it runs parallel to the River Lea to the remains of Wheathampstead Station. The Station is worth a visit as it’s been nicely preserved with information boards describing its history. After the station walk down Station Road to cross over the River Lea and back to the start of the walk.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Wheathampstead and Ayot St Lawrence
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Trig Pillar Extremes

If you’ve searched for or stumbled across this page then you probably already know what an OS Trig Pillar is. If you don’t then this article from the Ordnance Survey is a good place to start.

Over 6,000 Trig Pillars were erected across the country from 1936 to 1962. The first known person to have visited all of them was Rob Woodall who completed his 14-year personal quest in April 2016. At the time of writing this I’ve also been visiting Trig Pillars for over 14 years but so far I’ve bagged less than 5%. While I don’t have the need to bag them all, I’d be happy with an “interesting 10%”. These would include all of the pillars on the UK County Tops and, as it’s close to home, all of South East England. After a geeky pub conversation somewhere in Scotland after a County Top climb, I also took an interest in the extremes: the oldest, the newest, the furthest north, east, south and west. This post shows the results of my research so far into what are those extreme Trig Pillars.

Let me know if you have any corrections to the information on this page or any suggestions for other extreme Trig Pillars. I’ll donate £1 to one of the outdoor causes that I support for any edit made.

Trig Pillar Compass Club

The spreadsheet below shows the same Trig Pillars as in the map above. Note that those highlighted in yellow are ones that I’m less confident in. Comment below if you can confirm or correct any of these.

Other Extremes

Thanks to Mark Brace and Ross Lockley for their contributions to this page.

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Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern IrelandComment
Cycling The Horton Brook and Datchet Common Brook

Black Park Lake on the Horton Brook

It had been a few years since I thought that I had completed all of the Chiltern and Colne Valley rivers. Then I discovered the Horton Brook and The Datchet Common Brook on a map and needed to explore them too. Both are small and easily missed unless you’re looking out for them. They snake through fields and residential areas to the east of Slough but you can walk or cycle fairly close to them if you know where to look. Both of the brook’s sources are close to each other at Fulmer and and have confluences with the Thames near Wraysbury. This means that both can be discovered in a 40 km cycle ride, following the Horton brook from the source then the Datchet Common Brook from its confluence back to the source.

 

Cycling the Horton Brook from the source to the confluence with the Thames

River start: Boundary of Black Park and Pinewood Studios, Fulmer
River end: Confluence with the River Thames in National Trust, Ankerwyke
River length: 19.7 km (12.2 miles)
Links: DEFRA: Horton Brook

We started our cycle trip at the north-eastern corner of Black Park at the junction of Fulmer Common Road, Alderbourne Lane and Pinewood Road. Different maps show the source of the Brook either right on this corner or a little further south along the boundary of Black Park and Pinewood Studios. I’ve been cycling and walking there for years but always thought that it was a ditch.

After ~700m from Fulmer Common Road, the Brook cuts diagonally across the Country Park to empty into Black Park Lake, emerging on the south western side near the path to the car park. After Black Park the Brook crosses under Rowley Lane and into Rowley Farm. We cycled through the farm on the Rowley Farm Trail but ended up taking a fairly convoluted route to not stay very close to the Brook. The easiest route is to follow the A420 to George Green, although be very careful here is it’s a busy dual carriageway.

After the A420 the Brook snakes through George Green, Middle Green, across Langley Park Road and under the Grand Union Canal Slough Arm. Cycling close to the Brook is pretty straightforward and there’s a nice straight section of the canal to follow. After leaving the canal at Mansion Lane you’ll cross uner the railway and take a left onto Parlaunt Road then right onto Old Slade Lane. Meanwhile, the Brook passes through a field and Ritchlings Park Golf Club. After crossing over the M4, leave the Colne Valley Trail at a footpath junction and follow a messy path initially parallel to the motorway then cutting through a field to cross over the A4 Colnbrook Bypass. Here you’ll briefly re-join the Colne Valley Trail through Colnbrook village. After Colnbrook follow Horton Road keeping the Brook and The Queen Mother Reservoir on your right. Cross over Datchet Road to follow Park Lane and onto the footpath through the lakes to Station Road.

At Station Road you can take a left heading east to the bridge where the Brook flows under and into Wraysbury Lake. According to the DEFRA site, this is where the Horton Brook ends. The Wraysbury Lakes Ditch takes water from the lake and into the Colne Brook, which itself flows into the Thames at Runnymede.

For a more interesting cycle ride we took a right onto Station Road, passing through Wraysbury High Street then took at right into Magna Carta Lane. Here you can pass through the National Trust Ankerwyke site to connect to an arm of the Horton Brook that joins the Thames to the east of Ankerycke Yew. The paths through the National Trust site are for walking so best to lock your bikes up at the parking area.

