East Midlands parkruns
 

The parkrun Regionnaire status used to be a major part of parkrun tourism. 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 East of England.

The East Midlands is a varied and centrally positioned region of England, lying at the heart of the country and forming an important geographic and economic link between the north and south. It comprises six ceremonial counties—Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire (excluding the northern unitary authorities of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire), Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, and Rutland.

Its landscapes are defined by striking contrasts. In the north, the Peak District rises in a sweep of rugged gritstone edges, moorland plateaus, and deep valleys, forming one of Britain’s most celebrated upland national parks. Nottinghamshire is home to the ancient oak woodlands of Sherwood Forest, long associated with folklore and now protected for their ecological and cultural significance. To the south, Rutland Water stands as one of Europe’s largest man‑made reservoirs and an internationally important wetland habitat.

Across the wider region, the scenery shifts from the broad, meandering valley of the River Trent to the volcanic outcrops and wooded hills of Charnwood Forest. Lincolnshire contributes some of the country’s most extensive agricultural landscapes, stretching out to a coastline of wide sandy beaches and low‑lying coastal plains.

Together, these elements create a region of remarkable diversity—rich in natural beauty, deep in history, and shaped by the varied terrains that define the centre of England.


The counties of the East Midlands

parkrun event numbers per county

There are currently 64 parkrun events in the present-day counties of the East Midlands region. The Historic Counties, prior to the various boundary changes had a further 8 events.

Notes and exceptions.

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

  • Market Harborough was in the historic county of Northamptonshire but is in the present-day county of Leicestershire.

  • 6 parkrun events in the north of Lincolnshire are in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

  • 2 parkrun events, Graves and Rother Valley, were in the historic county of Derbyshire but are now in South Yorkshire in the Yorkshire and the Humber Region.

  • Events that are in the Yorkshire and the Humber region are highlighted in yellow in the table above.


The East Midlands Counties parkrun pages

Click on each of the images below to go to the page with details of the parkrun events for the county.


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:


Completing all Lincolnshire parkruns

There are currently 15 parkrun events in the present-day county of Lincolnshire, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Scunthorpe which started on 23rd February 2013 and the newest is Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, which started on 22nd March 2025. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “No missing Lincs”.

Most of Lincolnshire is in the East Midlands Region, however the most northerly 6 parkrun events are in the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

Numbers exclude 2k Junior parkruns and any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.



All of the Lincolnshire parkrun events …

Below are each of the Lincolnshire 5k parkrun events in alphabetical order. A few things to note:

  • 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 and elevation profiles show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then. See the Course page in the event’s page on parkrun.org.uk for the current course outline. Note that course outlines are from Garmin data during a specific run and may vary from the officially measured distance.

  • Please contact me if you spot an event that doesn’t have a course map and elevation profile and you would like to donate one from your own run. I’m also interested in maps and elevation profiles for courses that have changed or where there’s a regular alternative route (e.g. Horsham). I’ll need a GPX file from your run plus the date. I’ll include a credit for you and will donate £1 to parkrun.


Ancholme Valley Way

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 5th February 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Baysgarth Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 30th September 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Belton House

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 7th November 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Boston

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 24th October 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Cleethorpes

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 24th May 2014

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Doddington Hall

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 25th January 2020

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Epworth Equestrian

  • This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled.

  • I did not complete this event before it was closed

  • Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: July 29th 2023. Final event: #59 on October 12th 2024

  • Reason for cancellation: Due to low café usage.

  • Replaced by: Vermuyden Way

  • Links: Event Home Page

 

Gainsborough

  • This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled.

  • I did not complete this event before it was closed

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: May 30th 2015. Final event: #242 on March 14th 2020

  • Reason for cancellation: Didn’t restart after Covid as some of the land had planning permission for housing, which went ahead.

  • Replaced by: Thonock Lane Farm

  • Links: Event Home Page

 

Lincoln

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 16th November 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Market Rasen Racecourse

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 3rd November 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Normanby Hall

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 4th November 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 22nd March 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Scunthorpe

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 23rd February 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Skegness Boating Lake

  • This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled.

  • I did not complete this event before it was closed

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: December 28th 2019. Final event: #12 on March 14th 2020

  • Reason for cancellation: During covid the main carpark entrance for Skegness was moved, it now goes across the course path whereas previously it didn’t.

  • Links: Event Home Page

 

Snowden Field

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 27th April 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Thonock Lane Farm

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 7th October 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Vermuyden Way

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and The Humber

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 25th January 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Yarborough Leisure Centre

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Lincolnshire

  • Ceremonial County: Lincolnshire

  • Inaugural: 4th February 2023

  • 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:


Completing all Derbyshire parkruns

There are currently 12 parkrun events in the present-day county of Derbyshire, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Markeaton which started on 27th April 2013 and the newest is Coronation Park which started on 24th May 2025. I’m not aware of County Completion Name for Derbyshire but let me know in the comments if you have one.

Graves and Rother Valley were both in the historic county of Derbyshire but are now in the present-day county of South Yorkshire. Graves, which started on 14th April 2012, was the first parkrun event in the historic county of Derbyshire. While most of Derbyshire is a part of the East Midlands region, the 2 that are now in South Yorkshire are part of the Yorkshire and the Humber region.


A map of all parkrun events in the county of Derbyshire

All of the Derbyshire parkrun events …

Below are each of the Derbyshire 5k parkrun events in alphabetical order. A few things to note:

  • 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 and elevation profiles show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then. See the Course page in the event’s page on parkrun.org.uk for the current course outline. Note that course outlines are from Garmin data during a specific run and may vary from the officially measured distance.

  • Please contact me if you spot an event that doesn’t have a course map and elevation profile and you would like to donate one from your own run. I’m also interested in maps and elevation profiles for courses that have changed or where there’s a regular alternative route (e.g. Horsham). I’ll need a GPX file from your run plus the date. I’ll include a credit for you and will donate £1 to parkrun.


Alvaston

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 25th May 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ashbourne Recreation Ground

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 14th May 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Black Rocks

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 18th January 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Coronation Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 24th May 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Glossop

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 26th September 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Graves

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: South Yorkshire

  • Inaugural: 14th April 2012

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Long Eaton

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 13th June 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Markeaton

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 27th April 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Monsal Trail

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 6th January 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Pavilion Gardens

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 5th November 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Poolsbrook

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 2nd April 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Rosliston

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 12th March 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Rother Valley

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: Yorkshire and the Humber

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: South Yorkshire

  • Inaugural: 11th May 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Shipley Country

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Region: East Midlands

  • Historic County: Derbyshire

  • Ceremonial County: Derbyshire

  • Inaugural: 25th February 2017

  • 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:


Walking The Midshires Way Part 12: Whaddon and Oakhill Wood
Walking west from Oakhill with Oakhill Wood, Milton Keynes, on the left

Walking west from Oakhill with Oakhill Wood on the left


Start & Finish: St Mary's Church, Church Hill, Whaddon, Milton Keynes, MK17 0LZ
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
Terrain: A combination of quiet country lanes, well-marked grassy footpaths, and rustic woodland tracks.
Midshires Way section covered: Whaddon to Oakhill: 3.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, North Bucks Way, Milton Keynes Boundary Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Lowndes Arms, Whaddon (just off route at the start and finish)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
Links: Whaddon, Milton Keynes


This is part of a series of short circular walks following the length of the Midshires Way in Buckinghamshire. The Midshires Way is a 225-mile (362 km) trail that journeys through the rural heart of Middle England, linking the Ridgeway National Trail at Bledlow in the south to the Trans Pennine Trail at Stockport in the north. Opened in 1994, this route traverses several counties, including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Greater Manchester, following a scenic tapestry of ancient bridleways, quiet country lanes, and historic canals. In Buckinghamshire, the Midshires Way has a significant connection with the Swan's Way (often referred to as the Swan Way), a 65-mile long-distance bridleway. Essentially, the Swan's Way forms the backbone of the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way, with the two routes being broadly coincident for approximately 50 miles between Salcey Forest and Bledlow. While the Swan's Way strictly adheres to bridleways to accommodate horse riders and cyclists, the Midshires Way sometimes offers alternative waymarked footpaths for walkers to avoid on-road sections.

Walking Directions

This delightful circular route through the Buckinghamshire countryside offers a fantastic blend of historic village charm and open agricultural landscapes. Starting in the picturesque village of Whaddon, the trail guides you eastwards along the quiet country lane towards the edge of Milton Keynes. It is a wonderfully peaceful stretch that feels miles away from the hustle of the city, making it an excellent weekend escape or a perfect leg-stretcher for those resting before their Saturday morning parkrun.

As you reach the western urban boundary, the route turns north, tracing the edge of the city before skirting the ancient boundaries of Oakhill Wood and Briary Plantation. The return leg takes you west through wide open fields and south through the remnants of Whaddon Chase, offering long, elevated views across the Great Ouse Valley before delivering you safely back into the heart of Whaddon.

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.

  • Begin the walk outside the Lowndes Arms pub on Stock Lane in Whaddon village centre, where free on-street parking is available.

  • Walk south through St Mary's churchyard, passing the 12th-century church, to exit back onto Stock Lane right opposite your starting point at the Lowndes Arms. As you reach the top of the hill, pass the historic remnants of the Second World War telecommunications site on the grass line.

  • Head east along Stock Lane for approximately 300 metres.

  • Turn left onto the public footpath heading down Kennel Lane towards the open fields.

  • Follow the Midshires Way path as it turns right and then left to skirt the northern edge of Briary Plantation.

  • Continue heading in a north-easterly direction across the fields until the path meets the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk just before you reach the urban houses.

  • Turn left and follow the combined Midshires Way and Milton Keynes Boundary Walk north-north-west for just under two kilometres, passing Oakley Park and Oakhill Prison on your right, and Oakhill Wood on your left.

  • Turn left (west) to stay on the Milton Keynes Boundary Walk, walking across the open fields.

  • Cross over Stratford Road and continue along the farm path heading west.

  • When you reach the track near the converted farm buildings, turn left to head southwards.

  • Follow this path until it connects with Nash Road.

  • Turn left onto Nash Road and follow it as it transitions into Church Hill Road towards the centre of Whaddon.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • St Mary's Church, Whaddon. Dominating the skyline as you approach Whaddon, the Church of St Mary is a striking Grade I listed building with origins rooted in the 12th century. The church features a prominent 14th-century tower and contains historic monuments, including a memorial to Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, making it a culturally significant and highly visible landmark on your walk. Inside, visitors can spot a rare Norman pillar carving showing two peacocks quarrelling over bread, as well as surviving fragments of medieval stained glass in the east window.

  • Whaddon Hall and Royal History. The present Whaddon Hall was built in 1820 on a site occupied by manor houses since the 11th century. Originally a royal forest and medieval hunting ground, Whaddon Chase was historically reserved for hunting deer by the nobility. Although heavily deforested over the centuries and enclosed for agriculture, the undulating topography and remaining pockets of ancient woodland still offer walkers a tangible glimpse into Buckinghamshire's medieval past.

  • The Intelligence Zone and World War Two Telecommunications. During World War Two, Whaddon Hall served as the top-secret headquarters for Section VIII (Communications) of MI6 under Brigadier Richard Gambier-Parry. The facility was responsible for constructing radio gear and transmitting Ultra intelligence from Bletchley Park directly to Allied commanders in the field. Walkers can still see the grassy mounds of the buried wartime radio outstations (such as Windy Ridge and the Upper Weald Radio Station) along Church Hill Road, whose history was shared with us by local author Alan Biggins, writer of The Intelligence Zone: Churchill's Secret Sites and What They Gave the World.

  • Oakhill Wood and Briary Plantation. These ancient woodlands form a beautiful natural buffer between the expanding modern grid of Milton Keynes and the traditional farmland of rural Buckinghamshire. Tracing the edges of these woods provides wonderful opportunities to spot local wildlife: look out for deer, red kites, and woodpeckers nestled in the oak and ash canopy.

