parkrun Name Changers
Have you ever looked back through your parkrun results, or perhaps tried to look up an old event you ran years ago, only to find the name has completely vanished? You are not going into a parallel universe: it turns out quite a few UK events have quietly rebranded over the years.
In fact, the biggest name change in the movement's history applies to the very first events! When founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt launched the original 5k back in October 2004, it was called the Bushy Park Time Trial (BPTT). As the movement slowly expanded to other locations like Wimbledon Common, Richmond, Banstead Woods, and Leeds, they were collectively known as "UK Time Trials." It wasn't until mid-2008 that the entire organization officially rebranded as "parkrun" to appeal to a wider, non-traditional running community. So, technically, all of those original "Time Trial" events were the very first parkrun name changers. Here is the full list of those early pioneers and the names they eventually adopted:
Albert Park Time Trial ➔ Albert parkrun, Middlesbrough
Banstead Woods Time Trial ➔ Banstead Woods parkrun
Bramhall Park Time Trial ➔ Bramhall parkrun
Brighton & Hove Time Trial ➔ Brighton & Hove parkrun
Bushy Park Time Trial ➔ Bushy parkrun
Cardiff Blackweir Time Trial ➔ Cardiff parkrun
Hyde Park Time Trial ➔ Leeds parkrun ➔ Woodhouse Moor parkrun
North Hampshire Time Trial ➔ Basingstoke parkrun
Richmond Park Time Trial ➔ Richmond Park parkrun
Wimbledon Common Time Trial ➔ Wimbledon Common parkrun
It is an interesting little quirk of parkrun history. When you first hear about a local event, it is naturally referred to by the town or city it is in. But as the movement has grown, so too has the need for specificity.
parkrun HQ actually has a fairly strict naming policy: events are supposed to be named after the smallest identifiable geographical area where the event takes place. Think a specific park, trail, or open space rather than the name of the nearest town. This usually becomes an issue when a town gets large enough to host a second event.
A great example is Swindon parkrun. It ran under that name for nearly a decade, but when a second event (Seven Fields parkrun) popped up on the other side of town in 2019, organisers needed to adopt a more specific location-based name to avoid confusion. So, Swindon parkrun officially became Lydiard parkrun, named after the country park where it is held.
In other cases, it is just about accuracy. Take Ludlow parkrun, which rebranded to Mortimer Forest parkrun in August 2026. The venue was never actually in the town of Ludlow itself, and the new name does a much better job of reflecting the beautiful, hilly woodland trails where the event actually takes place.
If you are a bit of a stats geek like me and worry about your parkrun profile, don't panic. When an event changes its name, all previous results, personal bests, and volunteer credits are retroactively updated on the system. Your history remains completely intact; it just gets a new name.
It is worth noting that there can be a fine line between a parkrun that has simply changed its name and one that has been permanently cancelled and replaced by a new event with a different name. The key difference lies in the event history: a true "Name Changer", like the ones on this list, keeps the same course and continues the same event number count on their Results page. On the other hand, a new event that replaces a permanently cancelled one starts its count all over again at Event number 1. An example of this is Storeys Field parkrun. When it was permanently cancelled, it was replaced nearby by Brook Leys parkrun. Even though it is run by the same core team and located close by, Brook Leys is officially a brand new event, so its event count started back at 1.
Let me know in the Comments or contact me if you have any additional information or corrections to the information here. I’m also looking for images of the parkrun banners with the old name and the new name. I’ll donate £1 to parkrun for each contribution and will list you as a Contributor to this page.
Black icons represent the original Time Trial events that changed to parkrun events. Orange icons represent post-Time Trial name changers.
Avery Hill
Original Name: Greenwich
Date of Name Change: March 2025
Reason for Name Change: The original name was frequently confusing for tourists and visitors, as the course is located in Avery Hill Park in Eltham, not the famous Greenwich Park.
Region: London
Historic County: Kent
Present Day County: Greater London
Links: Avery Hill parkrun
Photo by: Katherine Richards, Claire Allison
Chippenham Playing Fields, Monmouth
Original Name: Chippenham Playing Fields
Date of Name Change: Unknown
Reason for Name Change: Added the specific town name to the title to avoid confusion with the existing Chippenham parkrun over in Wiltshire.
Region: Wales
Historic County: Monmouthshire
Present Day County: Monmouthshire
Colby Woodland Garden
Original Name: Colby
Date of Name Change: Unknown
Reason for Name Change: To align with parkrun HQ's naming conventions and more accurately reflect the full name of the specific National Trust venue.
Region: Wales
Historic County: Pembrokeshire
Present Day County: Pembrokeshire
Links: Colby Woodland Garden
Photos by: Melanie Pickup, Donna Sykes
Crinan Canal, Lochgilphead
Original Name: Crinan Canal
Date of Name Change: Final one in old location was 21 June 2025. First one in new location was 15 November 2025
Reason for Name Change: They had a sink hole on the original route, were cancelled for a bit and then restarted on a different part of the canal (15 minute drive from original start line) with amended name.
Region: Scotland
Historic County: Argyllshire
Present Day County: Argyll and Bute
Links: Crinan Canal, Lochgilphead
Photo by: Tracey Jessup
Endcliffe
Original Name: Sheffield Hallam
Date of Name Change: July 2020
Reason for Name Change: A necessary change to the route to exclude a pavement section on Rustlings Road for safety reasons. This evolution into a fully park-based route prompted a rebrand.
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Historic County: Yorkshire
Present Day County: South Yorkshire
Links: Endcliffe parkrun
Photo by: Joanne Chappell
Ferry Meadows
Original Name: Peterborough
Date of Name Change: December 2019
Reason for Name Change: To reflect the specific area and community rather than the generic city as a whole, especially due to multiple parkruns existing in the Peterborough area.
Region: East of England
Historic County: Huntingdonshire
Present Day County: Cambridgeshire
Links: Ferry Meadows parkrun
Photo by: Jayne Pell, Mandy Ellwood
Gorleston Cliffs
Original Name: Gorleston
Date of Name Change: Unknown
Reason for Name Change: To more accurately reflect the specific location and beautiful cliff-top course, aligning with parkrun HQ's policy of naming events after their exact venue rather than the town as a whole.
Region: East of England
Historic County: Suffolk
Present Day County: Norfolk
Links: Gorleston Cliffs
Great Notley
Original Name: Braintree
Date of Name Change: June 2014
Reason for Name Change: The event was initially planned and referred to as Braintree parkrun during its setup phase, but was renamed to Great Notley prior to its inaugural event to adhere to parkrun's rule of naming events after the park itself.
Region: East of England
Historic County: Essex
Present Day County: Essex
Links: Great Notley parkrun
Greenham Common, Newbury
Original Name: Newbury
Date of Name Change: September 2025
Reason for Name Change: To better reflect its location and to differentiate it from the recently established Victoria Park parkrun, which is also located in Newbury.
Region: South East England
Historic County: Berkshire
Present Day County: Berkshire
Photo by: Linda Whalley, Claire Allison
Leybourne Lakes
Original Name: Malling
Date of Name Change: October 2024
Reason for Name Change: To avoid confusion with Malling Rec parkrun in Lewes (which started in summer 2024), and to logically reflect its actual location in Leybourne Lakes Country Park, since "Malling" is a borough and not a specific town.