 

Cycling The Datchet Common Brook from the Thames to the source

River start: Fulmer Wood Lake, Slough, SL3 6AA
River end: Confluence with the River Thames near The Avenue, Sunnymeads, Wraysbury, Staines, TW19 5EY
River length: 11.3 km (7 miles)
Links: DEFRA: Datchet Common Brook

From the end of the Horton Brook return to the B376 Staines Road and take a left towards Wraysbury. At the mini roundabout continue on the B376, then take a left onto The Avenue at Sunnymeads. Look out for the bridge over the Datchet Common Brook near house #37. This is the closest you’ll get to the confluence with the Thames which is behind the houses on the western side of the road.

After the bridge, turn around and take the next left onto Acacia Avenue to Sunnymeads Station. Take the footpath on the right to climb the steps back up to Welley Road. Take a left and follow Welley Road to the junction with Datchet Road. Take a left onto Datchet Road and follow it in an easterly direction towards Datchet Common. The Brook follows the Datchet Road on the northern side, following the edge of the Queen Mother Reservoir.

Take a right onto Penn Road, a left onto New Road then a right onto Ditton Road. Take a right at the junction with Major’s Farm Road, running parallel with the M4 until you reach the footbridge. Cross the bridge over the motorway to the northern side and look out for the entrance to Ditton Park on the corner of Ridig Court Road and Ditton Park Road.

You’re now in the most enjoyable part of the ride, following the course of the Brook through Ditton Park to Upton Court Road. At the north-eastern corner of Upton Park, take Quaves Road onto Lascelles Road then take a left on the A4 Wellington Street, crossing over to the northern side where safe to do so. At the large Sainsbury’s Roundabout take the A412 heading north. After crossing over the railway line and canal you can follow the quieter residential roads that run parallel to the A412.

Take a left onto Church Lane then a right onto Wexham Park Lane. Look out for the bridge over the Brook at Valley End at the bottom of the hill. Shortly after Valley End, at a curve in the road, take the footpath on the left called Gallions Lane and follow it in a northerly direction. The Brook will now be on your left running through Wexham Park Golf Course. Just before the end of Gallions Lane take a right to follow the path running parallel to Rowley Lane to the end at Black Park Lane. Follow Black Park Lane in a northerly direction to the end at Fulmer Common Road. When you meet the Shakespeare’s Way and Beeches Way that join from the left you’re now as close as you’ll get to the source of the Datchet Common Brook at Fulmer Wood Lake.

Take a right onto Fulmer Common Road to return to the start of the cycle ride at the north-eastern corner of Black Park

Red = Cycle Route, Green = Datchet Common Brook, Blue = Horton Brook

Elevation for cycle route

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Richard gowerCycle, NCN, Canal, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest

Edge of Heartwood Forest, towards Childwickbury

Start & Finish: Nomansland Parking, Ferrers Lane, St Albans, AL4 8EG
Distance: 12.3 km (7.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 106m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Chilwickbury to Hammonds House Farm: 5.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, The Romans and Nomandsland, Ver Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several pubs and a cafe in Sandridge at 8 km in.
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Childwickbury, Sandridge, Heartwood Forest, Nomansland Common

The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked at the free parking area on Nomansland Common off Ferrers Lane. Take the footpath heading west from the parking area and, after approximately 800m, take the southern footpath through the woods towards Round Wood. Keep heading in a south westerly direction along the field edge until you reach the railway embankment. Take a right to follow the right hand edge of the railway until you reach Ayres End Lane. Take a left to pass under the railway line, then the first path on the right to follow a path that bypasses Ayres End Lane and joins the Ver Valley Walk.

Follow the Ver Valley Walk in a south westerly direction. Carefully cross over the A1081 Harpenden Road and take a right into Childwickbury. Here you’ll join the Herfordshire Way. Take a left in Childwickbury village to follow the Hertfordshireway back to the A1081 Harpenden Road. Turn right onto the A1081 then carefully cross over to follow the Hertfordshire Way in an easterly direction to Sandridge.

Sandridge village is a good place to stop for a rest at 8 km in. There’s a few pubs and a cafe so it’s well-served for a small village. After Sandridge continue to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a north-easterly direction until you reach the junction with the Romans and Nomansland trail at Hammonds House farm. Leave the Hertfordshire Way here and follow the Romans and Nomansland trail in a north-westerly direction through the farm. Eventually you’ll cross the Wheathampstead Road back onto Nomansland Common and the final short section back to the car park.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Coleman Green and Wheathampstead
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: St Albans and Childwickbury

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: St Albans and Childwickbury

St Albans Cathedral

Start & Finish: Verulamium Car Park, 39 St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW. Alternative parking and public transport options in St Albans
Distance: 14.3 km (8.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 122m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbournbury to Childwickbury: 10.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: Many in St Albans Town Centre
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Redbournbury, St Albans, Childwickbury, River Ver

The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain. For this walk we parked at the Verulamium Car Park on the western edge of the town. The location is great for the walk but it’s also expensive. There’s other parking and public transport options in St Albans though.