  • Snelshall Priory Earthworks. Slightly west of the route lies the site of Snelshall Priory, a Benedictine house dedicated to St Leonard and founded circa 1147. Though the buildings have long since vanished, the historic earthworks, moated site, and medieval fishponds still remain preserved in the quiet landscape.



Midshires Way previous section (south): Great Horwood and Whaddon
Midshires Way next section (north): Oakhill and Loughton

All The Waterloo & City Line Stations

As a part of my ongoing series of visiting "all the stations", I rode the Waterloo and City line bagging all 2 of its stations :-). The last time I completed a line, it was the 41 stations of the Elizabeth Line so this trip was a very quick one by comparison.

I had this on my list for some time, having noticed little bits of trivia about the Waterloo and City line on different geeky YouTube videos I follow. Because one of the unique things about the line is that it is not open on weekends, I needed to do it on a weekday when I was already in London. So, I picked a glorious summer day to catch a very early train into the city, do the Waterloo and City tube line, walk back to Waterloo, and then get back to my office in Paddington at a normal work time.

There’s a few other ways that the Waterloo and City line is unique:

  • It is the shortest of all the London Underground lines at just 1.47 miles long, with a journey time of only four minutes between its two stations, Waterloo and Bank.

  • It is the only tube line that was administered as part of the national rail network until it transferred to the London Underground in 1994.

  • It is completely isolated and has no physical link with the rest of the tube network. Because of this, when carriages need replacing or heavy servicing, they cannot just be driven out: they must be lifted out of the depot by a crane.

  • The line is affectionately known as 'The Drain'. This nickname seemingly comes from the appearance of the lengthy sloping subway access at Bank station.

  • The platforms at Waterloo are still numbered 25 and 26, matching the numbering of the mainline station above.

  • It is one of only two lines on the network (the other being the Victoria line) that is fully underground.

 

The walk back: Bank to Waterloo

What is most interesting about the line: and the real reason I wanted to do this: is the return leg. After arriving, when you walk back from Bank to Waterloo, you can actually do this entire walk without crossing or stepping on a single road. For a detailed guide on that specific path, you can check out the excellent article on the Londonist website (article linked here).

It was a very hot day with not a cloud in the sky, making for a beautiful walk, particularly along the Thames Path section. However, there were a few navigational discoveries and points of interest I found along the way that are worth noting:

  • Navigating Bank Station: When I got to Bank station, I found it tricky to locate the correct passage between Bank and Monument station due to the sheer number of exits. You definitely need to keep your eyes peeled and be careful here.

  • The Pedway Bridge: There is a pedestrian bridge crossing from Pudding Lane to St Magnus the Martyr church. Unfortunately, this was shut during my visit due to reconstruction of a building on the south side of the road. I was a bit disappointed as I actually had to cross the road to avoid the closure, temporarily breaking the "no roads" rule.

  • Approaching Waterloo: As you get to the IMAX near the end of the walk, you need to make sure you find the right route to get from the IMAX to Waterloo station without crossing a road.


Start: Monument Station, Fish Street Hill Exit, London, EC3R 6BR
Finish
: Waterloo Station, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8SW
Distance: 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
Elevation change: +32m / -49m. Net - 17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Pudding Lane Pedway, Thames Path, Green Link Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads, it’s London. See the points of interest section below for 2 significant pubs.
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173

Red = Waterloo & City Underground Line. Blue = The walk back


Points of Interest along the walking route

In order of the route from Bank to Waterloo, showing how many kilometres into the route it is from the Fish Street Hill exit of Monument Station.

  • Bank Station. A major interchange station on the London Underground, named after the nearby Bank of England. It is famous for its complex maze of tunnels, steep escalator shafts, and pedestrian subways, which were built over decades, making it one of the most notoriously confusing (and crowded) stations to navigate on the entire network.

  • Monument Station. Linked directly to Bank station via deep-level pedestrian tunnels, it takes its name from the nearby Monument to the Great Fire of London. It originally opened in 1884 as part of the Metropolitan Inner Circle completion and provides a crucial gateway to the historic heart of the City of London.

  • (0.1 km) Monument to the Great Fire of London. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Dr Robert Hooke, this 202-foot-tall Doric column commemorates the catastrophic Great Fire of London in 1666. Its height is no coincidence. If the column were laid flat on the ground, the tip would reach the exact spot of Thomas Farriner's bakery in Pudding Lane where the fire started.

  • (0.1 km) Pudding Lane. A small cobbled street in the City of London that is infamous worldwide as the starting point of the Great Fire. Despite its sweet-sounding name, "pudding" was actually a medieval term for animal innards, which butchers carted down this lane from Eastcheap market to the river to be discarded.

  • (0.2 km) Church of Saint Magnus-the-Martyr. Another stunning architectural masterpiece rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire, this church once stood right at the foot of the old medieval London Bridge. A surviving piece of Roman timber wharf from the 1st century AD is remarkably displayed in its porch, blending centuries of London history in a single spot.

  • (0.4 km) London Bridge is the oldest crossing over the River Thames, with a rich history originating from a Roman pontoon structure built around 43 AD. The 19th-century version of the bridge was famously sold to an American entrepreneur in 1968 and rebuilt stone by stone in Arizona.

  • (0.6 km) Cannon Street Bridge. Constructed between 1863 and 1866, Cannon Street Railway Bridge features two monumental Victorian brick towers originally built to conceal water tanks for the station's hydraulic lifts. At low tide the riverbank beneath the bridge is frequently scattered with centuries-old animal bones from historical butchers and abattoirs.

  • (0.7 km) The Banker Pub, EC4 Nestled snugly within the towering brick arches of the Cannon Street Railway Bridge, this riverside pub offers spectacular views of the Thames. The cavernous vaults it occupies are a testament to robust Victorian railway engineering.

  • (0.8 km) Southwark Bridge. Rebuilt in 1921, the vibrant green and yellow Southwark Bridge was cleverly designed so its arches align perfectly with neighbouring bridges to ensure a smooth flow of river traffic. For a glimpse into the past, pedestrians can still spot old stone steps on the south bank once used by Thames watermen to moor their boats.

  • (0.8 km) Fruiterers Passage This narrow, easily missed walkway is a ghost of London's trading past, named after the Worshipful Company of Fruiterers, one of the City's ancient livery companies. It serves as a quiet reminder of the medieval days when different trades clustered in specific riverside alleys to load and unload their goods.

  • (1.0 km) The Alfred Plaque This modest stone memorial marks King Alfred the Great's restoration of London in 886 AD after a period of Viking occupation. It highlights how he rebuilt the Roman walls and re-established the nearby Queenhithe dock to revive the city's trade and ensure its survival.

  • (1.0 km) Queenhithe Mosaic Unveiled in 2014, this beautiful 30-meter-long mosaic timeline vividly illustrates the history of London and the Queenhithe dock from Roman times right up to the present day. It is an unexpected, colorful piece of public art that encapsulates the historical significance of the shoreline you are walking along.

  • (1.1 km) Queenhithe Dock and Wharf Once the most important dock in Saxon and medieval London, goods like corn, fish, and fur were traded here for centuries. Today, it is a scheduled ancient monument and the only surviving inlet on the modern City waterfront, offering a rare, untouched glimpse into the ancient port of London.

  • (1.2 km) Samuel Pepys Pub Named after the famous 17th-century diarist who documented both the Great Fire and the Great Plague, this pub sits in a historic wooden warehouse on the north bank.

  • (1.4 km) Millennium Measure. Gifted by the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers for the year 2000, the Millennium Measure is a stainless steel and glass sculpture serving as a three-sided, two-metre rule that depicts two thousand years of history. Its initials "MM" cleverly stand for three things simultaneously: "Millennium Measure", "millimetre", and the number two thousand in Roman numerals.

  • (1.4 km) Millennium Bridge Opened in 2000, this steel suspension footbridge elegantly links St Paul's Cathedral with the Tate Modern. It famously earned the nickname "The Wobbly Bridge" due to a swaying motion experienced on its opening day, an engineering quirk which took two years and specialized dampeners to finally fix.

  • (1.5 km) St Paul's Cathedral Though you don't walk right up to it on this specific path, the view of its iconic dome from the Millennium Bridge is a deliberately engineered sightline. Sir Christopher Wren's architectural masterpiece is framed perfectly by the bridge's suspension cables, offering one of the most celebrated and deliberate vistas in all of London.

  • (1.8 km) Shakespeare's Globe Located just off the path after crossing the river, this is a meticulous reconstruction of the original Elizabethan playhouse where Shakespeare debuted his greatest works. A wonderfully quirky detail: it features the first and only thatched roof permitted in London since the Great Fire of 1666, protected today by specially designed fire-retardant sprinklers.

  • (1.9 km) Tate Modern Housed in the colossal former Bankside Power Station, this world-renowned gallery is Britain's national museum of international modern and contemporary art. The iconic towering chimney and cavernous Turbine Hall are stunning remnants of its industrial past repurposed into spectacular exhibition spaces.

  • (2.1 km) Blackfriars Railway Bridge Pillars As you continue along the South Bank, look out into the river to see a row of red, cast-iron pillars standing completely alone in the water. These are the beautifully preserved remains of the original 1864 London, Chatham and Dover Railway bridge, dismantled in the 1980s. The railway insignia is still brilliantly visible on the columns.

  • (2.5 km) Oxo Tower Originally a power station, the building was largely rebuilt in the 1920s by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company (makers of Oxo cubes). Refused permission for illuminated rooftop advertising, they cleverly circumvented the ban by designing the tower's windows in the shapes of a circle, a cross, and a circle subtly spelling out "OXO" across the skyline.

  • (2.6 km) The Queen's Walk This vibrant pedestrian promenade stretches along the South Bank of the Thames, formalized in 1977 to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. It connects several major cultural landmarks and is renowned for its bustling atmosphere, street performers, and unmatched views across the river.

  • (2.9 km) National Theatre A highly polarizing piece of architecture, this massive concrete complex is one of London's most prominent examples of the Brutalist style. King Charles once famously compared it to a "clever way of building a nuclear power station," but regardless of its divisive exterior, it houses three world-class auditoriums producing unparalleled theatre.

  • (3.1 km) Southbank Centre Book Market Nestled directly beneath Waterloo Bridge, this is one of the only outdoor second-hand and antique book markets in southern England. Operating daily since 1982, it's a wonderfully atmospheric spot on the walking route to browse weather-beaten classics while the traffic rumbles overhead.

  • (3.2 km) Waterloo Bridge Often affectionately called the "Ladies' Bridge" because it was largely built by a female workforce during World War II, this bridge offers arguably the best panoramic views in London. Look east for the City skyline and St Paul's Cathedral, or west for the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament.

  • (3.4 km) BFI Imax Sitting right in the center of a busy traffic roundabout, this striking glass cylinder is home to the largest cinema screen in the UK. The sheer scale of the auditorium is mind-boggling, and the entire structure is built on sophisticated anti-vibration pads to drown out the rumble of the tube lines running directly beneath it.

  • (3.5 km) Waterloo Station Britain’s busiest railway station by passenger volume, it is a bustling hub that first opened in 1848. A famous quirky detail is the great four-faced clock hanging in the middle of the main concourse, which has served as an iconic rendezvous point for countless romantic dates and classic movie scenes since the 1920s.


More London Posts

If you enjoyed reading this post, there is plenty more to explore across the capital. I have put together a dedicated London Outdoors page where I keep track of all my other adventures around the city. It is a handy index where I group my posts by the different types of places I have visited: including historic boundary lines, canal towpaths, and some surprising urban high points.

The collection covers a bit of everything: from long-distance cycling routes to tracing the underground network on foot, and ticking off another Saturday morning parkrun. If you are looking for some inspiration for your own weekend outings, head back over to the London Outdoors page to see what else I have been up to.