Region: South East England
Historic County: Kent
Present Day County: Kent
Links: Leybourne Lakes parkrun
Photos by: Richard Gower, Jan Brodie
Lister Park
Original Name: Bradford
Date of Name Change: October 2023
Reason for Name Change: To align with parkrun HQ's naming rules by referencing the specific park (Lister Park) rather than the wider city, especially since multiple parkrun events exist within the Bradford district.
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Historic County: Yorkshire
Present Day County: West Yorkshire
Links: Lister Park
Photos by: Andy Wilkinson, Victoria Knight-Phillips, Donna Tucker, Callum Burrell
Lydiard
Original Name: Swindon
Date of Name Change: Late 2019
Reason for Name Change: A second parkrun (Seven Fields) launched on the other side of Swindon, so the original event adopted a more specific location-based name to avoid confusion.
Region: South West England
Historic County: Wiltshire
Present Day County: Wiltshire
Links: Lydiard parkrun
Maidstone River Park
Original Name: Maidstone
Date of Name Change: March 2024
Reason for Name Change: To better reflect the route and align with parkrun policy of using the smallest identifiable location, particularly since Mote Park parkrun had also opened in Maidstone.
Region: South East England
Historic County: Kent
Present Day County: Kent
Links: Maidstone River Park
Photos By: James Dane, Shanon Maria Bowland
Markeaton
Original Name: Darley Abbey
Date of Name Change: March 2016
Reason for Name Change: The event relocated to a different site (Markeaton Park) following its last run at Darley Abbey in January 2016, carrying over its event number count to the new location.
Region: East Midlands
Historic County: Derbyshire
Present Day County: Derbyshire
Links: Markeaton parkrun
Markshall
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled.
Original Name: Markshall Estate
Date of Name Change: February 2026. Final event: #229 on August 22nd 2026
Reason for Name Change: Renamed from Markshall Estate parkrun after the landowner went through a rebranding exercise. It’s not pronounced “Marks-Hall” but “Mark-shall”.
Reason for cancellation: “The continued growth has resulted in increased pressures being put on Markshall’s infrastructure, facilities and personnel, resulting in recent parkrun events being temporarily cancelled. Representatives from both parkrun and Markshall have worked hard to resolve these issues but unfortunately, they could not be resolved satisfactorily.” (posted on the event’s news page on September 30th 2026)
Region: East of England
Historic County: Essex
Present Day County: Essex
Links: Markshall
Photos by: Len Marten, Dilly Ruffer, Jo Brooks, Rachel Hill, Clare Mitchell, Alison Bullyment
Milton Country
Original Name: Cambridge
Date of Name Change: April 2023
Reason for Name Change: Following a prolonged hiatus during and after the pandemic, the event returned to Milton Country Park (initially having announced closure) with a slightly revised course and adopted a new name that accurately reflects its specific park venue rather than the broader city.
Region: East of England
Historic County: Cambridgeshire
Present Day County: Cambridgeshire
Links: Milton Country
Photos by: Dan Moult, Damian Baker
Monsal Trail
Original Name: Bakewell
Date of Name Change: November 2021
Reason for Name Change: The event retired its old route and moved to a new, safer course on the Monsal Trail.
Region: East Midlands
Historic County: Derbyshire
Present Day County: Derbyshire
Links: Monsal Trail parkrun
Photos by: Sarah Morley, Liz Dee, Sarah Walton, Callum Burrell, Karen Borowski, Lee Barnard
Mortimer Forest
Original Name: Ludlow
Date of Name Change: August 2026
Reason for Name Change: The venue was never actually in or near the town of Ludlow (it is roughly three miles away). Organisers felt the new name better reflected the trails and scenery where the event is held.
Region: West Midlands
Historic County: Herefordshire
Present Day County: Herefordshire
Links: Mortimer Forest parkrun
Photo by: Mark Brace, Tammy Johnson
Nostell
Original Name: Nostell Priory
Date of Name Change: Circa 2018
Reason for Name Change: The name was shortened to align with parkrun's naming conventions, referencing the wider Nostell village and estate rather than specifically the Priory building.
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Historic County: Yorkshire
Present Day County: West Yorkshire
Links: Nostell parkrun
Pollok, Glasgow
Original Name: Glasgow
Date of Name Change: June 2014
Reason for Name Change: The first parkrun in Scotland was originally just known as Glasgow. However, due to the growth of parkrun and the addition of three other events within the city, it was renamed to Pollok to reflect its specific location in Pollok Country Park.
Region: Scotland
Historic County: Lanarkshire
Present Day County: Glasgow City
Links: Pollok parkrun, Glasgow
Queen's, Belfast
Original Name: Queen's
Date of Name Change: Unknown
Reason for Name Change: Changed to distinguish the event from other locations referencing Queen's park, highlighting its specific location at Queen's University Sport in South Belfast.
Region: Northern Ireland
Historic County: Antrim
Links: Queen's, Belfast
Photo by: Sarah Silver, Shanon Maria Bowland
Sandall Park
Original Name: Doncaster
Date of Name Change: Circa 2022
Reason for Name Change: To align with parkrun HQ's naming policy, which stipulates events should be named after the smallest identifiable geographical area (the park) rather than the town.
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Historic County: Yorkshire
Present Day County: South Yorkshire
Links: Sandall Park parkrun
Photo by: Gail Bramall
Silksworth
Original Name: Sunderland
Date of Name Change: Circa 2018
Reason for Name Change: To more accurately reflect the specific location of the course within the Silksworth Sports Complex, particularly as other parkrun events began to populate the wider Sunderland area.
Region: North East England
Historic County: County Durham
Present Day County: Tyne and Wear
Links: Silksworth parkrun
Photos by: Samantha Goodall, Debsy Wright
Town Moor
Original Name: Newcastle
Date of Name Change: July 2021
Reason for Name Change: Changed when the event restarted after the COVID-19 pause. Several other parkruns had launched in Newcastle, requiring a more specific location name, which was accompanied by a route change.
Region: North East England
Historic County: Northumberland
Present Day County: Tyne and Wear
Links: Town Moor parkrun
Photo by: Katherine Richards, Julie Spells
Woodhouse Moor
Original Name: Leeds parkrun (and originally Hyde Park Time Trial)
Date of Name Change: February 2015
Reason for Name Change: To reflect the fact that there were now four separate parkruns operating within the city of Leeds.
Region: Yorkshire and the Humber
Historic County: Yorkshire
Present Day County: West Yorkshire
Links: Woodhouse Moor parkrun
Contributors
The great people of the parkrun Tourism community who provided input to this page. Photo credits are listed above in the relevant event section.
Mark Brace, Laura Ritchie, Juli Wiseman, Katherine Richards, Paul Woodyatt, Gail Bramall, Tracey Jessup, Linda Whalley, Olly Hughes, Jan Brodie, Len Marten, Dily Ruffer, Andy Wilkinson, Jayne Pell, Dan Moult, Melanie Pickup, Sarah Morley, Joanne Chappell, Samantha Goodall, Debsy Wright, Donna Sykes, Liz Dee, Sarah Walton, Graham Holland, Victoria Knight-Phillips, Jo Brooks, James Dane, Rachel Hill, Sarah Silver, Donna Tucker, Tammy Johnson, Damian Baker, Shanon Maria Bowland, Julie Spells, Alison Bullyment, Karen Borowski, Claire Allison, Mandy Ellwood
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:
North West England 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 North West England.