Most of this walk is in the countryside to the north of the city, however there’s a “bonus” loop of 2.5 km that takes in St. Alban’s Cathedral, Fishpool Street and Verulamium Park. It’s worth doing but if you want to skip it the main section of the walk is around 11.5 km. My advice is to do the main section first then have a rest in one of the city’s pubs and cafes then do the small loop before returning to the car park.

For the main section of the route, exit the car park on the western side onto St Michael’s Street then take a right onto the A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road. It’s a busy route into the city but the pavement is safe enough and it’s a short distance. After the roundabout carefully cross over and take the first lane on the left heading into farmland in a north-westerly direction. Follow this path through fields, woods and a golf course to the small village of Childwickbury.

Continue through Childwickbury until you reach the A1081 Harpenden Road. Take a left onto the A1081 and follow the pavement for 1.2 km then take a left onto Beesonend Lane. Follow the lane for 2 km in a south-westerly direction until you reach a T-junction with a path that runs parallel to the river Ver. Take a left to follow this path in a southerly direction to the A5183 Redbourn Road.

Cross over the road and enter a gate into the Gorhambury Estate. Follow the path through the estate until you reach the A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road. Cross over the road to return to St Michael’s Street and the car park. Note that Gorhambury is a private estate with permissive paths running through it. The gate from the A5183 was locked when we were there so we had to take a less interesting diversion along the A5183. Check the Gorhambury Estate website for details of any closures.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Sandridge and Heartwood Forest
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Redbourn and Redbournbury

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Shardeloes 10k Trail

When: September 27th 2025
Where: Amersham Cricket Club, Amersham, HP7 0RN
Organiser: Chiltern Harriers AC
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 133m
Course: 1 small loop of the cricket club field then a large clockwise loop via Mop End, Beamond End and Little Missenden
Other routes touched (Walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touches (Cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Hampden Route
Finish time: 1 hour, 36 seconds

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Richard gowerRun, 10k, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Redbourn and Redbournbury

Farmland south of Redbourn

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7ND
Distance: 9 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Redbourn to Redbournbury: 4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Nickey Line
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cricketers of Redbourn at start and end
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Redbourn, Redbournbury, Redbournbury Mill, River Ver, Nickey Line

The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked at the free car park on West Common near the cricket club. Walk along the tree-lined avenue in a south-westerly direction then take a right onto Flamsteadbury Lane. Take a left onto Ben Austins (road) and then a right onto the footpath next to house number 13. When you reach the field corner take a left to follow the Hertfordshire Way in a south-westerly direction along the field-edge. Keep following both the Very Valley Walk and Hertfordshire Way to pass through the grounds of St Mary’s Church, across Hemel Hempstead Road and onto the Nickey Lane disused railway.

Take a left onto the Nickey Line and follow it for 1.8 km until you reach a path junction just after crossing over the River Red. Take right at this path junction to leave the Nickey Line to stay on the Hertfordshire Way. Follow the Hertfordshire Way in a south-easterly direction for 2.6 km as it runs parallel to the River Ver. Approximately 0.5 km south of the Redbournbury Watermill leave the Hertfordshire Way to cross over the River Ver into a cow field. There’s a section of stepping stones where you can cross an arm of the Ver after the footbridge.

Cross the cow field and over the A4183 Redbourn Road then onto Punchbowl Lane. Follow Punchbowl Lane in a south-westerly direction for 3.3 km then take the footpath on the right to follow the Ver Valley Walk across fields in a northerly direction. Keep on the Ver Valley Walk heading north for approximately 3 km back to the start at West Common.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: St Albans and Childwickbury
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Flamstead and Redbourn

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Ales & Trails Creative Juices 10k

When: September 21st 2025
Where: Creative Juices Brewery, Woodoaks Farm Cottages, Denham Way, Maple Cross, Rickmansworth WD3 9XQ
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 189m
Course: 3 loops either side of the M25 starting at Woodoaks Farm and reaching to Philipshill Wood
Other routes touched (Walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touches (Cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Finish time: 1 hour, 38 seconds

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Richard gowerRun, 10k, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Mount Fuji: Japan High Point