Ales & Trails Twisted Tree 10k

When: June 21st 2026
Where: Park Farm, Tusmore Estate, Bicester, OX27 7SH
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 44m
Course: Fairly flat loop of the Tusmore estate on farm tracks and paths. 1k spur at the start and finish to Park Farm.
Other routes touched (walk): Tusmore Estate footpaths
Finish time: 58 minutes, 25 seconds



Càrn Eige: Ross & Cromarty County Top
The descent of Mam Sodhail towards Loch Affric

The descent towards Loch Affric


Also Known As: Càrn Èite (Scottish Gaelic)
Significance
: Historic County Top for Ross and Cromarty, Pre-Historic County Top for Ross-shire
Member of: Munros, Marilyns
Parent Peak: Ben Nevis
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Aonach Mor (1,220 m)
Elevation: 1,183m
Date climbed: June 7th 2026
Coordinates: 57° 17' 16'' N, 5° 6' 55'' W

Route Start & Finish: River Affric Car Park, Beauly, IV4 7LY
Route Distance: 23.2 km (14.4 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 1,180m
Subsidiary tops on route: Mam Sodhail (1,179 m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP1949 - Carn Eige
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Glen Shiel & Kintail Forest Map | Shiel Bridge, Morvich, Killilan & Kinloch Hourn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 414
Links: Wikipedia: (Ross and Cromarty / Càrn Eighe), Peakbagger, Hillbagging


Càrn Eige is the Historic County Top for Ross and Cromarty and the 4th highest of all of the UK County Tops. I bagged it in 2026 on our annual County Top weekend trip, along with the present-day County Tops of East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and the Historic County Top of Argyll.

Walking Directions

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.

This was the big walk of the weekend. Clocking in at around 25 km, it was scheduled for the Sunday, right after our epic climb up Bidean nam Bian. Unsurprisingly, we were all feeling quite tired. It had already been a long couple of days: I was dealing with some fresh blisters on my feet, and according to my Garmin watch, my Body Battery was running seriously low. To top it off, we woke up at the Glen Nevis Youth Hostel in Fort William to a lot of rain.

We set off on the two-hour drive towards Glen Affric. Along the way, a serious debate sparked up in the car. Given our state of fatigue, the miserable weather, and the fact that we were approaching another genuinely big, intimidating mountain, we were questioning if this was actually a good idea. I kept remembering a mountain rescue call-out from early in my trekking days, so I was understandably a bit nervous.

However, as we drove away from Fort William and closer to the start of the walk, the weather began to visibly improve. We decided we would at least give it a try. To keep things safe, we agreed to assess the conditions at the start line and committed to three clear options.

Plan A was to complete the full circular route as described in Jonny Muir's UK County Tops book, provided the weather held and we felt strong. Plan B was our fallback if the weather was merely okay and the final sections looked unappealing: we would bag the main summits and retrace our steps for an out-and-back route, avoiding the boggy sections described in the book. Finally, Plan C was our baseline: if the conditions turned dangerous, became too slippery, or the weather closed in, we would turn back immediately. It is always better to not attempt a climb and try again another year.

By the time we got close, we were quite hungry. We stopped off on the way at the Bog Cotton Café at a nearby caravan park in Cannich. It was exactly what we needed: a fantastic Scottish breakfast to build up some energy. Conveniently, there was a local store just around the corner that specialised in Australian pies, so I couldn't resist buying a kangaroo and ale pie to take up the mountain.

Taking an hour for breakfast was well worth it, and by the time we arrived at the River Affric car park, it was midday. Given the generous amount of daylight in June, this timing was perfectly fine. We quickly got our gear ready and started the hike.

The first six kilometres are straightforward. The track runs parallel to the north side of Loch Affric, offering a steady warm-up. At around the 5.5 km mark, you leave the main trail and start a slow, steady climb following a stream with a waterfall. The ground here was a little bit boggy, but the path remained well-defined in most places.

The final section of the ascent is the steepest, pushing you up onto the ridge line. Surprisingly for the time of year, there was still quite a lot of snow up there, but it wasn't dangerous to navigate. So far, so good: the weather was holding out, and we had decent visibility.

Once on the ridge, we turned right to tackle the first summit of the day: Mam Sodhail. Standing at 1,179 metres, it is only marginally lower than our main target, sitting just four metres shorter than Càrn Eige.

At the top of Mam Sodhail, it was a little bit windy and misty. However, the wind kept blowing the mist clear, rewarding us with brilliant views right down the valley.

Feeling good, we descended the other side and began the final ascent up to the summit of Càrn Eige. Reaching the top felt like a massive victory, and we were rewarded with the trig pillar marking the high point of historic Ross and Cromarty. We were thrilled: we had successfully avoided Plan C and safely made it to the top!

Despite the success, the weather was still a factor, and we made the sensible decision to execute Plan B rather than attempting the full circular route. The only real disadvantage of the out-and-back route is missing out on a couple of other Munros, but they weren't on our main bagging list anyway. Claiming Càrn Eige was our primary goal for the day, and we had well and truly ticked that box.

We retraced our steps back down over Mam Sodhail. As we descended, the weather improved significantly. We enjoyed a very pleasant, warm walk back down the valley with high visibility, following the trail back to Loch Affric and along the farm track to the car park.

That successfully concluded the trek. We returned to the car at around 4:00 PM in very high spirits, already looking forward to our next county tops adventure.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Glen Affric: A celebrated Highland landscape often regarded as one of Scotland’s most beautiful glens. Its ancient Scots pinewoods form one of the largest surviving fragments of the Caledonian Forest, protected today within the Glen Affric National Nature Reserve.

  • Mam Sodhail: A broad, imposing Munro commonly climbed alongside Càrn Eighe. Despite appearances, its Gaelic name means “hill of the barns,” reflecting traditional shieling associations rather than a saddle‑like shape.

  • Loch Affric: A striking freshwater loch set beneath the surrounding peaks. Its shores support rich Caledonian woodland and diverse wildlife, including golden eagles, otters, pine martens, and other species that embody the wild character of Glen Affric.




Bidean Nam Bian: Argyll County Top
Ascent of Bidean nam Bian

Ascent of Bidean nam Bian


Also Known As: Bidean nam Beann, "peak of the mountains" (Scottish Gaelic)
Significance
: Historic County Top for Argyll
Member of: Munros, Marilyns
Parent Peak: Ben Nevis
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Ben Nevis
Elevation: 1,149m or 1,150m depending on source.
Date climbed: June 6th 2026
Coordinates: 56° 38' 34'' N, 5° 1' 46'' W

Route Start & Finish: Three Sisters Viewpoint Parking, Ballachulish, PH49 4HX
Route Distance: 11.4 km (7.1 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 1,154 m
Subsidiary tops on route: Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1,072m), Stob Coire nan Lochan (1,116m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Bidean nam Bian Trail
OS Trig Pillar: N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Glen Coe & Glen Etive Map | Ballaculish & Kinlochleven | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 384
Links: Wikipedia: (Argyll, Glen Coe, Bidean nam Bian), peakbagger, Hillbagging


Bidean nam Bian is the Historic County Top for the Argyll, and the 5th highest of all of the UK County Tops. I bagged it in 2026 on our annual County Top weekend trip, along with the present-day County Tops of East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and the Historic County Top of Ross and Cromarty.

Walking Directions

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.

I always knew this mountain would be the big one. For the past few years, Bidean nam Bian has been sitting on our radar as a major objective: we intentionally saved it for later because of its sheer scale, its slightly more remote location, and the daunting elevation profiles in the UK County Tops book. I fully expected a tough day out, and it certainly did not disappoint.

Our Saturday began after reuniting at the Glasgow Youth Hostel the night before, having successfully completed our parallel Friday adventures: Mark, Matt, and Joel on Goat Fell, and myself bagging the East and West Dunbartonshire and Glasgow high points.

Since it was Saturday morning, we naturally kicked things off with a 5k. Keep in mind that parkrun starts at 09:30 in Scotland, so after finishing up at Victoria Park, we hit the road for the nearly two-hour drive north to Glencoe.

We arrived at the Three Sisters car park around midday. Unsurprisingly, it was completely full, so we ended up parking on the grass verge just outside. It is worth noting that you cannot actually see Bidean nam Bian from the road: it sits hidden away behind the towering ridges of the Three Sisters.

From the road, we took a south-easterly route to pick up the trail. The first section was fairly gentle, offering a steady climb up through the valley. However, as we drew closer to the summits, the terrain changed dramatically. The path gave way to steep, slippery scree, making the ascent a proper adventure.

We eventually scrambled our way up to the ridge line. At this point, the main summit was roughly two kilometres away to the right, but Joel pointed out an opportunity. By taking a left turn towards the east, we could do an out-and-back detour to bag Stob Coire Sgreamhach. We weren't entirely sure at first, but we were making excellent time, and the misty weather wasn't too bad. Since it is a Munro, we simply couldn't pass up the opportunity.

After bagging the bonus peak, we retraced our steps and tackled the increasingly steep final push up Bidean nam Bian. There is no trig pillar at the top, but the true summit is very obvious. By the time we arrived, the drizzle had set in, and the mist made visibility incredibly poor.

This left us with a decision to make: did we retrace our steps, or push forward to complete the full circular route back to the car park? None of us fancied descending the tricky, slippery scree we had just climbed, so despite not knowing exactly what the onward path held, we committed to the circular route.

We followed the path in a north-easterly direction from the summit, quickly arriving at the next Munro: Stob Coire nan Lochan, which stands at an impressive 1,116 metres.

Continuing east from that subsidiary top, things got a bit more complicated. We hit a steep chimney section flanked by rocks, which proved quite tricky to navigate. By the time we reached the bottom of the chimney, we realised we had drifted roughly 100 to 200 metres west of the actual trail.

With no desire to climb back up the chimney, we carefully picked our way down the steep scree until we found ourselves standing on a ledge looking over a couple of lochans. Not wanting to risk a direct descent over the ledge, Joel did some excellent navigating. He found a route that required a short climb to look over the next ridge, which safely brought us back onto the correct path.

From there, the descent was much more straightforward. We followed a burn with a very pleasant waterfall all the way down to the road and back to the car.

All in all, it was a massive day out in the mountains. It was tough, slightly scary in places with the slippery scrambles, but incredibly rewarding. It absolutely lived up to its reputation. The main lesson learned for next time: keep a much closer eye on the GPS to spot when we wander off track!

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • The Three Sisters: The Three Sisters of Glencoe: Beinn Fhada, Gearr Aonach, and Aonach Dubh, form the striking northern ridges of the Bidean nam Bian massif. Their bedrock belongs to the ancient Glencoe volcanic complex, but their iconic shape is the work of ice, not fire. Repeated glaciations carved deep U‑ and V‑shaped valleys into the mountainside, leaving behind the steep buttresses and plunging gullies that dominate the skyline today.

  • Stob Coire nan Lochan: Rising to 1,115 metres, Stob Coire nan Lochan is one of the most beautiful subsidiary peaks of Bidean nam Bian. Its high corrie shelters a small lochan sculpted by glacial excavation — a perfect amphitheatre of cliffs, snow gullies, and dark water fed by meltwater and mountain runoff. Many walkers visit it en route to the main ridge, drawn by its dramatic, enclosed setting.

  • Hidden Valley (Coire Gabhail): Tucked behind a narrow, rocky gorge, Coire Gabhail, the Hidden or Lost Valley, is one of Glencoe’s most atmospheric places. Its Gaelic name, “the glen of the capture,” reflects its history: the MacDonalds of Glencoe used this secluded hanging valley to hide livestock, including cattle taken during clan raids. The concealed entrance and steep surrounding walls made it a natural refuge, invisible from the main glen below.

  • Geology of the Massif: Bidean nam Bian sits at the heart of the Glencoe caldera, one of the best-preserved examples of volcanic collapse in Britain. Around 410–400 million years ago, vast eruptions produced thick sheets of rhyolitic ignimbrite, collapse breccias, and later andesitic lavas. These volcanic layers form the backbone of the massif, but the rugged cliffs, corries, and ridges seen today owe their dramatic form to much later glacial erosion, which sculpted the landscape into its present grandeur.