The North West of England is a diverse and heavily populated region of the UK, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea and to the east by the Pennines, serving as a major economic and cultural powerhouse in Northern England. The region is composed of five ceremonial counties: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside. Geographically, the North West is characterised by its dramatic transition from expansive urban areas to rugged upland terrain, most notably across the Lake District: a mountainous National Park spanning much of the length of Cumbria. It contains the prominent, sweeping ridges of the Forest of Bowland (predominantly in Lancashire) and the vast, scenic estuary of Morecambe Bay. Landscapes across the region are varied, ranging from the flat, agricultural expanse of the Cheshire Plain to the towering peaks of the Cumbrian fells and the rich, historic river valleys of the Mersey and the Irwell.
The administrative map of the North West underwent a significant transformation following the Local Government Act 1972, which came into effect in 1974. Prior to this, the region was defined by the ancient historic counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumberland, and Westmorland. The 1974 reforms sought to modernise local government, particularly to address the sprawling urban growth around major industrial cities. This led to the creation of the metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, which absorbed large, heavily populated swathes of historic Lancashire and Cheshire. Further north, the sparsely populated historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland were merged, alongside the Furness area of Lancashire and a sliver of Yorkshire, to form the new county of Cumbria. These boundaries were later solidified for the purposes of appointing Lord-Lieutenants by the Lieutenancies Act 1997, firmly establishing the modern "ceremonial counties" we recognise today, even as the region's historic identities continue to hold deep cultural significance.
parkrun event numbers per county
There are currently 80 parkrun events in the counties of the North West England region.
Notes and exceptions.
Birkenhead and Brimstage were in historic Cheshire and are now in Merseyside.
All other Merseyside parkrun events were in the historic county of Lancashire.
Widnes was in historic Lancashire and is now in Cheshire.
Bramhall Park, Cheadle Hulme, Hyde, Marple, Sale Water, Woodbank and Wythenshawe were in historic Cheshire and are now in Greater Manchester.
Fletcher Moss was in historic Lancashire and is now in Greater Manchester but a small part of the course crosses into present-day Cheshire.
Barrow, Fell Foot, Ford and Grizedale Forest were in historic Lancashire and are now in Cumbria.
Rothay Park was in historic Westmorland and is now in Cumbria.
All other Cumbria parkrun events were in the historic county of Cumberland.
Alexandra, Bolton, Burnage, Chadderton Hall, Clarence, Fletcher Moss, Haigh Woodland, Heaton Park, Kingsway Park Urmston, Oldham, Peel, Pennington Flash, Philips Park, South Manchester, Stamford Park, Stretford, Watergrove and Worsley Woods were in historic Lancashire and are now in Greater Manchester
Crosby, Croxteth Hall, Kew Woods, Knowsley, Princes, Southport, St Helens and Sutton Manor were in historic Lancashire and are now in Merseyside.
Warrington is in Cheshire but the route cuts through a small part of Lancashire.
Centre Vale straddles the border of historic Lancashire and Yorkshire but is currently fully in West Yorkshire.
The North West England 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:
Walking The Midshires Way Part 15: Stantonbury Lake and Little Linford
On the Midshires Way through farmland approaching Little Linford Wood
Start & Finish: Great Linford Memorial Hall Car Park, 630 Marsh Dr, Great Linford, Milton Keynes MK14 5AS
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
Terrain: A mixture of paved suburban footpaths, established park trails, and potentially muddy rural tracks.
Midshires Way section covered: Great Linford to Little Linford Wood : 5.0 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, Hanslope Circular Ride, Railway Walk, Grand Union Canal Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Nag’s Head (0.3 km in), The Black Horse (1.2 km in)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
OS Fundamental Benchmark: TP7233 - Great Linford
Links: Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal, Stantonbury, Little Linford, River Great Ouse
Welcome to Part 15 of our series of short circular walks along the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way. For a complete overview of the 225-mile trail's history, its connection to the Swan's Way, and preparation tips, please read my complete Midshires Way Through Buckinghamshire Guide.
Walking Directions
This circular route starting from Stantonbury offers a fantastic blend of Milton Keynes' green spaces and the traditional Buckinghamshire countryside. Heading out from the suburban edges, you quickly find yourself immersed in the open landscapes that border the River Great Ouse valley. It is a walk of beautiful contrasts: you trade residential footpaths for quiet dirt tracks and peaceful rural scenery.
As the path pushes north towards the village of Little Linford, the surroundings become increasingly tranquil. The return leg sweeps back towards Stantonbury, taking in the historical resonance of the local parkland along the way. While you won't cross paths with a local parkrun on this specific trail, the route is a brilliant and peaceful escape for casual walkers and dedicated hikers alike.
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 at the free car park at Great Linford Memorial Hall, located within the grounds of Linford Manor Park.
Take the footpath running along the western side of the car park and head south until you reach the High Street.
Turn right along the High Street and walk until you see the Nag's Head pub. Here, you can either stop for an early drink, or if it's a bit too early for that, turn right to enter the park gates.
Walk north through Linford Manor Park, curving left in a westerly direction to skirt the southern side of the round pond.
Continue walking parallel to the Grand Union Canal, pass under the old railway bridge, and keep walking on the canal's southern side.
Continue until you reach the Wolverton Road bridge. Cross over the Grand Union Canal to the north side, which brings you near the Black Horse pub.
Once over the bridge, take the footpath on the left off Wolverton Road to return to the canal towpath, and follow it in a north-westerly direction for about 200 meters.
Take the fork to leave the canal, joining the Midshires Way and Hanslope circular ride heading north-west through Stanton Low Park.
Pass the ruins of St. Peter's Church—the only remains of the old village of Stanton Low—and follow the path as it curves north along the eastern bank of the River Great Ouse.
Just over 3 km into the walk, cross the River Great Ouse via the footbridge, then continue until you reach the High Street.
Turn left onto the High Street, then take the first right to continue on the Midshires Way, heading north-west through the farmer's fields.
At the path junction, leave the Hanslope circular ride but stay on the Midshires Way, walking north and then curving north-east.
Upon reaching a T-junction just inside Little Linford Wood, turn right to rejoin the Hanslope circular ride. Follow the wood's eastern edge, then take a quick right through a farmer's field to meet Haversham Road.
Turn right onto Haversham Road, then left onto Little Linford Lane. (Note: You may see a road closed/diversion sign for a damaged bridge; this applies to vehicles, but you can still safely cross the bridge on foot).
Walk south-east along Little Linford Lane and pass over two bridges crossing the River Great Ouse (including the damaged one).
Immediately after crossing the second bridge, and importantly before crossing over the M1, turn right onto a footpath leading off Little Linford Lane.
Continue south along this path, keeping the lakes to your right-hand side, until you meet Wolverton Road.
Cross Wolverton Road and head south down Marsh Lane, crossing the Grand Union Canal at the Linford Wharf bridge.
Follow the road to the High Street, which will lead you back to the Great Linford Memorial Hall car park to finish the walk.
Points of Interest along or near to the Route
Great Linford Manor Park: Once the centre of a grand 18th-century estate, this parkland is a fascinating mix of history and nature. The site features formal ponds, ancient lime tree avenues, and the remnants of a lost wilderness garden. It serves as a vital green lung for Milton Keynes, providing a serene backdrop that belies its urban proximity.