Summit of Fuji shortly after sunrise

Also known as: Fuji-san, Japanese: 富士山
Significance: Highest Point in Japan, high point of the island of Honshu
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Xueshan - Beilengjiao, Taiwan
Elevation: 3,776m
Date “climbed”: September 3rd 2025
Coordinates: 35° 21' 38'' N, 138° 43' 38'' E
Links: Wikipedia (Japan, Honshu, Mount Fuji), Peakbagger, Fuji Mountain Guides

It took us a few months to decide on what our big trip should be to celebrate my 50th birthday. The ascent of Mount Toubkal for my 40th had set a high bar, so it was hard to find something to match it. As Toubkal was over 4,000m, my first thought was to do a peak higher than 5,000m. Timea quickly vetoed Mount Ararat (5,137m) as it was a bit too near a conflict zone. Several similar ideas were also rejected for other quite sensible reasons.

When we came upon the idea of two weeks in Japan with a climb of Mt. Fuji plus two parkruns, it was an immediate “Hell Yes!”. Timea hadn’t been to Japan before but wanted to go for a long time. I had been once before, but it was 18 years ago, and I didn’t do Fuji. I was very excited to bag another iconic mountain.

We booked the Fuji part of our Japan trip with Fuji Mountain Guides, who specialise in English language treks. I honestly can’t recommend them highly enough, as the experience was excellent from the booking process through to the end-of-hike wrap-up.

While many hikers flock to the popular Yoshida Trail, a more serene and equally rewarding alternative is on the eastern side of Japan's most iconic peak: the Subashiri Trail. Offering a unique and much less crowded experience, this route is a favourite among hikers seeking a more intimate connection with the mountain.

 

Day 1: Subashiri 5th Station to 8th Station

Date: September 2nd 2025
Start: Subashiri 5th Station
Finish: Fujisan Hotel, 8th Station
Distance: 5.3 km (3.3 miles)
Elevation change: +1,373m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched: Yoshida Trail

Our journey began at Gotemba Train Station, one of the pick-up points for Fuji Mountain Guides. We were staying in a ryokan in Hakone, so it was a convenient place to get to. Others in the group had already been picked up in Tokyo.

The first stop was the Fuji Mountain Guides base, a 15-minute drive from the station. The guides checked the mandatory kit, and we picked up the hiking poles that we rented from them. From there, it was another 25-minute drive up through the forest road to the 5th Station.

The trail begins at the Subashiri 5th Station, at an elevation of approximately 2,000 meters. After a final toilet stop and a chance to buy some more food and a souvenir wooden walking stick, we had the hike briefing and started the ascent at 11 a.m.

One of the defining features of the Subashiri Trail is its first half, which winds through a lush forest of Veitch's fir and Erman's birch. This shaded path provides a welcome reprieve from the sun and offers a stark contrast to the barren, volcanic landscape of the higher elevations. This forested section continues until around the 7th Station, where the trail opens up, providing expansive views of the surrounding landscape and views to Lake Yamanaka and the towns of Oshino and Fujiyoshida to the north-east.

Although the group was quite large, 40 people, it never felt crowded as the different walking paces thinned us out during the first hour. The six guides spaced themselves among the group, so there was always one of them close by.

The Subashiri Trail is considered an intermediate route, slightly more challenging than the Yoshida Trail due to its lower starting elevation and a greater overall elevation gain of about 1,750 meters. The ascent typically takes five to seven hours, with a total distance of approximately 6.9 km (4.3 miles). We were at the slower end of this, but we got to the 8th Station comfortably before dark (around 6 p.m.).

As you ascend, you'll encounter a number of mountain huts where you can rest, buy food and water, and have your walking stick stamped. Be aware that the huts only take cash, and prices for food and drink are higher than in normal Japanese shops. However, with a favourable pound-to-yen exchange rate, it was still no more than UK prices.

It's important to note that the ascent and descent paths are different for a large portion of the trail, which helps manage foot traffic. However, the Subashiri Trail merges with the Yoshida Trail at the 8th Station, where the crowds can increase significantly, especially during peak season.

By the time we reached the 8th Station, the group had reduced to 36. Four of the group had turned back before the first hut. One of them was an American guy that I was chatting to on the first section. He was doing the hike as a new goal after a heart attack 18 months before. While it was a great goal, he was clearly not fit or prepared enough for such a demanding hike. The guides told us that it’s unusual for the whole group to complete the full trek.

Our early evening at the 8th Station Fujisan Hotel (not a hotel) consisted of being assigned our sleeping area, changing clothes, dining on a boil-in-the-bag beef curry, and having a briefing for the morning hike. We went to bed at 20:00 to get some sleep ahead of the next day’s hike.