Cathkin Braes: Glasgow City County Top

View over Glasgow from the OS Trig Pillar

View over Glasgow from the OS Trig Pillar

Significance: Present-day County Top for Glasgow City
Historic County: Lanarkshire, of which Culter Fell is the Historic County Top
Member of: N/A
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Corse Hill
Elevation: 200m
Date climbed: June 5th 2026
Coordinates: 55° 47' 56'' N, 4° 12' 41'' W

Route Start & Finish: Cathkin Brae Bike Park Top Car Park, B759, Glasgow, G76 9EY
Route Distance: 2.3 km (1.42 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 31m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
OS Trig Pillar: None
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Glasgow Map | Paisley, Rutherglen & Kirkintilloch | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 342
Links: Wikipedia: (Glasgow / Cathkin Braes), Peakbagger, Hillbagging


Cathkin Braes is the Present-day County Top for Glasgow City. I bagged it in 2026 on our annual County Top weekend trip, along with the present-day County Tops of East and West Dunbartonshire and the Historic County Tops of Argyll and Ross and Cromarty.

It had already been a successful hiking day, having conquered both Earl's Seat and Duncolm to successfully claim the high points of East and West Dunbartonshire. This was part of our broader weekend plan and a parallel adventure: while I was out ticking off these local summits, Mark, Matt, and Joel were over on the Isle of Arran to tackle Goat Fell.

With a couple of hours to spare before I needed to drop my hire car back at Glasgow Airport and reunite with the boys, I realised I had the perfect window for a quick detour. I have been saving Cathkin Braes for a few years, waiting for an opportunity to comfortably squeeze it into an itinerary. As the county top for Glasgow City, it is highly accessible and makes for a very straightforward, short walk.

Walking Directions

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.

The drive over from Kilpatrick Braes was quick and easy. I pulled into the main Cathkin Braes car park located just off the B759 road. It is a good size, and being late on a Friday afternoon, it was full of people out enjoying a walk with their dogs.

From the car park, you pick up a path that runs close to and parallel with the B759 in a north-easterly direction. The route takes you through some vegetation, pointing you towards a very clear visual target: the large wind turbine. You simply keep heading towards it, eventually passing right through the turbine's car park and out the other side.

From the turbine, you follow a path heading in a slightly northerly direction to hunt down the exact coordinates of the high point. Unlike some of the more dramatic peaks, the true highest elevation here is beautifully unassuming. It is located on a path deep in the woods, with nothing marking the spot other than a distinct fork in the trail. I snapped a quick picture of the fork to officially document the achievement and pressed on.

Taking the north-easterly path from the fork, I headed out towards a clearing. This is where the walk really rewards you: it opens up onto the ridge line, offering a fantastic view stretching right over the city of Glasgow. Sitting just in front of a very large telegraph pole, you will find the trig pillar. It is sporting a little bit of graffiti these days, but it is otherwise in good condition and well looked after.

After taking in the city views, the return leg is incredibly simple. You just follow the path along the ridge in a south-westerly direction, re-enter the woods shortly afterwards, and follow the trail all the way back to where you started at the B759 car park. It was an excellent, short walk to cap off the day before heading to the airport.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Cathkin Braes Country Park: Sitting among the highest points in Glasgow at around 200 metres, Cathkin Braes offers sweeping views across the city towards the Campsie Fells and, on clear days, the distant Southern Highlands. The Braes are also tied to the story of Mary, Queen of Scots: tradition holds that she watched the 1568 Battle of Langside from a vantage point here, witnessing the defeat of her supporters and the effective end of her reign in Scotland.

  • Geological Significance: The Braes form part of Glasgow’s Carboniferous volcanic landscape, shaped over millions of years as lava flows and volcanic rocks were gradually eroded into the distinctive ridge line seen today. This varied terrain supports a rich mosaic of habitats, from acid grassland and heath to woodland edges and wetlands. It is an important refuge for wildlife, including kestrels, owls, and seasonal migratory birds, making it one of the city’s most ecologically valuable upland areas.



Duncolm: West Dunbartonshire County Top
Trig Pillar at the summit of Duncolm

Trig Pillar at the summit of Duncolm


Also Known As: Dùn Choluim (Scottish Gaelic)
Significance
: Present-day County Top for West Dunbartonshire, highest point of the Kilpatrick Hills
Historic County: Dunbartonshire, of which Ben Vorlich is the Historic County Top
Member of: N/A
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Dumgoyne (427m)
Elevation: 401 m
Date climbed: June 5th 2026
Coordinates: 55° 57' 58'' N, 4° 27' 5'' W

Route Start & Finish: Kilpatrick Braes Car Park, 25 Mount Pleasant Drive, Old Kilpatrick, Glasgow, G60 5LT
Route Distance: 14.2 km (8.8 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 479m
Subsidiary tops on route: Little Duncolm, Middle Duncolm, The Slacks
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Clyde Coastal Path
OS Trig Pillar: TP2908 - Duncolm Hill and TP6428 - The Slacks
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Maps:
- Glasgow Map | Paisley, Rutherglen & Kirkintilloch | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 342
- Loch Lomond South Map | Dumbarton, Helensburgh, Drymen & Cove | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL38
Links: Wikipedia (West Dunbartonshire / Kilpatrick Hills / Duncolm), Peakbagger, Hillbagging


Duncolm is the Present-day County Top for West Dunbartonshire. I bagged it in 2026 on our annual County Top weekend trip, along with the present-day County Tops of East Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and the Historic County Tops of Argyll and Ross and Cromarty.

After successfully tackling Earl's Seat to claim the high point of East Dunbartonshire, the next natural step was to complete the regional set by summiting Duncolm. This serves as the present-day county top of West Dunbartonshire and sits nicely in the nearby Kilpatrick Hills.

Walking Directions

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.

Getting there involved a 30-minute drive back towards Glasgow. I parked in the Kilpatrick Braes car park, located just off the Great Western Road (the A82).

From the car park, the route begins by walking down onto Mount Pleasant Drive. You then take the underpass to safely cross under the A82 and follow a small road leading towards a local farm. At the farm entrance, take a right to join a path that steadily winds its way uphill in a north-westerly direction.

As you ascend, the scenery really starts to deliver. On your right-hand side, you are flanked by impressive cliff edges. Meanwhile, over on your left, the elevation offers a fantastic, sweeping view over the River Clyde and back towards the Erskine Bridge.

The path eventually curves around the side of the hills, shifting you into a north-easterly direction. After walking roughly 4.2 kilometres, you reach the pleasant shores of Loch Humphrey. It is a fantastic spot to take in the views: there is plenty of local wildlife, including a fair few ducks, and you can clearly spot Duncolm rising in the distance.

From the loch, the path continues along its south-eastern edge before curving steadily towards the north. Around the 5.7-kilometre mark, it is time to leave the established track and tackle a fairly steep grassy bank.

This ascent brings you to Little Duncolm, the first of three distinctly named peaks in the cluster. While there isn't a marker at the summit, the views are excellent. From there, it requires a careful descent down the northern side, crossing over a small stream before immediately beginning the climb up to Middle Duncolm.

After navigating Middle Duncolm, you descend its north-eastern side before continuing in a north-easterly direction to tackle the steep bank up to the main summit of Duncolm. You will know you have made it when you reach the Trig Pillar, which offers stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding area.

After enjoying the views from the Trig Pillar, it is time to retrace your steps back down. Thankfully, there is no need to re-ascend Middle and Little Duncolm: you can simply stay on the bypass path that skirts their north-westerly side, eventually rejoining the main track just south of Little Duncolm.

Continue back along the main path. At around the 10-kilometre mark of the trip, take a path on the left. This cuts across the hill towards a fence line enclosing a small wooded area. Follow the fence line as it heads east, then turn south for a slight descent before heading up to The Slacks, where you can successfully bag another trig pillar.

From The Slacks, pick up the path heading in a southerly direction. This provides a steady descent back down to the original route. Take a left to rejoin it, and from there, it is just a case of retracing your steps for the final 1.3 kilometres all the way back to the Kilpatrick Braes car park. It makes for a rewarding route and a very satisfying way to finish off the Dunbartonshire high points.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Kilpatrick Hills: These hills are of volcanic origin, formed during the Carboniferous period as part of the Clyde Plateau Volcanic Formation. Their mix of basaltic crags and broad plateau surfaces creates a distinctive upland landscape that contrasts sharply with the surrounding urban areas of West Dunbartonshire.

  • Erskine Bridge: Looking back over the River Clyde, the Erskine Bridge stands out as a major cable‑stayed box‑girder bridge, opened in 1971. It forms a key crossing linking the A898 to the A82 and sits just north of the M8 corridor. Its elegant profile provides a striking engineering landmark against the natural backdrop of the river.



Earl's Seat: East Dunbartonshire County Top
OS Trig Pillar at the top of Earl’s Seat at the border of East Dunbartonshire and Stirling

OS Trig Pillar at the top of Earl’s Seat at the border of East Dunbartonshire and Stirling


Significance: Present-day County Top for East Dunbartonshire
Historic County: Stirlingshire, of which Ben Lomond is the Historic County Top
Member of: Marilyns
Parent Range: Campsie Fells
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Binnean nan Gobhar
Elevation: 578m
Date climbed: June 5th 2026
Coordinates: 56°01′33″N 4°17′47″W

Route Start & Finish: Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Killearn, Glasgow, G63 9LB
Route Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Route Elevation change: +/- 628m
Subsidiary tops on route: Dumgoyne Hill (427m), Garloch Hill (524m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP2957 - Earls Seat
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Campsie Fells Map | Kilsyth, Strathblane & Fintry | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 348
Links: Wikipedia: (East Dunbartonshire / Campsie Fells / Earl’s Seat), Peakbagger, Hillbagging


Earl’s Seat is Present-day County Top for East Dunbartonshire. I bagged it in 2026 on our annual County Top weekend trip, along with the present-day County Tops of West Dunbartonshire, Glasgow City and the Historic County Tops of Argyll and Ross and Cromarty.

This year marked a significant milestone: the tenth anniversary of our annual boys' County Top trip. The adventure kicked off on a Friday, but this time around, we opted for parallel adventures. While Mark, Matt, and Joel headed over to the Isle of Arran to tackle Goat Fell to claim the highest point of that county, I decided on a different path. Having already summited Goat Fell a few years prior, I set my sights on bagging the high points of present-day East and West Dunbartonshire. Because they are fairly close together, they make for two great summits to link up in a single day. First up on the agenda: Earl's Seat.

Walking Directions

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.

The starting point was an easy forty-minute drive from Glasgow Airport. I headed for the Glengoyne Distillery, which offers great parking. A quick note for anyone planning this route: the distillery car park is officially for customers only. Given it was a quiet day, I chanced it, but there is alternative parking nearby if you prefer to play it safe. From the distillery, the route begins by heading south down the main road for about 100m. After crossing over, you will find a gate leading into a field, and the path begins its slow, steady climb up the hill.

It isn't long before you are greeted by the imposing, steep figure of Dumgoyne Hill. At this stage, the path presents two choices: fork right to take the path straight over the top of Dumgoyne Hill, or keep left to skirt around the side and avoid the climb entirely.

Determined to bag Dumgoyne Hill as well, I took the right-hand path. It is a steep ascent up the southern side, but the effort is richly rewarded. While there isn't a traditional trig pillar at the summit, there is a large, pillar-sized stone and, more importantly, fantastic views stretching right across the valley.

Leaving Dumgoyne Hill, the path heads in a north-north-easterly direction down the opposite side of the hill. I will admit this section was a little daunting: the ground was damp, and the gradient was extremely steep. I don't typically tackle tricky hills on my own, but it wasn't particularly dangerous. With a bit of care, and an undignified slide down one short section, I made it to the bottom safely.

Continuing northeast, the route seamlessly joins back up with the main bypass path you would have taken had you skipped Dumgoyne Hill. From here, it becomes a steady, albeit slightly boggy, ascent towards a subsidiary top called Garloch Hill, marked by a few cairns. Pushing on towards Earl's Seat, the landscape opens up, and you can spot the Trig Pillar from quite a distance: a perfect visual target to aim for.