Grand Union Canal: Serving as a major artery of the British waterway network, this historic canal provides a scenic, tranquil corridor through the heart of Milton Keynes. The towpaths offer a pleasant waterside alternative to the paved redways: complete with colourful narrowboats and abundant aquatic wildlife.
Stanton Low Park: A lovely open space that features the remains of St Peter's Church and offers sweeping views across the Great Ouse valley. It provides a brilliant historical touch to the final stretch of the walk.
The River Great Ouse: This major waterway is the lifeblood of the local landscape. Flowing through the valley, it supports a rich biodiversity, including kingfishers, otters, and various coarse fish. The river meanders through ancient water meadows that have been grazed for centuries, offering an insight into the traditional rural landscape of North Buckinghamshire.
Little Linford Wood: This ancient woodland is a haven for wildlife. It is particularly noted for its varied flora, including carpets of bluebells and wood anemones in the spring. The wood has remained largely undisturbed, reflecting the medieval landscape and providing a crucial habitat for woodland butterflies and birds.
Linford Lakes Nature Reserve: Situated close to the route, this wetland area is a haven for local birdlife and wildlife. It was established around former gravel pits and serves as a fantastic spot for nature enthusiasts.
Midshires Way previous section (south): Bradwell Abbey and Linford Wood
Midshires Way next section (north): Stoke Goldington and Tathall End
Completing all Merseyside parkruns
There are currently 10 parkrun events in the present-day county of Merseyside, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Princes, which started on 26th March 2011 and the newest is Brimstage, which started on 3rd October 2026. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “Mersey-Beat”.
The present-day / ceremonial county of Merseyside is made up of land that was previously in the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Birkenhead and Brimstage were originally in historic Cheshire but is now in Merseyside. All other Merseyside parkrun events were in the historic county of Lancashire.
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 Merseyside parkrun events …
Below are each of the Merseyside 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.
Birkenhead
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 18th July 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Brimstage
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 3rd October 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Crosby
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 14th November 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Croxteth Hall
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 14th March 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Kew Woods
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 15th December 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Knowsley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 10th December 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Princes
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 26th March 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Southport
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: 11th June 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
St Helens
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 5th July 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Sutton Manor
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Merseyside
Inaugural: 7th December 2019
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 Greater Manchester parkruns
There are currently 25 parkrun events in the present-day county of Greater Manchester, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Bramhall Park, which started on 19th April 2008 and the newest is Kingsway Park, Urmston which started on 18th November 2023. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “Greater Ran-Chester”.
The present-day / ceremonial county of Greater Manchester is made up of land that was previously in the historic counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Bramhall Park, Cheadle Hulme, Hyde, Marple, Sale Water, Woodbank and Wythenshawe were in historic Cheshire and are now in Greater Manchester.
All other Greater Manchester parkrun events were in the historic county of Lancashire.
Fletcher Moss was in historic Lancashire and is now in Greater Manchester but a small part of the course crosses into present-day Cheshire.
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 Greater Manchester parkrun events …
Below are each of the Greater Manchester 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.
Alexandra
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 12th February 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Bolton
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 5th February 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Bramhall Park
I have not yet completed this event
Original name: Bramhall Time Trial. The original set of Time Trials were rebranded as "parkrun" in 2008 to appeal to a wider, non-traditional running community.
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 19th April 2008
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Burnage
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 21st July 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Chadderton Hall
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 23rd April 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Cheadle Hulme
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 28th June 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Clarence
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 1st October 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Fletcher Moss
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 17th November 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Haigh Woodland
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 31st October 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Heaton Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 20th June 2009
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Hyde
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 7th January 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Kingsway Park, Urmston
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 18th November 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Marple
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 26th May 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Oldham
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 24th July 2010
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Peel
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 25th September 2021
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Pennington Flash
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 12th March 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Philips Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 4th March 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Sale Water
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 7th October 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
South Manchester
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: 14th November 2009
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Stamford Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 13th June 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Stretford
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 14th November 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Watergrove
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 7th June 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Woodbank
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 22nd August 2009
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Worsley Woods
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 3rd March 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Wythenshawe
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Greater Manchester
Inaugural: 6th August 2011
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 Lancashire parkruns
There are currently 14 parkrun events in the present-day county of Lancashire, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Preston, which started on 12th May 2012 and the newest is Worden, which started on 14th October 2023. I’m not aware of a County Completion Name for Lancashire but let me know in the comments if you have one.
The present-day / ceremonial county of Lancashire is smaller than the historic county of the same name. Several Lancashire parkrun events fall into different historic and ceremonial counties:
Alexandra, Bolton, Burnage, Chadderton Hall, Clarence, Fletcher Moss, Haigh Woodland, Heaton Park, Kingsway Park Urmston, Oldham, Peel, Pennington Flash, Philips Park, South Manchester, Stamford Park, Stretford, Watergrove and Worsley Woods were in historic Lancashire and are now in Greater Manchester
Barrow, Fell Foot, Ford and Grizedale Forest were in historic Lancashire and are now in Cumbria.
Crosby, Croxteth Hall, Kew Woods, Knowsley, Princes, Southport, St Helens and Sutton Manor were in historic Lancashire and are now in Merseyside.
Widnes was in historic Lancashire and is now in Cheshire.
Warrington is in Cheshire but the route cuts through a small part of Lancashire.
Centre Vale straddles the border of historic Lancashire and Yorkshire and has the start line in Lancashire but the course is mostly in West Yorkshire.
Cuerden Valley was a parkrun event in Lancashire but has now been permanently cancelled.
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 Lancashire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Lancashire 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.
Blackpool
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 4th February 2017
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Burnley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 2nd June 2012
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Clitheroe Castle
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 19th May 2018
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Cuerden Valley
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled. I did not complete this event before it was closed.
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: August 10th 2013. Final event: #329 on March 14th 2020
Reason for cancellation: Due to financial struggles and a belief by the Cuerden Valley Trust that parkrun, a national organization, should contribute financially to the park's upkeep.
Replaced by: many of the core team moved to Worden
Links: Event Home Page
Fleetwood Promenade
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 4th August 2018
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Hyndburn
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 21st October 2017
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Lancaster
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 9th January 2016
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Lytham Hall
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 28th November 2015
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Morecambe Prom
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Links: Morecambe Prom, Course
Ormskirk
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 29th March 2014
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Pendle
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 10th May 2014
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Preston
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 12th May 2012
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Tawd Valley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 27th July 2019
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Witton
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 29th August 2015
Links: Event Page, Course Page
Worden
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Present Day County: Lancashire
Inaugural: 14th October 2023
Links: Event 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 Cumbria parkruns
There are currently 18 parkrun events in the present-day county of Cumbria, of which I have completed 1. The first was Barrow, which started on 24th September 2011 and the newest is Grizedale Forest which started on 17th October 2026. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “Done-bria”.
The present-day / ceremonial county of Cumbria replaced the historic counties of Cumberland and Westmorland and the Furness area of Lancashire.
Barrow, Fell Foot. Ford and Grizedale Forest were in historic Lancashire and are now in Cumbria.
Rothay Park was in historic Westmorland and is now in Cumbria.
All other Cumbria parkrun events were in the historic county of Cumberland.
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 Cumbria parkrun events …
Below are each of the Cumbria 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.