There was no real sleep, though. A mix of a thin mattress, a slight lingering headache, and the constant rumble of snoring and rustling from the group kept us awake. Timea and I probably got about 10 minutes of sleep each. On the plus side, I did manage to listen to a whole audiobook while I wasn’t sleeping.

Our wake-up call from Dan, our head guide, was at 02:30. We were already up and ready, though, as the loud preparations of some of the others at 01:00 meant there was no more rest to be had.

 

Day 2: 8th Station to Summit and descent to 5th Station

Date: September 3rd 2025
Start: Fujisan Hotel, 8th Station
Finish: Subashiri 5th Station
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +357m / - 1,740m. Net -1,383m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched: Yoshida Trail

The final push to the summit began at 03:05. As we made our final preparations outside the 8th Station, we could see the lights of Tokyo in the distance and lightning through the clouds on the horizon.

Rather than being spread out at different speeds on the first day, the group kept together with a very slow pace. In the second hour, we saw some big groups already descending. This made our guides concerned about conditions on the summit. It turned out, though, that they had started too early and summited way before sunrise. Our guides were better organised, though, and timed our ascent to get us to the Torii Gate exactly at sunrise.

In the Japanese Shinto religion, the sunrise holds profound significance, as it is seen as the daily rebirth of Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and central deity. Amaterasu is believed to have been born from the left eye of the creator god Izanagi, and her light is considered the source of all life and purity. Therefore, the act of witnessing the sunrise is a form of worship and a ritual of purification known as "misogi," allowing practitioners to cleanse themselves of spiritual impurities and renew their connection with the divine. The rising sun, with its vibrant red disc, is also a powerful symbol of Japan itself, often referred to as "the land of the rising sun," representing hope, renewal, and the enduring spirit of the nation.

Fuji sunrise was also significant for us. It was the centrepiece of my 50th birthday celebrations and a challenge that Timea had been training for several months. During our planning for the trip, we agreed that if Timea wasn’t able to make the summit, then she would stay at one of the huts while I would complete the ascent. While this would have been OK, it was particularly special that we could reach the top and see the sunrise together.

Although the weather at the summit was better than the guides feared, there were still strong winds and heavy mist at the crater rim. In good conditions, they take some of the group on a circuit of the crater, but that wasn’t an option that day. Even so, we still managed to have enough time to get our stick stamped, walk to the highest point of the eastern edge, and get photos at the Shinto Shrine and Torii Gate. We would have loved to have spent more time there, but the guides knew what they were doing, so we followed their instructions and started the descent.

What we didn’t realise until after the trip was that the highest point of 3,776m was on the other side of the crater. It actually has its own name: Mount Kengamine. Although I was a bit disappointed not to get there, I was happy with reaching the high point of the eastern edge at 3,744m. We got as high as we could based on the weather. Given the unpredictability of the conditions, you’d have to be very lucky, or do multiple attempts to get to 3,776m. As it turned out, a typhoon was approaching that cancelled all ascents a day later. We were very lucky and grateful that we had the chance to do the trek at all.

The first part of the descent back to the 8th Station took just 30 minutes versus the two hours to ascend earlier. We stopped for breakfast and took some layers off to continue down towards the 5th Station.

The descent is where the Subashiri Trail truly stands out. From the 7th Station onward, the path becomes a unique and exhilarating experience known as "Sunabashiri" or "sand running." This section is a steep, long slope of soft volcanic gravel, allowing hikers to descend at a quick, almost running pace. While it's a fun and fast way to get down the mountain, it requires careful footing and is a test for your leg muscles. This "run" can drastically shorten your descent time, with the entire return trip taking as little as 2.5 to 4 hours.

By the time the trail levelled out after the sand running, Timea’s left knee started hurting. It was similar to the pain she had on Toubkal 10 years before. Back then, she was able to take a donkey for the rest of the descent, but there are no donkeys on Fuji.

For those in real trouble, the emergency evacuation is via one of the bulldozer trucks that takes supplies up to the huts. Four of the group ended up taking the bulldozer down, but Timea’s knee wasn’t so bad. She got through it by taking it slow, some stretching, and a bunch of painkillers.

We were grateful for Scott, one of the guides, for watching out for us and two other slower couples in the final hour. After the 5th Station, he took us on a lesser-known shortcut, called the “mushroom trail,” that avoided the stone steps with a more gradual route through the woods.

We were tired, dirty, and thankful that we had booked a day and a half of rest back at the ryokan with our very own onsen in Hakone. Our thanks go to the six members of Fuji Mountain Guides who made our trek a safe, fun, and memorable adventure.

 

Top Tips: things we learnt on the hike

  • If you have any allergies, it’s best to take your own food. Timea is both dairy and gluten-free, and there were limited options for her at the stations.