After taking in the summit of Earl's Seat, I decided against simply retracing my steps. Instead, I opted to turn the walk into a circular route. Heading north-west, the path leads towards Ballagan Tops before taking a westerly turn to rejoin the original ascent path just east of Garloch Hill.

From there, it was a straightforward walk retracing my steps back to the distillery. This time, however, I took the northerly path to comfortably bypass Dumgoyne Hill.

All in all, the route took about three hours: a highly enjoyable morning on the hills and a fantastic start to the weekend's county top bagging.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Glengoyne Distillery: Established in 1833, this distillery is unique for being located on the Highland Line, the geographical divide between the Highlands and Lowlands. Uniquely, the distillery sits in the Lowlands, while its maturation warehouses sit across the road in the Highlands.

  • The Campsie Fells: These are a range of volcanic hills formed during the Carboniferous period. They are composed largely of basalt, creating the dramatic crags and scree slopes visible from the surrounding valleys, including the steep face of Dumgoyne.

  • The Highland Boundary Fault: The route passes over a significant geological divide. This fault line runs across Scotland from Arran in the west to Stonehaven in the east, separating the flatter, sedimentary Lowlands from the rugged, metamorphic Highlands.

  • Dumgoyne: A striking volcanic plug that rises sharply from the edge of the Campsie Fells. It formed when magma solidified within an ancient volcanic vent, leaving behind the resistant core that now stands as a prominent landmark. Its steep, symmetrical profile has been further shaped by glacial erosion, but it is not a crag‑and‑tail formation; instead, it is simply the exposed remnant of a Carboniferous volcano.



Cycling The Isle of Wight
Promenade between Sandown and Shanklin

Brian on the promenade between Sandown and Shanklin


The idea for this trip actually sparked on a train ride between Oxford and Banbury. Brian and I were en route to tackle a stretch of National Cycle Route 5, chatting about our ongoing mission to cycle the length of the South Coast. Over the past couple of years, we’ve worked our way clockwise from the Thames Barrier, passing through Margate, Dover, Hastings, and Brighton, before finally reaching Southampton.

Naturally, we assumed the next leg would take us west toward Weymouth. That was until we struck up a conversation with a fellow cyclist in the bike carriage. He recounted a recent coastal route he’d completed around the Isle of Wight, and his enthusiasm was infectious. We quickly realised that before pressing further west along the mainland, we had to conquer the island.

While there is a signposted cycle route around the Isle of Wight, we decided to craft a bespoke itinerary: a mix of disused railways, established cycle routes, and quiet residential lanes hugging the coast as closely as possible.


Day 1: Cowes to Newport

Start: East Cowes Ferry Terminal, East Cowes PO32 6RF
Finish: Premier Inn Isle Of Wight (Newport) hotel, Seaclose, Fairlee Road, Newport, PO30 2DN
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: + 59m / -55m (Net +4m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Wight Coastal Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Isle of Wight Round-The-Island Cycle Route (Route 67), Newport to Cowes Cycleway, NCN 22, 23
Map: Isle of Wight Map | Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Yarmouth & Ventnor | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL29
Links: East Cowes, Cowes Chain Bridge, River Medina, Newport

 

As soon as work finished on Friday, I picked Brian up and we drove south to Southampton. We parked the car right next to the ferry terminal: a great logistical move, as rolling our bikes onto the Red Funnel ferry as foot passengers was incredibly easy.

We arrived at East Cowes around 8:00 PM, hopped on the chain ferry across the River Medina, and picked up the Red Squirrel Trail. This mostly flat, slightly downhill route follows a disused railway line and made for a very pleasant 8 km evening cruise into Newport. We checked into the Premier Inn, which is brilliantly cycle-friendly, allowing us to store our bikes safely in the room.

Then came the unexpected challenge of the evening: finding dinner. Newport on a Friday night was surprisingly quiet. The receptionist’s glowing recommendation for a local Thai restaurant proved fruitless as it had already shut by 8:30 PM. An Indian restaurant down the road was also closed. In the end, we only managed to find one open restaurant to fuel up for the weekend.


Day 2: Newport to Chale (The Eastern Half)

Start: Premier Inn Isle Of Wight (Newport) hotel, Seaclose, Fairlee Road, Newport, PO30 2DN
Finish: Wight Mouse Inn, Church Place, Chale, Ventnor, PO38 2HA
Distance: 52.5 km (33 miles)
Elevation change: + 762m / -683m (Net +79m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Wight Coastal Path, The Bembridge Trail, The Culver Trail, Worsley Trail, Tip of the Wight, Yar River Trail,
Other routes touched (cycle): Isle of Wight Round-The-Island Cycle Route (Route 67), NCN 22, 23
Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads but we stopped at Chocolate Apothecary Ryde (13km in), The Harbour View Cafe Bembridge (23km in), Tradewinds Beach Cafe Shanklin (33km in), Crave Ice-cream Ventnor (41km in), The Wight Mouse Inn Chale at the end.
Map: Isle of Wight Map | Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Yarmouth & Ventnor | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL29
Links: Newport, Ryde, Bembridge, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor, Chale

 

My Saturday started with a slight hiccup. The logistics for this trip had been carefully planned around my goal of ticking off the island's only parkrun. The Medina I.O.W parkrun is usually held just north of Newport, right next to our hotel. I arrived at the venue bright and early at 8:15 AM, only to find an oddly quiet field and a few other equally confused runners in their parkrun gear.

We eventually found a sign near the leisure centre explaining that the event had been relocated to Appley Park in Ryde for the rest of the summer due to the Isle of Wight Festival setup. The frustration was real: the new location in Ryde was directly on our planned cycle route! Had I known the night before, we could have set off at 7:30 AM, cycled to Ryde, and I could have still run it.

Top Tip for Medina, IoW parkrun: The official event page doesn't always reflect sudden venue changes. Always check their Facebook page before you travel to avoid missing out.

With the parkrun plan foiled, I headed back, met up with Brian, and we hit the road.

We picked up National Cycle Route 22, taking a few diversions until we reached Ryde. Our first proper stop was the Chocolate Apothecary, located just opposite the railway station at the bottom of Ryde Pier. They make a fantastic coffee, but the real star is their carrot cake: easily one of the best I’ve ever had.

Fuelled by cake, we carried on past Appley Park (cue another pang of parkrun regret) and cycled straight through the site of Puckpool Battery. This impressive site is a 19th-century Palmerston Fort, completed in 1865. It was built in response to the perceived threat of a French naval invasion and originally housed heavy 13-inch mortars designed to fire vertically onto the vulnerable, unarmoured decks of enemy warships. Today, it's a peaceful public park, but the massive concrete and earth gun emplacements are still incredibly striking to cycle past.

We navigated a sharp turn south at Nettlestone Point, stopping for another coffee at the Bembridge Cafe with lovely views over the harbour. Continuing south through Sandown, we pulled into Shanklin for lunch at Tradewinds Beach Cafe, a nice spot overlooking the promenade and the sea.

After lunch, instead of immediately tackling the ascent from the promenade, we decided to take the old Shanklin Cliff Lift to the top of the hill. The original lift was built in 1892 to help tourists bypass the steep climb between the beach and the town above, eventually becoming a famous and much-loved local landmark. We had a brief conversation about whether it was "cheating" to not cycle up the hill, but we quickly decided that it was perfectly fine. Given the history and quirkiness of the lift, taking it felt like a vital part of the Isle of Wight experience!

From the top, the real work began with the first of two major climbs. We ground our way up a steep hill behind Luccombe, rewarded with stunning views to the east, before tackling a sharp descent into Bonchurch. Rolling into Ventnor shortly after, we decided a sweet treat was in order. We stopped for ice creams at Crave and took a well-earned rest in the park just opposite. Suitably refreshed, we stayed off the main cycle routes, opting instead for small, quiet residential lanes right beside the sea. We soon hit Steep Hill: an aptly named, lung-busting ascent that eventually led us up to the highest point of our weekend near Blackgang.

We coasted down into the small village of Chale and checked into The Wight Mouse Inn, a fantastic pub with great rooms that sits roughly halfway around the coastal route.

After dinner, I highly recommend the 4.5 km circular walk from The Wight Mouse up to St. Catherine's Oratory. Also known as the "Pepperpot," it is the only surviving medieval lighthouse in Britain, built as a penance for plundered shipwrecked wine! I’ve written a separate post detailing this walk and the history of the Oratory, which you can read here.


Day 3: Chale to Cowes (The Western Half)

Start: Wight Mouse Inn, Church Place, Chale, Ventnor, PO38 2HA
Finish: East Cowes Ferry Terminal, East Cowes, PO32 6RF
Distance: 53 km (33 miles)
Elevation change: +492m / -574m (Net -82m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Wight Coastal Path, Shepherds Trail, Family Trail Mottistone, Hamstead Trail, Perimeter Route Mottistone, Compton Trail, Freshwater Way, Tennyson Trail, Tennyson Down Trail, Estuary Newtown Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Isle of Wight Round-The-Island Cycle Route (Route 67), NCN 23
Pubs / Cafes on route: Loads but we stopped at The Rock Restaurant Freshwater Bay (17 km in), The Sportsman’s Rest Porchfield (42 km in)
Map: Isle of Wight Map | Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Yarmouth & Ventnor | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL29
Links: Chale, Military Road, Freshwater Bay, Totland, Yarmouth, Newbridge, Newtown, Porchfield, Cowes

 

Eager to make the most of the day, we skipped the hotel breakfast and hit the road at 7:30 AM. Heading northwest along the old Nottage Road, we soon joined the famous Military Road (A3055). This iconic, sweeping coastal stretch was originally built in the 1860s as part of the island's Palmerston defences, allowing troops to deploy quickly along the coast to repel potential French invasions. It remained a private, gated military route until it was purchased and upgraded for public use in the 1930s.

Cycling along this historic road today, we enjoyed a gentle downhill stretch beside the dramatic, eroding cliffs before tackling a sharp climb right before Freshwater Bay. A short descent dropped us into the bay, where we pulled up to The Rock Restaurant inside the Albion Hotel. With 17 km already under our belts, their incredible breakfast overlooking the ocean was exactly what we needed.

Properly fuelled, we pushed on toward the south-westerly corner of the island, taking a sharp turn onto the B3322 near Alum Bay. We opted not to go all the way to the Needles on this trip as we had both seen them before, but it is an absolute must-do detour for anyone riding this route for the first time.

Our route then took us northeast through Totland, Norton Green, and Yarmouth. A major highlight of the afternoon was passing through Newtown. It is hard to believe today, but this quiet, picturesque hamlet was actually the bustling capital and primary commercial centre of the Isle of Wight in the 14th century, until a French raid in 1377 led to its decline. We paused to admire the Old Town Hall, a beautiful 17th-century brick building now managed by the National Trust, which stands as the only real evidence of the town's former political importance.

We made our final pitstop for the weekend at the Sportsman's Rest pub in Porchfield before tackling the final stretch through Rue Street and Gurnard. We rolled back into Cowes, crossed the chain ferry, and arrived at the Red Funnel terminal by 1:00 PM. Thanks to our early start, we easily hopped on an earlier ferry back to Southampton.

It was a brilliantly successful weekend of bespoke route finding, challenging climbs, and deep local history. The parkrun disappointment just gives me a solid excuse to return and explore even more of the island. For now, the Isle of Wight is officially ticked off the list.

Next up for the South Coast Cycle Adventure: Southampton to Weymouth.