Barrow
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 24th September 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Bower Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: September 4th 2021
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Carlisle
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 19th January 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Cockermouth Greenway
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 9th November 2024
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Fell Foot
I completed this event on: June 9th 2018 with a finish time of: 25:17
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Other routes touched (walk): Fell Foot Circular Heritage Trail
Inaugural: 18th October 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Ford
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 11th August 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Grizedale Forest
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 17th October 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Keswick
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 5th April 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Maryport Prom
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 29th October 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Millom
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 17th December 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Muncaster Castle
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 16th September 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Penrith
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 8th February 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Rothay Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Westmorland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 25th January 2020
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Silloth Promenade
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: [Date unconfirmed: please insert]
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Talkin Tarn Country Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: [Date unconfirmed: please insert]
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Whinlatter Forest
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 13th January 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Whitehaven
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 30th June 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Workington
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cumberland
Ceremonial County: Cumbria
Inaugural: 22nd June 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
More parkrun posts
parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.
Featured and popular parkrun posts:
Completing all Cheshire parkruns
There are currently 13 parkrun events in the present-day county of Cheshire, of which I have completed 1. The first was Congleton parkrun which started on 15th December 2012 and the newest is Alderley Park parkrun which started on 14th March 2020. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “The Cheshire Set”.
The present-day / ceremonial county of Cheshire is smaller than the historic county of the same name. Several Cheshire parkrun events fall into different historic and ceremonial counties:
Birkenhead and Brimstage were in historic Cheshire and is now in Merseyside.
Widnes was in historic Lancashire and is now in Cheshire.
Bramhall Park, Cheadle Hulme, Hyde, Marple, Sale Water, Woodbank and Wythenshawe were in historic Cheshire and are now in Greater Manchester.
Fletcher Moss was in historic Lancashire and is now in Greater Manchester but a small part of the course crosses into present-day Cheshire.
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 Cheshire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Cheshire 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.
Alderley Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 14th March 2020
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Chester
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 9th July 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Congleton
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 15th December 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Crewe
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 17th February 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Delamere
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 2nd March 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Ellesmere Port
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 18th October 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Lyme Park
I completed this event on: September 23rd 2017 with a finish time of: 29:39
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Other routes touched (walk): North Cheshire Way, GM Ringway, Gritstone Trail, Lyme Walks: A Walk to the Cage / A Walk to the Lantern / Paddock Cottage Walk
Inaugural: 22nd February 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Macclesfield
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 28th April 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Northwich
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: 17th March 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Phoenix
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 24th February 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Warrington
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire / Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 25th January 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Widnes
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Lancashire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 31st January 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Wilmslow
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Cheshire
Ceremonial County: Cheshire
Inaugural: 11th April 2015
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:
Cycling The NCN 51 from Milton Keynes to Oxford
Near Kidlington
Start: Milton Keynes Central Railway Station, Phoenix House, Milton Keynes, MK9 1AW
Finish: Oxford Station, Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HS
Distance: 73 km (45 miles)
Elevation change: +338 / -367m (-29m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Milton Keynes Boundary Walk, Cross Bucks Way, Midshires Way, Brentwood Jubilee Way, Langford Heath Route, Oxfordshire Way, Oxford Green Belt Way, Kidlington Circular Walk, Oxford Canal Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 5, 50, 51, Milton Keynes Redways: V2, H8, National Byway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several. We stopped a Legends in Winslow (17 km in), Twyford Village Stores and Coffee Shop (31 km in) and The Bell, Hampton Poyle (58 km in)
Millennium Mileposts: 574, 575, 271, 533, 534, 536, 576, 272, 273, 535
Maps:
- Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
- Banbury, Bicester & Chipping Norton Map | Brackley | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 191
- Oxford Map | Witney & Woodstock | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 180
Links: Milton Keynes, Winslow, Middle Claydon, Steeple Claydon, Twyford, Bicester, Bletchingdon, Kidlington, Oxford
This ride was the next in our series of cycling the National Cycle Network routes in the south-east of England. We have been tackling these as short, one-day sections. It was also a brilliant chance to bag a number of Millennium Mileposts, as this section of the NCN 51 started out with a remarkably rich seam of them.
Ideally, we would have used the train to get between Oxford and Milton Keynes to start the ride. Sadly, the East West Railway line, affectionately known as the old Varsity Line, is still not open for passenger services.
That would have been perfect because we could have parked at Oxford, caught the train to Milton Keynes, and then simply cycled back. As it happened, we had to rely on a two-car shuffle. This meant meeting at Oxford, parking one car there, loading the bikes into the other car, driving to Milton Keynes, parking there, and then cycling back to Oxford. After the ride, we had to do the reverse to pick up the car in Milton Keynes. It added an extra couple of hours to the trip, but it was absolutely worth it. We were eager to get this route done, and we genuinely didn't know how long it would be until the new railway line finally opens to passengers.
Since we spent so much time criss-crossing and riding near the railway line, I thought I would look up the history of it.
The original Varsity Line passenger service was withdrawn on the January 1st 1968. At the time, receipts were only half the operational costs, making it uneconomical to run. While many associate the railway closures of that era with the Beeching cuts, the decision to withdraw services along this specific line was actually taken by Tom Fraser, the Minister of Transport. Over time, it became a disused railway, and the national cycle route now runs close to it and crosses it quite a few times.
Nowadays, there is a major project underway to reopen the line as the East West Rail, which will eventually link Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford, and Cambridge. The line is being built on the old Varsity Line corridor. The section between Oxford and Milton Keynes has been rebuilt with new track, bridges, and signalling, and was officially handed over to Network Rail in December 2024.
However, if you are wondering why we couldn't just hop on a train, there is conflicting information online about the actual opening date. Some sources state that the Oxford to Milton Keynes section was originally set to open in 2025, while others now indicate that services might not start until December 2026. A significant reason for the delay is a dispute with rail unions over a proposal for driver-only operation. There have also been delays attributed to the need to complete train preparation, staff training, and final works at the new Winslow station.
So, for now, the two-car shuffle was our best option!
We set off from Milton Keynes, immediately hitting that rich seam of Millennium Mileposts I mentioned earlier. We were ticking them off rapidly as we navigated the lakes and green spaces of MK, passing the Teardrop Lakes and Furzton Lake.
As we pedalled further into the Buckinghamshire countryside, the route guided us towards the market town of Winslow. By this point, we were well due for a break and decided to stop at a cafe called Legends. To be perfectly honest, we chose it mostly because it was the only place open at the time, but it turned out to be a fantastic find. It has a lovely garden at the back which was easily accessible for our bikes, the staff were incredibly friendly, and they served up some great coffee and cake to keep our energy levels up.
Back on the route, we passed through picturesque villages like Middle Claydon, continuing our successful milepost hunt. However, just after passing through Steeple Claydon, we got into HS2 construction territory. We quickly found that a short section of the cycle route was closed, forcing us to take a diversion. We ended up doing a roughly 5 km loop that effectively added about 4 km to our total mileage for the day.
It is worth noting for any cyclists planning to do this route: until the HS2 construction works are fully complete, there is likely to be some disruption along the way. I'd highly recommend either planning for it in advance or just assuming you will need to navigate around a diversion or two on the fly.