  • Breakfast at the 8th station was advertised as pastries. You can buy these (packaged, not fresh), but there were a range of other hot and cold options too (for example, rice with beef, ramen noodles, etc.).

  • Take both salty and sweet snacks. Salty is great for replacing salts in your body, and sweet (e.g., Haribo) is great for the summit.

  • I’m not a big fan of either gaiters or walking poles, but both are essential for Fuji. I rented poles but only used them for the descent. I didn’t use gaiters but wish that I had, as I had both boots full of volcanic ash and stones after the scree-run.

  • If you get into real trouble and can’t walk down, the bulldozers are your emergency option. Helicopters are not allowed to land on the mountain, so your evacuation may take some time. The bulldozers are mainly used to take supplies to the huts and can be used to take you down if you are injured. It’s a slow and bumpy trip, so you really don’t want to do it, despite how much fun it may sound. Bulldozer evacuation costs around £80 to £100 per person.

  • It should be obvious, but don’t hike Fuji in new boots. We met one hiker with new boots that she had only used once before in a very short walk at home. They would have rubbed a lot later in the hike.

  • Even if you have well-worn-in shoes, take blister plasters.

  • Take electrolytes to add to your water bottle or CamelBak. We lost five litres of sweat according to our Garmin watches.

  • Take dry roll-on sun lotion, especially for the descent. Sand and ash will stick to liquid lotion.

  • The huts take cash, not cards, so take enough for the two days, remembering that prices are higher than normal Japanese shops. Most toilets take coins, but you can get change from the huts when buying food and drink.

  • Bring wet wipes to clean yourself when getting changed in the 8th Station. There are no showers.

  • Bring leaf soap, as the toilets don’t have any soap, only water.

  • Only take up to 1 litre of water to drink between huts and buy more along the way. This will reduce the weight that you need to carry.

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Richard gowerTrek, Country High Points, Mountain, JapanComment
South West England parkruns

The parkrun Regionnaire status used to be a major part of parkrun tourism, with South East England being the largest region. Changes in the parkrun website in 2019 removed the regions making it harder to track completion status. All is not lost though as here’s the complete parkrun guide to what’s in and what’s out of the counties of South West England.

The South West England region is the largest of England's nine regions by area, encompassing the historic and ceremonial counties of Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and the city of Bristol. It stretches from the border with the South East and West Midlands, down to the far southwestern tip at Land's End, giving it the longest coastline of any English region. The area is often romantically referred to as the West Country and includes ancient landscapes such as Wessex. The key urban centres are the thriving city of Bristol, the historically important naval port of Plymouth, and the coastal conurbation of Bournemouth/Poole.

Map of South West England showing the Historic and present-day (Ceremonial) counties

parkrun event numbers per county

There are currently 86 parkrun events in the South West region. Three of these events were in Hampshire in South East England before the county boundary changes in 1974, however this was a long time before parkrun started. There are currently no parkrun events in the present day / Ceremonial county of the Isles of Scilly

Notes and exceptions.

  • Numbers of event above exclude prison parkruns and permanently cancelled events.

  • Bournemouth and Moors Valley parkruns were part of Historic Hampshire and would have been in Historic South East England, but are now part of Present-day Dorset, so would be in the South West England region.

  • Tidworth: South Tidworth where the parkrun takes place was moved from Hampshire into Wiltshire in 1992 but houses there still have Hampshire on their address for post.

  • The course for Tamar Lakes is in both Cornwall and Devon however the start and finish are on the Cornwall side so I’ve included it there.

The South West Counties parkrun pages

Click on each of the images below to go to the page with details of the parkrun events for the county. Bristol is included in the Gloucestershire page.

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, EnglandComment
Completing all Cornwall parkruns

There are currently 9 parkrun events in present-day Cornwall of which I have completed 1. The first was Lanhydrock which started on January 18th 2014 and the newest is Penryn Campus which started on October 16th 2021. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is CornwALL

The course for Tamar Lakes is in both Cornwall and Devon however the start and finish are on the Cornwall side so I’ve included it here.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Cornwall parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Eden Project

 

Heartlands

 

Land’s End

 

Lanhydrock

 

Mount Edgcumbe

  • I completed this event on: October 21st 2025 with a finish time of: 29:46

  • Other routes touched (walk): England Coast Path

  • Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2

  • Inaugural: January 30th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Penrose

 

Penryn Campus

  • I have not yet completed this event

 

Tamar Lakes

 

Trelissick

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Cornwall, EnglandComment
Completing all Devon parkruns

There are currently 19 parkrun events in present-day Devon of which I have completed 2. The first was Killerton which started on April 30th 2011 and the newest is Greendale Farm Shop which started on January 11th 2025. I’m not aware of a collective name for having completed all Devon parkrun events, but let me know in the comments below if you know of one.