The Full Route

A map showing a 3 day coastal cycle circuit of the Isle of Wight

Day 1 in blue, day 2 in red, day 3 in green


  • Previous South Coast Cycle trip: Brighton to Southampton

  • Next South Coast Cycle trip: Southampton to Weymouth (coming soon)

Trig Pillar Walks: St. Catherine's Hill, Isle of Wight
St Catherine’s Hill IoW Trig Pillar

St Catherine’s Hill IoW Trig Pillar


Start & Finish: Wight Mouse Inn, Church Place, Chale, Ventnor, PO38 2HA
Distance: 4.4 km (2.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 144m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Wight Coastal Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Isle of Wight Round-The-Island Cycle Route (Route 67)
Pubs / Cafes on route: Wight Mouse Inn at the start and end
OS Trig Pillar: TP6127 - St Catherines Hill Isle Of Wight
Map: Isle of Wight Map | Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Yarmouth & Ventnor | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL29
Links: Chale, St. Catherine's Down, St Catherine's Oratory, Blackgang


Our Isle of Wight coastal cycle weekend late in May brought a brilliant unexpected bonus walk. Brian and I were on a two-day trip, and our first day involved cycling from Newport down to Chale on the south coast. We stayed overnight at a lovely pub called the Wight Mouse.

We arrived and checked in around 5:00 in the afternoon. We were both pretty tired, and Brian was particularly exhausted. We decided to grab an early dinner, after which I planned to head out for a short walk up nearby St. Catherine's Hill to bag the trig pillar. Brian had absolutely no interest in joining me: partly because of the fatigue, but mostly because he only had his clip-in cycle shoes with him, which are completely useless for walking. I do not use clip-ins, so I had my trusty trainers for the weekend, which were perfectly fine for a hike. Plus, we could actually see the top of the hill from our bedroom window at the pub: it was just too tempting to pass up!

Walking Directions

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.

Just after dinner, I set out. I took a left out of the pub onto Church Place, and then the first right onto Upper House Lane. Taking a right onto a footpath, I headed out into the fields. From there, you can navigate through the fields and up a steep bank to the ridge line, which leads straight to St. Catherine's Hill.

There are some genuinely fascinating things to see at the top. Naturally, my first stop was the trig pillar itself, which I successfully bagged. Moving on, the landscape reveals St. Catherine's Oratory, affectionately known locally as the "Pepperpot". This 35-foot structure is the only surviving medieval lighthouse in England. It was completed in 1328 by Walter de Godeton, the Lord of Chale. He was ordered by the Church to build the lighthouse and an adjoining oratory as an act of penance after he illegally plundered casks of white wine from a shipwrecked vessel called the St Marie of Bayonne in Chale Bay. Interestingly, historical sources conflict slightly on the exact date of the wreck: English Heritage and some historical texts note it as occurring in 1314, whilst other local historical records state it happened on 20 April 1313. A bit further south from the trig pillar, there is another striking piece of history: a modern telecommunications tower built right next to an old World War II pillbox.

After spending a good amount of time at the top investigating the sights, I continued south along the footpath until I reached Blackgang Road: the exact road we had cycled down just a couple of hours prior.

I crossed over the road at a safe point into the Blackgang Viewpoint car park. From there, I picked up the Isle of Wight Coastal Path. This walking route takes a much safer path running parallel to Blackgang Road. I followed it all the way back to Chale, returning to Church Place and finally arriving back at the Wight Mouse. I found Brian relaxing in the pub garden, and we enjoyed a final drink together before getting a big sleep ahead of our second day of cycling.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • St Catherine's Hill (Trig Pillar & Tumuli) At 239 metres above sea level, St Catherine's Hill is one of the highest points on the Isle of Wight. The summit area, including St. Catherine's Down, not only houses the trig pillar but also features ancient burial mounds (tumuli) dating back to the Bronze Age. The elevation provides commanding, uninterrupted views across the English Channel and the rolling downland of the island.

  • St Catherine's Oratory (The Pepperpot) Standing 35 feet tall, this striking octagonal stone tower is Britain's only surviving medieval lighthouse. It was built in 1328 by Walter de Godeton as penance for plundering a shipwrecked vessel laden with wine destined for a monastery. Originally, a priest would have tended the light to warn sailors of the treacherous Chale Bay below while offering prayers for the souls of those lost at sea.

  • Wight Mouse Inn (Chale) Located in the village of Chale, this historic 17th-century pub serves as a welcome starting and finishing point for the route. The building has deep roots in the local community, serving weary travellers for generations. Chale is positioned near the rugged southwestern coast, an area historically notorious for shipwrecks, giving the pub a rich maritime and smuggling heritage.

  • Blackgang Viewpoint Overlooking the dramatic southern coastline, this viewpoint offers spectacular vistas along the Undercliff and out over the sea. The area around Blackgang is constantly shaped by coastal erosion and landslides, which gives the cliffs their rugged, sheer appearance. In the past, this stretch of coastline was heavily patrolled by coastguards due to frequent shipwrecks and active smuggling operations.



Brighton Corporation Waterworks Boundary Posts
 

Before reliable plumbing, keeping Brighton's rapidly growing 19th-century population supplied with clean water was a massive logistical headache. The Brighton Corporation Waterworks built large pumping stations like the one at Goldstone. They also bought up thousands of acres of downland to prevent groundwater pollution. To clearly mark the edges of these protected catchment areas, they installed heavy boundary posts.

This particular obsession started when Mark found a few of these original markers. He shared the details with our group chat: a circle of friends who spend their weekends hunting down OS Trig Pillars, completing parkrun challenges or geeking out over various other obsessions. I was in Brighton recently to tick off another Sussex parkrun and track down some Trig Pillars. While doing so, I stumbled across several more of the Waterworks posts.

Mark and I are now on a mission to find and document every remaining post and identify the exact locations of the ones that have disappeared over the years. We are relying on the community to help fill in the gaps. If you know where one is, comment below or use the contact form linked here to send me the location. I will credit your find at the bottom of this page and donate £1 to to one of the outdoor causes that I support for any contribution published.


Boundary Post Locations

The map below shows Brighton Corporation Waterworks locations that Mark and I have visited or identified. Green and purple pins show ones that Mark and I have visited. Brown pins are potential locations to be verified.

Ales & Trails Rebellion 10k

When: May 25th 2026
Where: Marlow Rugby Club, Riverwoods Drive, Marlow, SL7 1QU
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 91m
Course: Start and finish at the Marlow Rugby Club. Out onto the Thames Path for an anti-clockwise loop between Marlow Bridge and the Bourne End railway bridge. One steep climb up and down Winter Hill, otherwise flat.
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop
Finish time: 64 minutes, 34 seconds



Walking The Thames Path - Tilehurst to Sonning
Approaching Caversham Bridge from the west on the Thames Path

Approaching Caversham Bridge from the west


Start & Finish: Tilehurst Station, Reading, RG31 6TH
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +41 / -54m. Net -13m
Terrain: Flat, well-paved or hard-packed riverside paths with some grassy sections.
Thames Path section covered: Tilehurst to Sonning: 10.9 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, St Frideswide’s Way, Wokingham Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, 5
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several options in Reading but we stopped at the Thames Lido restaurant at 6.1 km in. Also The Great House Sonning at the end.
Map: Reading, Wokingham & Pangbourne Map | Thames Path | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 159
Links: Tilehurst, Reading, River Thames, Caversham, Sonning


This is part of a series of short walks following the length of the Thames Path National Trail. The Thames Path is a 185-mile (298 km) National Trail that journeys alongside England's best-known river, linking its source in the rural Cotswolds in the west to the Thames Barrier and Woolwich in the east. Opened in 1996, this route traverses several counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Greater London, following a scenic tapestry of peaceful water meadows, bustling towns, and historic towpaths.

Walking Directions

This section of the Thames Path offers a fascinating mix of environments, taking you seamlessly from suburban fringes right through the heart of a major town and out into peaceful countryside. Starting at Tilehurst railway station, the path joins the river and stays remarkably close to the water for the entire route. It is a fantastic walk for those who enjoy flat, easy terrain with plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments along the way.

As you progress towards Reading, the landscape transitions from tree-lined riverbanks to the bustling centre of the town, passing rowing clubs and historic bridges. Once you navigate past the mouth of the River Kennet, the urban environment quickly fades away. The final stretch alongside Thames Valley Park is tranquil and green, guiding you gently into the picturesque, historic village of Sonning.

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.

  • Start at Tilehurst railway station and head north to join the Thames Path on the south bank of the river.

  • Follow the paved riverside path eastwards, keeping the River Thames on your left.

  • Continue straight along the path as it passes the Rivermead Leisure Complex and Reading Rowing Club.

  • Walk directly under Caversham Bridge and continue along the promenade towards Reading Bridge.

  • Pass under Reading Bridge and enter King's Meadow, following the designated path along the river edge.

  • Cross the pedestrian walkway at Horseshoe Bridge, which takes you over the point where the River Kennet meets the Thames.

  • Follow the path as it curves around the edge of Thames Valley Park, continuing to keep the river on your left.

  • Stay on the main riverside trail through the wooded and grassy sections leading towards Sonning.

  • Arrive at Sonning Lock and continue the final short distance to finish the walk at Sonning Bridge.

Note that we did this as a point-to-point walk, leaving our car near Sonning Bridge and taking an Uber to Tilehurst. An alternative option is to add an extra 5 km to the walk to reach Twyford Station and take a train from there back to the start at Tilehurst. The 129 bus route also connects Twyford Station and Sonning High Street.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Caversham Bridge: Spanning the River Thames between Reading and Caversham, this long‑established crossing point has served travellers since at least the 12th century, when the first recorded bridge stood here. The current structure — an elegant combination of concrete and granite — was opened in 1926 by Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII). Today it marks one of the busiest urban stretches of the Thames Path, offering walkers broad views of the river’s lively boat traffic and the activity of Reading’s rowing clubs.

  • King's Meadow and Thames Lido: Just east of Reading’s centre lies King’s Meadow, a historic riverside park once owned by Reading Abbey and purchased for public use in 1869. Set within its 12 acres is the Thames Lido, housed in the beautifully restored King’s Meadow swimming pool. First opened in 1902 as the Ladies’ Swimming Bath and originally fed directly from the Thames, it now operates as a heated outdoor pool, spa and restaurant following an extensive restoration completed in 2017. It makes an excellent mid‑walk stop for a swim, coffee or meal.

  • Horseshoe Bridge: At the point where the River Kennet meets the Thames, walkers cross the distinctive Horseshoe Bridge. Added in 1892 as an accommodation and footbridge alongside Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s 1839 Great Western Railway bridge, it provides a convenient pedestrian route across the Kennet’s mouth. This junction is historically significant: just upstream lies Blake’s Lock, the eastern terminus of the Kennet & Avon Canal, marking the end of the waterway’s long route from Bath.

  • Sonning Lock and Village: A fitting finale to the walk, Sonning Lock — first built in 1773 and rebuilt in 1905 — is widely regarded as one of the most picturesque locks on the Thames, celebrated for its colourful, carefully tended gardens. Beyond the lock lies the historic village of Sonning, described by Jerome K. Jerome as “the most fairy‑like little nook on the whole river.” Its 18th‑century brick bridge, riverside pubs and handsome period buildings create a quintessential Berkshire village scene.



Thames Path previous section (west): Goring to Tilehurst (blog post coming soon)
Thames Path next section (east): Shiplake, Binfield Heath and Sonning Eye

Walking The Midshires Way Part 11: Great Horwood and Whaddon
St Mary's Church, Whaddon

St Mary's Church, Whaddon


Start & Finish: The Swan Inn, 1 Winslow Road, Great Horwood, Milton Keynes, MK17 0QN
Distance: 11.4 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 85m
Terrain: A mixture of grassy footpaths, bridleways, agricultural field margins, and village pavements.
Midshires Way section covered: Great Horwood to Whaddon: 6.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, North Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Swan Inn, Great Horwood (at the start and end), The Lowndes Arms, Whaddon (just off route at 6 km in)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
Links: Great Horwood, Whaddon, The Intelligence Zone


This is part of a series of short circular walks following the length of the Midshires Way in Buckinghamshire. The Midshires Way is a 225-mile (362 km) trail that journeys through the rural heart of Middle England, linking the Ridgeway National Trail at Bledlow in the south to the Trans Pennine Trail at Stockport in the north. Opened in 1994, this route traverses several counties, including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Greater Manchester, following a scenic tapestry of ancient bridleways, quiet country lanes, and historic canals. In Buckinghamshire, the Midshires Way has a significant connection with the Swan's Way (often referred to as the Swan Way), a 65-mile long-distance bridleway. Essentially, the Swan's Way forms the backbone of the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way, with the two routes being broadly coincident for approximately 50 miles between Salcey Forest and Bledlow. While the Swan's Way strictly adheres to bridleways to accommodate horse riders and cyclists, the Midshires Way sometimes offers alternative waymarked footpaths for walkers to avoid on-road sections.