After making our way around the construction works, our next crucial target was the Twyford Cafe, located at a nearby campsite. We arrived by the skin of our teeth: just five minutes before they were due to close at 1 o'clock on a Sunday. Despite our late arrival, the staff were wonderfully accommodating and friendly. They kindly warmed up some pasties for us, which we took outside to eat after they had officially locked up the shop.
Setting off from Twyford with full stomachs, we noticed something a bit strange: after a fantastic run of Millennium Mileposts between Milton Keynes and Twyford, they completely dried up. We didn't spot a single one for the rest of the trip all the way into Oxford. I am not entirely sure why that is, but it seemed like a strange anomaly given how packed the first half of the route was with them.
As we finally approached the outskirts of Oxford, I was in the zone and ready to just power on to the very end of the route to finish it off. However, Brian had a much more sensible idea: it was a beautiful afternoon, so why not stop, enjoy the city, and get some proper food before we headed back?
We decided to try and find the Handlebar cycle cafe, a choice driven almost entirely by our amusement at its funny name. Unfortunately, when we got there, we discovered it was closed. Undeterred by this minor setback, we found a local pub instead, where a classic plate of fish and chips did the job perfectly before we began the logistical shuffle of getting ourselves and the bikes home.
The Millennium Mileposts
Dotting the UK's National Cycle Network are over 1,000 unique markers known as the Millennium Mileposts. Unveiled in 2000, these cast-iron sculptures are more than just waymarkers. Designed by four artists, one from each nation of the UK, they celebrate the diversity of the cycling routes. These artistic mileposts come in various shapes and can be found in both bustling towns and scenic landscapes, adding a touch of artistic charm to a cycling adventure.
Here are the 10 Millennium Mileposts that we spotted along the route.
West Midlands Region 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 the West Midlands.
The West Midlands is a diverse and geographically contrasting region of the UK, situated in the western half of central England, acting as a vital transport hub and sharing a long, scenic border with Wales. The region is composed of six ceremonial counties: Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the West Midlands (a heavily urbanised ceremonial county sharing the region's name, formed from land previously belonging to the three historic counties of Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire).
Geographically, the West Midlands is characterised by its striking transition from industrial heartlands to rolling rural topography, most notably across the Shropshire Hills: a sweeping Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty spanning the Welsh Marches. It contains the dramatic, ancient ridge of the Malvern Hills (predominantly in Worcestershire and Herefordshire) and the sprawling, historic lowland heath of Cannock Chase. Landscapes across the region are varied, ranging from the rugged gritstone edges of the Staffordshire Moorlands to the extensive industrial canal networks of the Black Country and the lush, meandering valley of the River Severn.
parkrun event numbers per county
There are currently 51 parkrun events in the counties of the West Midlands region.
Notes and exceptions.
The West Midlands ceremonial county contains 16 parkrun events that were formerly in 3 historic counties: 7 Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.
The West 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 Worcestershire parkruns
There are currently 5 parkrun events in the present-day county of Worcestershire, of which I have completed 3. The first was Worcester which started on 18th June 2011 and the newest is Worcester Pitchcroft which started on 5th May 2018. I’m not aware of a County Completion Name for Worcestershire but let me know in the comments if you have one.
4 parkrun events that were formerly in the historic county of Worcestershire are now in the ceremonial county of West Midlands. These are: Cannon Hill, Cofton Park, Oaklands and Woodgate Valley Country Park.
3 parkrun events in Worcestershire have now been permanently cancelled. These are: Churchfields Farm, Hanbury Hall and Wythall.
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 Worcestershire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Worcestershire 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.
Arrow Valley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Inaugural: 14th July 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Churchfields Farm
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled. I did not complete this event before it was closed.
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Inaugural: December 29th 2018. Final event: #41 on October 19th 2019
Reason for cancellation: Churchfields farm business model changed after Covid with an increase in weddings and other events which bought them more money than parkrun. The increase in numbers that this bought meant they could no longer accommodate parkrun. In addition in winter prior to the pandemic the underfoot conditions with it being on a working farm meant it had not run for much of it either
Links: Event Home Page
Evesham
I completed this event on: June 11th 2022 with a finish time of: 26:15
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Avon Way
Inaugural: 21st March 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Hanbury Hall
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled. I did not complete this event before it was closed.
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Inaugural: July 2nd 2016. Final event: #26 on December 31st 2016
Reason for cancellation: Its paths and terrain weren't suitable for the large numbers of runners, with concerns about safety on muddy, uneven ground, especially as it wasn't a public park.
Links: Event Home Page
Worcester
I completed this event on: April 19th 2014 with a finish time of: 23:12
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Other routes touched (walk): Wild About Worcester Way
Inaugural: 18th June 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Worcester Pitchcroft
I completed this event on: July 27th 2024 with a finish time of: 27:36
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Other routes touched (walk): Wild About Worcester Way
Other routes touched (walk): NCN 46
Inaugural: 5th May 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Wythall
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled. I did not complete this event before it was closed.
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Inaugural: September 16th 2017. Final event: #1 on September 16th 2017
Reason for cancellation: “Wythall Park Community Association have voted against allowing parkrun to continue at their venue, as it "would suffer disproportionate damage".”
Links: Event Home Page
Wyre Forest
I completed this event on: November 28th 2015 with a finish time of: 26:13
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: Worcestershire
Inaugural: 29th August 2015
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 West Midlands parkruns
There are currently 17 parkrun events in the present-day county of West Midlands, of which I have completed 1. The first was Coventry which started on 6th February 2010 and the newest is Cofton Park which started on 8th August 2026. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “West Didlands”.
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 West Midlands parkrun events …
Below are each of the West Midlands 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.
Aston Hall
This parkrun event has been permanently cancelled. I did not complete this event before it was closed.
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: October 14th 2023. Final event: #34 on August 24th 2024
Reason for cancellation: Due a lack of core team. The local football club foundation had invested heavily into the event and made commitments in the process which were then never fully fulfilled. Unfortunately, there is no nearby running club and the local community also didn’t embrace the arrival of parkrun. This meant despite lots of effort by the ambassadors and local other parkruns no core team was ever built and most runners each week were tourists being no regular volunteer base could be established.
Links: Event Home Page
Babbs Mill
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 3rd August 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Brueton
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 24th July 2010
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Brunswick Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 1st January 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Cannon Hill
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 28th August 2010
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Cofton Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 8th August 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Coventry
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 6th February 2010
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Dudley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 4th November 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
East Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: 9th November 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Edgbaston Reservoir
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 14th August 2021
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Holbrooks
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 5th August 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Oaklands
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 9th November 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Perry Hall
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 22nd November 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Sandwell Valley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 23rd December 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Sutton Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Warwickshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 18th August 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Walsall Arboretum
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 10th March 2012
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Wolverhampton
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 9th February 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Woodgate Valley Country Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Worcestershire
Ceremonial County: West Midlands
Inaugural: 7th August 2021
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 Staffordshire parkruns
There are currently 13 parkrun events in the present-day county of Staffordshire, of which I have not yet completed any. The first was Hanley parkrun which started on 24th September 2011 and the newest is Vale Park, Burslem parkrun which started on 11th July 2026. The name for having completed all parkrun events in the county is “Fully Staffed”.
7 parkrun events that were formerly in the historic county of Staffordshire are now in the ceremonial county of West Midlands. These are: Brunswick Park, Dudley, East Park, Perry Hall, Sandwell Valley, Walsall Arboretum and Wolverhampton.