The course for Tamar Lakes is in both Cornwall and Devon however the start and finish are on the Cornwall side so I’ve included it there.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Devon parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Barnstaple

 

Bideford

 

Bolberry Down

 

Central, Plymouth

 

Cranbrook Country Park

 

Exeter Riverside

 

Exmouth

 

Greendale Farm Shop

 

Haldon Forest

 

Killerton

  • I completed this event on: June 4th 2022 with a finish time of: 25:25

  • Other routes touched (walk): Two Counties Way, National Trust walks through the estate

  • Inaugural: April 30th 2011

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Parke

 

Plymvalley

  • I completed this event on: October 26th 2019 with a finish time of: 28:40

  • Other routes touched (walk): West Devon Way, Plym Valley Trail

  • Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 27

  • Inaugural: September 22nd 2012

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Seaton

 

Sharpham Estate

 

Simmons Park

 

Tamar Trails

 

Teignmouth Promenade

 

Torbay Velopark

 

Woolacombe Dunes

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Devon, EnglandComment
Completing all Dorset parkruns

There are currently 9 parkrun events in present-day Dorset of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Poole which started on April 2nd 2011 and the newest is Durlston Country Park which started on March 19th 2022. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is The Dor Set

Bournemouth and Moors Valley were in historic Hampshire but are now part of present-day Dorset.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Dorset parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Blandford

 

Durlston Country Park

 

Poole

 

St Mary’s

 

The Great Field

 

Upton House

 

Weymouth

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Dorset, EnglandComment
Completing all Somerset parkruns

There are currently 16 parkrun events in present-day Somerset of which I have completed 3. The first was Ashton Court which started on April 23rd 2011 and the newest is St Matthew’s Field which started on November 29th 2025. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is The Somer-Set

Yeovil Montacute parkrun was active until the Covid-19 parkrun pause and is now permanently closed. Henstridge Airfield parkrun closed in September 2023.

Numbers exclude any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.

Somerset parkrun events

The interactive maps below take you to the approximate location for the course, typically the centre of the park. See the course instructions in the parkrun page for each event for specific directions to the start. Course maps show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then.

Ashton Court

 

Bath Skyline

 

Brickfields Park

  • I completed this event on: June 28th 2025 with a finish time of: 26:21

  • Other routes touched (walk): N/A

  • Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 244

  • Inaugural: May 10th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Burnham and Highbridge

 

Clevedon Salthouse Fields

  • I completed this event on: December 30th 2023 with a finish time of: 28:34

  • Other routes touched (walk): England Coastal path

  • Inaugural: September 21st 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Five Arches

 

Frogmary Green Farm

 

Henstridge Airfield

***Henstridge Airfield parkrun is now permanently cancelled ***

  • I did not complete this event while it was active

  • Inaugural: September 8th 2018

  • Final Event: #167 on September 2nd 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Longrun Meadow

 

Marine Parade

 

Minehead

 

Sharpham Road Playing Fields

 

Shepton Mallet

 

Somerdale Pavilion

 

St Matthew’s Field

 

Street

 

The Old Showfield

 

Yeovil Montacute

***Yeovil Montacute parkrun is now permanently cancelled ***

  • I completed this event on: September 15th 2018 with a finish time of: 25:41

  • Other routes touched (walk): Monarch’s Way

  • Inaugural: September 7th 2013

  • Final Event: #295 on March 14th 2020

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

More parkrun posts

parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.

Featured and popular parkrun posts:

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Richard gowerRun, parkrun, Somerset, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Flamstead and Redbourn

Fields to the west of Redbourn

Start & Finish: Free car park on West Common, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7ND
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 98m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Flamstead to Redbourn: 4.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Way, Ver Valley Walk, River Ver Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 57
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Spotted Dog or The Three Blackbirds in Flamstead at 6.5 km in and several options in Redbourn at the start and end.
Map: St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Flamstead, Redbourn, River Ver

The Hertfordshire Way offers an incredible opportunity to circumnavigate one of England's home counties, revealing its hidden charms and surprising variety. This circular long-distance footpath, stretching around 273 km (170 miles), guides walkers through the county's most picturesque landscapes, proving that green spaces are never far, even in this area close to London. We walked the Chilterns part of the Hertfordshire Way in 15 sections over a couple of years. We used my “Greater Chilterns” definition that takes the trail from the River Lea near Wheathampstead to the River Colne near Garston. This route is one of those 15 circular walks.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked at the free car park on West Common near the cricket club. Walk along the tree-lined avenue in a north-easterly direction to Redbourn High Street. Cross over onto Watersend Road, following the River Ver Trail as it runs parallel to the River Ver. After 5km you’ll reach the M1 junction. This isn’t a pleasant section and be careful as you navigate the motorway underpass and cross the roundabout on the western side. Once across the junction you’ll be back into quieter farm and woodland on the 1 km section to Flamstead. You’re now over half way into the route and it’s a good chance to stop for a rest in either the Spotted Dog or Three Blackbirds.