Walking Directions

This delightful circular route through the Buckinghamshire countryside offers a fantastic blend of historic village charm and open agricultural landscapes. Starting in the picturesque village of Great Horwood, the trail guides you north-east across gentle fields and along established bridleways towards the neighbouring village of Whaddon. It is a wonderfully peaceful stretch that feels miles away from the bustle of nearby Milton Keynes, making it an excellent weekend escape for walkers of all abilities.

After taking in the elevated views and historic architecture of Whaddon, the route loops back southwards through the rural remnants of Whaddon Chase. The return leg provides a slightly different perspective of the undulating fields before guiding you safely back into Great Horwood. Whether you are out for a leisurely afternoon stroll with a pub lunch in mind or getting some extra steps in ahead of your local parkrun, this route is highly rewarding.

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.

  • Start at the Swan Inn in Great Horwood, or park in the free car park on the north side of High Street.

  • Take High Street north-easterly, then turn left onto Nash Road and follow it north for about 400 metres.

  • Leave the road on the left and follow the footpath north through fields to cross the A421.

  • Follow the path north-easterly through fields to Nash. Watch out for the geese in the farm as you arrive at Nash.

  • Cross Winslow Road, and take Wood End Lane to head east to Whaddon.

  • From Whaddon, take the footpath south from the church to cross the A421.

  • Take Warren Road in a south-southwesterly direction. There’s no pavement here and it’s a fairly quiet road but look out for cars.

  • When Warren Road takes a sharp turn to the south take the footpath on the right of the bend.

  • Follow the footpath in a south-westerly direction to Little Horwood Road.

  • Finally, turn right onto Little Horwood Road to return to the centre of Great Horwood.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • The Swan Inn and Great Horwood Great Horwood is a quintessential Buckinghamshire village with a layout dating back to the mediaeval period. Its conservation area is home to numerous timber-framed buildings that provide a picturesque start to the walk. The Swan Inn, acting as your start and finish point, is a Grade II listed 18th-century pub with a rich history of serving thirsty travellers on the historic trade routes winding through the county.

  • Ridge and Furrow: As you make your way along the Midshires Way between Adstock and Whaddon, keep an eye out for the fascinating historical landscape known as ridge and furrow. These distinct, wave-like contours across the fields are the fossilised remains of medieval farming, offering a remarkable glimpse into centuries of agricultural history preserved beneath the turf.

  • St Mary's Church, Whaddon Dominating the skyline as you approach Whaddon, the Church of St Mary is a striking Grade I listed building with origins rooted in the 12th century. The church features a prominent 14th-century tower and contains historic monuments, including a memorial to Arthur Grey, 14th Baron Grey de Wilton, making it a culturally significant and highly visible landmark on your walk.

  • Whaddon: Perched on a slight hill, this village offers excellent panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It is well known for the historic Lowndes Arms and its proximity to ancient royal hunting grounds. On the day that we were in Whaddon we were fortunate enough to observe an archaeological dig where enthusiastic volunteers were uncovering the remnants of buried World War Two telecommunications sites. These sites are remnants of the top-secret communications networks that were vital to the war effort. We also had the pleasure of meeting local author Alan Biggins, who joined us for part of the walk back to Great Horwood. He shared fascinating insights from his book, "The Intelligence Zone," which delves into the region's secret intelligence history. It truly brings the landscape to life to hear these stories first-hand and see the physical traces of history scattered across the area.

  • Whaddon Chase and Royal History Originally a Royal forest and mediaeval hunting ground, Whaddon Chase is an area steeped in local legend. Established before the Norman Conquest, it was historically reserved for hunting deer by the nobility. Although heavily deforested over the centuries and enclosed for agriculture, the undulating topography and remaining pockets of ancient woodland still offer walkers a tangible glimpse into Buckinghamshire's mediaeval past.

  • Nash Village As you pass through the small agricultural village of Nash, you are stepping through a settlement first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Historically a quiet farming community, its peaceful lanes and historic farmhouses showcase classic North Buckinghamshire vernacular architecture, providing a charming and historic mid-point between Great Horwood and Whaddon.



Midshires Way previous section (south): Addington and Great Horwood
Midshires Way next section (north): Whaddon and Oakhill Wood (blog post coming soon)

All The Scottish parkruns

There are currently 84 parkrun events in Scotland of which I have completed 8. The first was Pollok parkrun which started on December 6th 2008 and the newest is Broughty Ferry Esplanade which started on June 27th 2026. The name for having completed all parkrun events in Scotland is ALLba

Only one 5k parkrun event has been permanently cancelled in Scotland. Inverness parkrun was held from September 2011 to March 14th 2020 and was replaced by Torvean parkrun

Numbers exclude 2k Junior parkruns and any events that are not open to the general public such as prisons or armed forces facilities.


The Central Belt:

A map of all parkrun events in the Central Belt ofScotland

Scottish parkruns by County

If you are looking through the list of Scottish parkruns below, you’ll notice that I have included both the Historic County and the present-day Council Area for each event. The Historic Counties are the traditional geographical divisions of Scotland. These boundaries were established centuries ago, some tracing their origins back to the Middle Ages, and they were formally used for local administration from the late 19th century right up until 1975. Today, these boundaries remain static, offering a fascinating glimpse into the map history and traditional cartography of the landscape we are running through.

The present-day Council Areas are Scotland’s modern administrative units. The current system of 32 single‑tier councils came into effect on 1 April 1996, replacing the two‑tier structure of regions and districts that had existed since 1975. These councils handle local services such as waste collection, education, and planning.

  • Lanarkshire is the Historic County with the most 5k parkrun events with 9.

  • Highland is the Council Area with the most 5k parkrun events with 9.


All of the Scottish parkrun events …

Below are each of the Scottish 5k parkrun events in alphabetical order. A few things to note:

  • 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 and elevation profiles show the route at the time that I ran it and may have changed since then. See the Course page in the event’s page on parkrun.org.uk for the current course outline. Note that course outlines are from Garmin data during a specific run and may vary from the officially measured distance.

  • Please contact me if you spot an event that doesn’t have a course map and elevation profile and you would like to donate one from your own run. I’m also interested in maps and elevation profiles for courses that have changed or where there’s a regular alternative route (e.g. Horsham). I’ll need a GPX file from your run plus the date. I’ll include a credit for you and will donate £1 to parkrun.


Aberdeen

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeen City

  • Inaugural: October 8th 2011

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Agnew

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Wigtownshire

  • Council Area: Dumfries and Galloway

  • Inaugural: December 14th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Alness

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ross-shire / Ross and Cromarty

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: August 26th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Anagach Woods

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Morayshire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: August 23rd 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Auldcathie District

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: West Lothian

  • Council Area: West Lothian

  • Inaugural: January 7th 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Aviemore

  • I completed this event on: June 14th 2025 with a finish time of: 25:43

  • Other routes touched (walk): Speyside Way

  • Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 7

  • Historic County: Inverness-shire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: May 6th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ayr

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: South Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: September 20th 2014

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Beecraigs Country Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: West Lothian

  • Council Area: West Lothian

  • Inaugural: December 27th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Belladrum

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Inverness-shire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: January 24th 2026

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Bo’ness Foreshore

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: West Lothian

  • Council Area: Falkirk

  • Inaugural: October 4th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Bressay

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Shetland

  • Council Area: Shetland Islands

  • Inaugural: January 20th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Broughty Ferry Esplanade

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Angus

  • Council Area: Dundee City

  • Inaugural: June 27th 2026

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Camperdown

  • I completed this event on: September 28th 2024 with a finish time of: 27:05

  • Other routes touched: None

  • Historic County: Angus

  • Council Area: Dundee City

  • Inaugural: May 19th 2012

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Carlingwark Loch

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Kirkcudbrightshire

  • Council Area: Dumfries and Galloway

  • Inaugural: October 21st 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Castle Woods

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeenshire

  • Inaugural: May 17th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Crathes Castle

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeenshire

  • Inaugural: February 9th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Crichton

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Dumfriesshire

  • Council Area: Dumfries and Galloway

  • Inaugural: January 6th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Crinan Canal

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Argyllshire

  • Council Area: Argyll and Bute

  • Inaugural: August 31st 2024

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Cuningar Loop

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: South Lanarkshire

  • Inaugural: March 8th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Dean Castle Country Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: East Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: August 31st 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Drumchapel

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Dunbartonshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: June 4th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Drumlarig Castle

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Dumfriesshire

  • Council Area: Dumfries and Galloway

  • Inaugural: May 9th 2026

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Drumpellier Country

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: North Lanarkshire

  • Inaugural: July 27th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Dunfermline

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Fife

  • Council Area: Fife

  • Inaugural: July 4th 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Edinburgh

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Midlothian

  • Council Area: City of Edinburgh

  • Inaugural: October 17th 2009

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Eglinton

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: North Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: March 16th 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Elder Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: June 11th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Elgin

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Morayshire

  • Council Area: Moray

  • Inaugural: March 5th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ellon

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeenshire

  • Inaugural: October 17th 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Erskine Waterfront

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Renfrewshire

  • Council Area: Renfrewshire

  • Inaugural: November 19th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Falkirk

  • I completed this event on: August 10th 2024 with a finish time of: 28:08

  • Other routes touched (walk): John Muir Way

  • Other routes touched (cycle): HArRTT

  • Historic County: Stirlingshire

  • Council Area: Falkirk

  • Inaugural: July 16th 2011

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Faskally Forest

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Perthshire

  • Council Area: Perth and Kinross

  • Inaugural: March 7th 2020

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

FeldyRoo Fitness Trail

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Perthshire

  • Council Area: Perth and Kinross

  • Inaugural: April 12th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Forfar Loch

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Angus

  • Council Area: Angus

  • Inaugural: February 12th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Fort William

  • I completed this event on: August 17th 2024 with a finish time of: 28:02

  • Other routes touched: None

  • Historic County: Inverness-shire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: April 7th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ganavan Sands

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Argyllshire

  • Council Area: Argyll and Bute

  • Inaugural: August 20th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Girvan Prom

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: South Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: July 28th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Greenock

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Renfrewshire

  • Council Area: Inverclyde

  • Inaugural: May 17th 2014

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Hay Lodge

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Peeblesshire

  • Council Area: Scottish Borders

  • Inaugural: November 3rd 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Hazlehead

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeen City

  • Inaugural: August 16th 2014

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Holyrood

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Midlothian

  • Council Area: City of Edinburgh

  • Inaugural: July 16th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Inverness

***Inverness parkrun is now permanently cancelled ***

  • I did not complete this event before it was closed

  • County: Inverness-shire / Highland

  • Inaugural: September 3rd 2011. Final event: #432 on March 14th 2020

  • Reason for cancellation: Original venue became unavailable

  • Replaced by: Torvean

  • Links: Event Home Page

 

Kirkcaldy

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Fife

  • Council Area: Fife

  • Inaugural: February 14th 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Kirkwall

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Orkney

  • Council Area: Orkney Islands

  • Inaugural: April 21st 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Lady Mary’s Walk

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Perthshire

  • Council Area: Perth and Kinross

  • Inaugural: April 18th 2026

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Lanark Moor

  • I completed this event on: September 25th 2025 with a finish time of: 27:27

  • Other routes touched: None

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: South Lanarkshire

  • Inaugural: August 11th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Largs Prom

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: North Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: May 28th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Levengrove