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 Staffordshire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Staffordshire 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.
Battlestead Croft
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 9th December 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Beacon
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 18th January 2020
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Birchall Playing Fields
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 14th December 2024
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Bramshall Road
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 28th May 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Cannock Chase
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 19th November 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Chasewater
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 15th June 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Hanley
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 24th September 2011
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Isabel Trail
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 8th December 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Perton Playing Fields
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 29th November 2025
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Tamworth Castle Grounds
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
While the town of Tamworth is historically divided between Staffordshire and Warwickshire, the Castle Grounds themselves traditionally fall within the historic county borders of Warwickshire but the parkrun course is within the ceremonial county of Tamworth.
Inaugural: 14th October 2023
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
The Wammy
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 24th March 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Trentham Gardens
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 5th February 2022
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Vale Park, Burslem
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Staffordshire
Ceremonial County: Staffordshire
Inaugural: 11th July 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:
Completing all Shropshire parkruns
There are currently 6 parkrun events in the present-day county of Shropshire, of which I have completed 1. The first was Telford which started on 16th February 2013 and the newest is Haughmond Hill which started on 6th September 2025. I’m not aware of a County Completion Name for Shropshire but let me know in the comments if you have one.
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 Shropshire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Shropshire 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.
Alderford Lake
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
Inaugural: 31st August 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Haughmond Hill
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
Inaugural: 6th September 2025
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Henley Wood, Oswestry
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
This event is also part of parkrun Compass Club
Inaugural: 20th October 2018
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Severn Valley Country
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
Inaugural: 20th July 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Shrewsbury
I completed this event on: January 2nd 2016 with a finish time of: 24:53
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
Other routes touched (walk): Severn Way Source to Shrewsbury
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 81
Inaugural: 28th September 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Telford
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Shropshire
Ceremonial County: Shropshire
Inaugural: 16th February 2013
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
More parkrun posts
parkruns are free, weekly, community 5k events all around the world. I started in December 2012 and have been obsessive about it ever since. See my parkrun Collection page for details.
Featured and popular parkrun posts:
Completing all Herefordshire parkruns
There are currently 4 parkrun events in the present-day county of Herefordshire, of which I have completed 1. The first was Hereford which started on 11th October 2014 and the newest is Queenswood Country Park which started on 29th November 2025. I’m not aware of a County Completion Name for Herefordshire but let me know in the comments if you have one.
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 Herefordshire parkrun events …
Below are each of the Herefordshire 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.
Hereford
I completed this event on: 11th July 2015 with a finish time of: 26:06
Historic County: Herefordshire
Ceremonial County: Herefordshire
Inaugural: 11th October 2014
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
My GPX file didn’t save that day so I don’t have a course map or elevation chart. Let me know if you have one.
Mortimer Forest
I have not yet completed this event
Original name: Ludlow. The venue was never actually in or near the town of Ludlow (it is roughly three miles away). Organisers felt the new name better reflected the trails and scenery where the event is held.
Historic County: Herefordshire.
Ceremonial County: Herefordshire.
Ludlow town is in Shropshire but the parkrun is across the border in Herefordshire.
Inaugural: 13th February 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Queenswood Country Park
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Herefordshire
Ceremonial County: Herefordshire
Inaugural: 29th November 2025
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Ross-on-Wye
I have not yet completed this event
Historic County: Herefordshire
Ceremonial County: Herefordshire
Inaugural: 3rd August 2019
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:
Running The Circle Line
The idea of navigating above-ground trips along the London Underground lines is not exactly new. Mark Mason's brilliant 2011 book, Walk the Lines, is perhaps the best example, and many other running geeks have also attempted them. Needing to escape the house and clear my head on a cold mid-December morning in 2016, I set off to conquer the Circle Line.
The Circle Line is a great starting point for above-ground Tube adventures. All the other lines have distant start and end points that stretch deep into the suburbs and require quite a bit more logistical planning. At just over a half marathon, tracing the Circle is an easy, self-contained half day adventure.
My start point was Marylebone Station. Although it is not actually on the Circle Line itself, it sits perfectly on the walking route between Edgware Road and Baker Street, which were my true start and end points. I set off clockwise with the strict aim of marking each station with a selfie. A quirky bit of history: when the classic loop first opened in 1884, it was operated by two fiercely rival companies, the Metropolitan and the District railways, who ran their steam trains in opposite directions!
The official distance of the tracks underground for the classic loop is 15 miles: worth noting for the transport geeks that I stuck to the historic loop rather than the modern "teacup" extension out to Hammersmith. However, the trains have the distinct advantage of cutting straight under buildings. Negotiating the streets, traffic lights, and pavements above ground adds at least another mile to the journey. Missing Temple station and having to run all the way back to it from Embankment added yet another mile on top of that. Don't do that.
Once I arrived back at Marylebone, I had covered just over 16 miles. At around three hours, it was certainly no Personal Best, but speed is not really something to be aimed for while dodging pedestrians on a working day in central London. It was a fun trip, though, and a highly satisfying way to link up some very familiar places across the capital.
10 years later …
Although back in 2016 I thought I had completed running the Circle Line, it was always in the back of my head that I hadn't really run the whole thing. I had missed the Hammersmith spur: the section that starts from Hammersmith and runs on elevated sections all the way through to Edgware Road and Paddington.
Back then, I kind of wrote that bit off because it's not really a circle: it's the added bit on the western side. But it was bugging me. So, on a very nice and warm Sunday morning, I decided to finally tie up that loose end. I caught the Tube over to Hammersmith station to start the run.
Leaving Hammersmith, I tried to stick as close as possible to the route of the above-ground track, which is shared by the District and Hammersmith & City lines. I did a mix of running and walking, and there were some incredibly pleasant parts, particularly around the Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove areas.
If you are planning to attempt this western spur at a weekend, there are a few navigational tips to keep in mind:
Goldhawk Road to Shepherd's Bush: Just after Goldhawk Road, you might be tempted to go down Shepherd's Bush Market street. However, it is gated off at the weekends. Instead, you need to take Pennard Road: this runs parallel and is just a couple of hundred metres away from the main route.
Wood Lane and Westfield: After Wood Lane, you will find the Westfield Shopping Centre standing between you and Latimer Road. If you are there when it is open, you can actually cut right through the shopping centre to get onto Ariel Way and then cross over the West Cross Route, which is a very busy dual carriageway. Because I was there so early on a Sunday morning, the centre was closed, so I had to walk around it.
Once you are over the busy dual carriageway that leads out to the Westway, you are rewarded with some very pleasant running. The streets run near the railway at the north of Notting Hill and the south of North Kensington.
At Royal Oak, you cross over the railway and then head across the Westbourne Green open space. This brings you to the Grand Union Canal at Browning's Pool, where the water splits for the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal and forks off to the Regent's Canal.
If you carry on along the Paddington Arm canal towards Paddington Basin, you will eventually end up right at the entrance to Paddington station, perfectly positioned by the Circle and Hammersmith & City line station. It was a brilliant way to conclude this part of the journey and finally put that unfinished business to rest.