At the junction of Flamstead High Street and Chapel Road you’ll pick up the Hertfordshire Way heading south along Trowley Hill Road. Approximately 0.5 km south of the Three Blackbirds you’ll take a footpath on the left as Trowley Hill Road curves to the west. Continue along the Hertfordshire Way initially in a southerly direction then curving towards the east. You’ll cross over the M1 again, but this time it’s a lot easier as it’s over a traffic-free bridge. Continue along the Hertfordshire Way back to the start at West Common, Redbourn.

Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Redbourn and Redbournbury
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Flamstead and Markyate

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
The High Points of Helsinki

The summit of Malminkartanonhuippu

If you’ve stumbled across this page hoping to find out about the top things to do in the Finnish capital, you may be disappointed. If you’re hoping to find out about the literal highest point in Helsinki, this is the page for you.

I have been visiting friends in Finland for most summers since 2003. In the intervening years I had developed my obsession for bagging high points but I never thought to find out where is the highest point of this very flat part of the country. With a spare morning before flying back to London in August 2025 I convinced my mates that the best thing to do was to climb to the top of an old landfill site.

Vanhakaupunki - Old Helsinki

Vanhakaupunki, which literally translates to "Old Town," holds the distinction of being the original settlement of Helsinki. Founded by Swedish King Gustav I Vasa in 1550, the city was strategically located at the mouth of the Vantaa River, where it was hoped it would develop into a bustling port to compete with the Hanseatic city of Tallinn. While the grand plans for a major trading hub didn't immediately materialize, this spot laid the foundation for what would eventually become Finland's capital. Today, visitors can still feel a sense of history in this tranquil area, though much of the urban life has long since shifted south to the modern city center.

 

While not filled with the medieval cobblestone streets and centuries-old buildings one might associate with other European old towns, Vanhakaupunki's charm lies in its unique natural setting and historical remnants. The Vantaa River flows through the area, creating a series of beautiful rapids known as the Vanhankaupunginkoski. These rapids, once the power source for old mills and factories, are now a picturesque feature enjoyed by fishermen and nature lovers. A pedestrian bridge offers a fantastic viewpoint of the churning water and the surrounding green spaces, which are a haven for local birdlife.

For those interested in the area's industrial heritage, Vanhakaupunki offers fascinating insights. The old power plant, a striking red-brick building, is a prominent landmark, and the area is home to the Helsinki City Museum's technical and industrial exhibitions. It's a place where you can appreciate the balance between nature and industry, a theme that has long defined the city. Though it may not be on every tourist's main itinerary, a visit to Vanhakaupunki provides a peaceful escape from the urban bustle and a unique opportunity to connect with the very origins of Helsinki, all while enjoying some of the city's most beautiful natural scenery.

You can find the highest point in the area on top of a rock just off Vanhankaupungintie (street), There’s a staircase to the top and a monument marking the summit.

Malminkartanonhuippu - Modern Helsinki

Malminkartanonhuippu, a name that translates to "Malminkartano's Peak," holds the unique distinction of being the highest point in Helsinki. Located in the Malminkartano district, this impressive man-made hill reaches an elevation of 91 meters (299 feet) above sea level. It's not a natural geological feature but rather a testament to urban development and innovative land reclamation. The hill was constructed over a number of years, using excavation soil and rubble from various construction sites across the city, including material from the excavation of the Helsinki Metro. What was once a landfill site has been ingeniously transformed into a popular recreational area.

 

The ascent to the summit is a journey in itself, often referred to as the "Malminkartano stairs." A long, winding staircase of around 426 steps, along with a more gentle, accessible path, leads visitors to the top. The climb is a popular challenge for locals looking for a good workout, with many people using the stairs for their daily exercise routine. As you ascend, the views begin to open up, offering glimpses of the surrounding suburban landscape.

Reaching the top of Malminkartanonhuippu is well worth the effort. The panoramic views from the summit are arguably the best in Helsinki. On a clear day, you can see far beyond the city limits, with vistas stretching across the entire metropolitan area. The view encompasses both the urban landscape of central Helsinki with its iconic buildings and the vast forests and waters of the surrounding Uusimaa region. The hill is a popular spot for picnics, evening strolls, and watching the sunset, providing a peaceful escape from the city's noise and bustle and a unique perspective on the Finnish capital.

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Richard gowerTrek, FinlandComment