  • I completed this event on: September 9th 2023 with a finish time of: 26:09

  • Other routes touched (walk): The Shore Circular Path

  • Historic County: Dunbartonshire

  • Council Area: West Dunbartonshire

  • Inaugural: December 7th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Lews Castle

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ross-shire

  • Council Area: Outer Hebrides

  • Inaugural: January 11th 2020

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Linwood

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Renfrewshire

  • Council Area: Renfrewshire

  • Inaugural: July 9th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Livingston

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: West Lothian

  • Council Area: West Lothian

  • Inaugural: January 9th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Loch Leven

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Kinross-shire

  • Council Area: Perth and Kinross

  • Inaugural: August 11th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Lochend Woods

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: East Lothian

  • Council Area: East Lothian

  • Inaugural: March 23rd 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Lochore Meadows

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Fife

  • Council Area: Fife

  • Inaugural: May 19th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Meadowmill

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: East Lothian

  • Council Area: East Lothian

  • Inaugural: February 9th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Montrose

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Angus

  • Council Area: Angus

  • Inaugural: July 8th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Mount Stuart

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Buteshire

  • Council Area: Argyll and Bute

  • Inaugural: September 7th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Nairn Links

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Nairnshire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: March 29th 2025

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Oriam

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Midlothian

  • Council Area: City of Edinburgh

  • Inaugural: November 2nd 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Palacerigg Country

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Dunbartonshire

  • Council Area: North Lanarkshire

  • Inaugural: August 27th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Perth

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Perthshire

  • Council Area: Perth and Kinross

  • Inaugural: November 30th 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Plean

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Stirlingshire

  • Council Area: Stirling

  • Inaugural: November 18th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Polkemmet Country

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: West Lothian

  • Council Area: West Lothian

  • Inaugural: May 25th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Pollok, Glasgow

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: December 6th 2008

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Portobello, Edinburgh

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Midlothian

  • Council Area: City of Edinburgh

  • Inaugural: April 18th 2015

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Queen’s, Glasgow

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: February 25th 2012

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Riverside Park, Glenrothes

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Fife

  • Council Area: Fife

  • Inaugural: June 14th 2024

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ruchill

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: April 15th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Skinadin

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Inverness-shire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: August 10th 2024

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Springburn

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: May 10th 2014

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

St Andrews

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Fife

  • Council Area: Fife

  • Inaugural: April 21st 2012

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Stonehaven

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Kincardineshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeenshire

  • Inaugural: September 10th 2016

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Strathclyde

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: North Lanarkshire

  • Inaugural: April 10th 2010

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Thurso

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Caithness

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: April 14th 2018

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Tollcross

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: May 18th 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Torvean

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Inverness-shire

  • Council Area: Highland

  • Inaugural: September 4th 2021

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Troon

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Ayrshire

  • Council Area: South Ayrshire

  • Inaugural: December 2nd 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

University of Stirling

  • I completed this event on: September 24th 2022 with a finish time of: 24:20

  • Other routes touched (walk): Henry Milne Walk

  • Historic County: Stirlingshire

  • Council Area: Stirling

  • Inaugural: October 12th 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Ury Riverside

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Aberdeenshire

  • Council Area: Aberdeenshire

  • Inaugural: November 2nd 2019

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Victoria

  • I completed this event on: June 6th 2026 with a finish time of: 28:40

  • Other routes touched: None

  • Historic County: Lanarkshire

  • Council Area: Glasgow City

  • Inaugural: October 12th 2013

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Vogrie

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Midlothian

  • Council Area: Midlothian

  • Inaugural: March 11th 2017

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Wallaceneuk

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Roxburghshire

  • Council Area: Scottish Borders

  • Inaugural: January 18th 2020

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

West Links

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Angus

  • Council Area: Angus

  • Inaugural: January 15th 2022

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Whitekirk Hill

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: East Lothian

  • Council Area: East Lothian

  • Inaugural: September 16th 2023

  • Links: Event Home Page, Course Page

 

Wilton Lodge Park

  • I have not yet completed this event

  • Historic County: Roxburghshire

  • Council Area: Scottish Borders

  • Inaugural: April 11th 2026

  • 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:


Walking The Midshires Way Part 10: Addington and Great Horwood
V-shaped junction on the Cross Bucks Way near Addington

V-shaped junction on the Cross Bucks Way near Addington


Start & Finish: Church End, Adstock, Buckingham, MK18 2HY
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 79m
Terrain: A pleasant mix of open arable fields, ancient bridleways, and quiet village lanes.
Midshires Way section covered: Addington to Great Horwood: 4.3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, Cross Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Old Thatched Inn, Adstock (at the start and end), The Swan Inn, Great Horwood (6.1 km in)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
Links: Addington, Great Horwood, Midshires Way


This is part of a series of short circular walks following the length of the Midshires Way in Buckinghamshire. The Midshires Way is a 225-mile (362 km) trail that journeys through the rural heart of Middle England, linking the Ridgeway National Trail at Bledlow in the south to the Trans Pennine Trail at Stockport in the north. Opened in 1994, this route traverses several counties, including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Greater Manchester, following a scenic tapestry of ancient bridleways, quiet country lanes, and historic canals. In Buckinghamshire, the Midshires Way has a significant connection with the Swan's Way (often referred to as the Swan Way), a 65-mile long-distance bridleway. Essentially, the Swan's Way forms the backbone of the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way, with the two routes being broadly coincident for approximately 50 miles between Salcey Forest and Bledlow. While the Swan's Way strictly adheres to bridleways to accommodate horse riders and cyclists, the Midshires Way sometimes offers alternative waymarked footpaths for walkers to avoid on-road sections.

Walking Directions

This delightful circular walk takes you through the serene Buckinghamshire countryside, starting in the quiet village of Adstock. The path initially guides you south across open farmland to Addington, picking up the Cross Bucks Way. From Addington Church, you join the official Midshires Way trail heading east and then north-eastwards. The wide views of the agricultural landscape serve as a fantastic backdrop as you make your way towards the picturesque village of Great Horwood.

Once you reach Great Horwood, you will find a charming village centre that makes for a perfect mid-walk rest stop. Leaving the Midshires Way behind, the route loops back towards the west via quiet lanes, taking you through more peaceful meadows before returning to Adstock. The gentle undulation of the landscape makes this an excellent afternoon stroll or a highly scenic alternative to your weekend parkrun.

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.

  • Start your walk where there are free parking spaces in the village of Adstock, near the junction of Church End, Main Street and East Street.

  • Walk south down Main Street, then take a left onto Scots Lane.

  • Continue heading in a south-easterly direction to carefully cross over the Buckingham Road (A413).

  • Keep heading south through the fields to pick up the Cross Bucks Way, eventually reaching the road that runs east to west through the village of Addington.

  • Take a left onto this road, continuing to follow the Cross Bucks Way, then take a left to join the Midshires Way near Addington Church (the Church of St Mary the Virgin).

  • Continue east along the Midshires Way until you reach the equestrian centre, then take a left to follow the road to the east of the centre heading north.

  • Upon reaching the Buckingham Road (A413) again, carefully cross over to the north side of the road and follow the pavement in an easterly direction.

  • Take the footpath on the left to leave the A413, following this path (which is the Midshires Way and North Bucks Way) in a north-easterly direction.

  • Keep following the path until you reach Winslow Road, then take a left and follow it into the village centre of Great Horwood.

  • At the village centre, you will see The Swan Inn: a good halfway spot for a rest and a drink.

  • Leave the Midshires Way here by taking a left off Winslow Road onto Singleborough Road, following it in a westerly direction.

  • Continue as this leads onto Pilch Lane, heading in a west or north-westerly direction.

  • Just after a bend and crossing a bridge over a stream, leave Pilch Lane by taking a left onto a footpath through the fields.

  • Follow this footpath as it curves down to the south-west, taking you all the way to The Gardens, a small lane in Adstock.

  • Keep following this down to West Street, then onto East Street, before finally returning to your starting point in the Adstock village centre.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

  • Church of St Cecilia, Adstock: Dating back to the late 11th or early 12th century, this historic parish church boasts a remarkable Norman doorway featuring intricate zigzag and dog-tooth carvings. Its peaceful churchyard is a fantastic starting point, grounding the walk in a millennium of Buckinghamshire history.

  • Addington Estate & Equestrian Centre: The Addington estate is not only steeped in Civil War history but is also renowned today for its prestigious Equestrian Centre. The surrounding parkland, with its ancient trees and well-kept bridleways, offers lovely glimpses of the 19th-century landscaping originally designed by William Andrews Nesfield.

  • Great Horwood & The Swan Inn: Great Horwood is a designated conservation area characterised by a charming village green and 17th-century timber-framed cottages. The village was granted a royal charter in 1447 to hold a weekly market. Today, it hosts the historic Swan Inn, a perfect resting point that has been serving weary travellers for centuries.

  • Pilch Lane & Rural Meadows: The return leg via Pilch Lane crosses vital local waterways and natural meadowlands. These fields are prime habitats for local wildlife, including grazing deer, red kites soaring overhead, and a variety of hedgerow songbirds that thrive in the undisturbed Bucks countryside.



Midshires Way previous section (south): Verney Junction and Winslow
Midshires Way next section (north): Great Horwood and Whaddon

Ibiza: Then and Now

Timea and I visited Ibiza in May 2026 for a warm break and to finish off our Balearic Islands collection. While over there I remembered that my parents took my sister Lisa there in 1972 when she was 2. This kicked off our occasional quest to recreate old family photos in the same locations.


Dalt Villa - Ibiza Old Town

Dalt Villa - Ibiza Old Town 1972 - View from the Harbour

Dalt Villa - Ibiza Old Town 1972 - View from the Harbour

Dalt Villa - Ibiza Old Town 2026 - View from the Harbour


Dalt Villa - Ibiza Old Town

Portal de ses Taules, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - 1972

Portal de ses Taules, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - 1972

Portal de ses Taules, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - 2026

Portal de ses Taules, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - 2026


Plaça de la Constitució, Ibiza Old Town, 1972

Plaça de la Constitució, Ibiza Old Town, 1972

Plaça de la Constitució, Ibiza Old Town, 2026

Plaça de la Constitució, Ibiza Old Town, 2026


Portal Nou, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - Dad and Lisa - 1972

Portal Nou, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - Dad and Lisa - 1972

Portal Nou, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - Me and my rucksack - 2026

Portal Nou, Dalt Villa, Ibiza Old Town - Me and my rucksack - 2026


Cala Longa Beach

Finding this one gave us the most amusement. Finding the Dalt Vila locations was fairly easy as we just had to wander around Ibiza Old Town until we found the exact places. Google Lens and some AI-enabled searching helped too.

The beach photo below was a bit trickier as the resort wasn’t obvious. My first attempt at solving it with Google AI told me: “This is the Bay of San Antonio (Bahía de San Antonio) on the west coast of Ibiza. The man in the photograph is Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees. The Gibb family had strong ties to Ibiza at the time: his parents relocated to the island in late 1971, and the brothers frequently visited.”. This was immediately suspicious as San Antonio isn’t on the west of the island and, as far as I was aware, my dad wasn’t in the Bee Gees. I was intrigued though and some further research confirmed the Maurice did visit Ibiza at the time and he did look a little like my dad at the time. Maurice was married to the singer Lulu back then who did look a little like my mum.

After a couple more attempts I managed to work out that the Beach was Cala Longa, conveniently just 15 minutes from the hotel where we were staying. We couldn’t match the camera angles and the beach seemed to have been widened since then but it was definitely the place. You can see the old hotels still there but extended upwards.

Cala Longa Beach - Dad and Lisa - 1972

Cala Longa Beach - Dad and Lisa - 1972

Cala Longa Beach - Me - 2026

Cala Longa Beach - Me - 2026


Cala Longa Beach - Dad and Lisa - 1972

Cala Longa Beach - Lisa - 1972

Cala Longa Beach - Me - 1972

Cala Longa Beach - Me - 1972


More Then and Now