The Main Loop
Start & Finish: Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place, Marylebone, London, NW1 6JJ
Distance: 24.7 km (15.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 190m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (Walk): Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway, River Fleet Walk, River Westbourne Walk, Jubilee Greenway
Other routes touched (Cycle): CS3, CS6
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
- OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
The Hammersmith Spur
Start & Finish: Hammersmith Station, Underground Ltd, Beadon Rd, London W6 7AA
Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +48m / - 30m. Net +18m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (Walk): Jubilee Greenway, Grand Union Canal / Regents Canal Towpath
Other routes touched (Cycle): C27, C44
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
The Complete Circle Line Running Route
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.
UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies parkruns
The United Kingdom stretches far beyond the British Isles, encompassing a diverse array of lands with unique political statuses: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. While both are inextricably linked to the UK, they differ significantly in their governance. The 14 British Overseas Territories, such as Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands, are territories under the sovereignty of the UK but do not form part of the UK itself; they often rely on the UK for defense and foreign affairs but manage their own internal matters. Conversely, the three Crown Dependencies, the Isle of Man, the Bailiwick of Jersey, and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, are self-governing possessions of the British Crown, distinct from the UK and the British Overseas Territories, with their own legislative assemblies and legal systems. Both, however, share a surprising and delightful export: parkrun. In this post, we'll journey beyond the mainland to explore the unique, beautiful, and sometimes challenging parkruns hosted in these fascinating far-flung corners of the British Crown.
There are currently 3 parkrun events in Crown Dependencies: Nobles on the Isle of Man, and one each on Guernsey and Jersey.
There are currently 3 publicly accessible parkrun events in the British Overseas Territories: Cape Pembroke Lighthouse, Falkland islands; Gibraltar Botanical Gardens and Plantation Forest, St Helena.
A fourth British Overseas Territory event, Festival Green parkrun will start in the Cayman Islands in August 2026.
There are also 4 parkrun events on secure facilities which I have not listed in the blog post below. These are Mount Pleasant parkrun on the Falkland Islands and 3 secure events on the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus.
Note that parkrun’s definition of regions can differ from the official government definitions. parkrun has a Falkland Islands region which is separate to their British Overseas Territories Region. Guernsey and Jersey are part of parkrun’s Channel Islands region which is separate to the Crown Dependencies region which includes Nobles. Nobles was originally part of the North West England parkrun region when it started.
All of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies parkrun events …
Below are each of the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies 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. 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.
Cape Pembroke Lighthouse
I have not yet completed this event
Territory: Falkland Islands
Government Categorisation: British Overseas Territory
parkrun Region: Falkland islands
Inaugural: October 26th 2019
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Located at the easternmost point of the Falkland Islands, this historic lighthouse was built in 1855 and later automated. It offers sweeping views of the rugged South Atlantic coastline, providing a dramatic, windswept backdrop that is frequently visited by local marine life and seabirds.
Festival Green
This event is scheduled to start in August 2026
Territory: Cayman Islands
Government Categorisation: British Overseas Territory
parkrun Region: British Overseas Territories
Gibraltar Botanical Gardens
I have not yet completed this event
Territory: Gibraltar
Government Categorisation: British Overseas Territory
parkrun Region: British Overseas Territories
Inaugural: February 14th 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Also known as The Alameda, these lush gardens were opened in 1816. They combine vibrant Mediterranean and tropical flora with historic colonial architecture. Serving as a vital green lung for the territory, the gardens provide a striking and nature-filled environment for runners.
Guernsey
I completed this event on: June 16th 2018 with a finish time of: 25:58
Territory: Bailiwick of Guernsey
Government Categorisation: Crown Dependency
parkrun Region: Channel Islands
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: April 9th 2016
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Taking place at Pembroke Bay on the northern tip of the island, this gently undulating coastal route crosses L'Ancresse Common. The scenic grassy tracks offer runners spectacular sea views and pass by striking historical landmarks, including fascinating remnants of World War II German bunkers and traditional loophole towers built to defend the coastline.
Jersey
I completed this event on: June 10th 2017 with a finish time of: 27:53
Territory: Bailiwick of Jersey
Government Categorisation: Crown Dependency
parkrun Region: Channel Islands
Other routes touched (walk): Corbiere Railway Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Jersey Cycle Route 1
Inaugural: September 26th 2015
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Held at Les Quennevais Sports Centre in St Brelade, this route runs along the scenic Railway Walk, a popular tree-lined path following the route of the old Jersey Railway.
Nobles
I completed this event on: May 3rd 2025 with a finish time of: 27:08
Territory: Isle of Man
Government Categorisation: Crown Dependency
parkrun Region: Crown Dependencies
Other routes touched: N/A
Inaugural: October 21st 2017
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Situated in Douglas, Nobles Park is deeply tied to the island's rich sporting history, most famously near the grandstand area for the TT Races. Its carefully manicured lawns and mature trees offer an expansive, traditional parkland setting for the local parkrun.
Plantation Forest
I have not yet completed this event
Territory: Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Government Categorisation: British Overseas Territory
parkrun Region: British Overseas Territories
Inaugural: July 11th 2026
Links: Event Home Page, Course Page
Nestled in the remote South Atlantic, St Helena's Plantation Forest is renowned for its unique biodiversity and historical significance. It is located near Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor and home to Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise who is the world's oldest known living land animal.
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:
Ales & Trails Renegade 10k
When: July 12th 2026
Where: Renegade Brewery, The Old Dairy, Frilsham Farm, Yattendon, Thatcham, RG18 0XT
Organiser: Racing Line Running
Distance: 10 km
Elevation: +/- 172m
Course: Undulating trail route stasrting at Frilsham Farm with a 6.6 km loop around Greathouse Wood. A short section on country roads and a 1.7km spur at the start and end
Other routes touched (walk): The Roman Way
Finish time: 1 hour, 7 minutes, 12 seconds (Hot !)
Walking The Midshires Way Part 14: Bradwell Abbey and Linford Wood
Along the disused railway by Bradwell windmill
Start & Finish: Lodge Lake Car Park, Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Great Holm, Milton Keynes, MK8 9LG
Distance: 11.6 km (7.2miles)
Elevation change: +/- 84m
Terrain: Predominantly flat, well-paved redways and shaded woodland paths suitable for most weather conditions.
Midshires Way section covered: Lodge Lake to Great Linford: 6.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, Hanslope Circular Ride, Railway Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, Milton Keynes Redways: H4, V6, V8, Millennium Circular Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Costa Coffee (8.3 km in)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
Links: Milton Keynes, Bradwell Abbey, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes redway system, Concrete Cows, Bancroft Roman Villa, Bradwell Windmill, Wolverton to Newport Pagnell Line, Grand Union Canal
Welcome to Part 14 of our series of short circular walks along the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way. For a complete overview of the 225-mile trail's history, its connection to the Swan's Way, and preparation tips, please read my complete Midshires Way Through Buckinghamshire Guide.
Walking Directions
This relatively flat and accessible route takes you from the historic medieval grounds of Bradwell Abbey, winding through the city's unique redway network, and into the ancient greenery of Linford Wood. It is a fantastic mix of history and modern urban planning: offering plenty of shade and solid footing for year-round walking.
As you make your way northwards, you will cross under and over some of the major grid roads, highlighting how seamlessly nature is integrated into the city's design. The woods themselves are a haven for local wildlife, and if you are a fan of parkrun, you might recognise some of the paths as you loop through the trees before heading back towards your starting point.
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 at the Lodge Lake car park: there is free parking here for approximately 20 cars. From the car park, head left to walk anti-clockwise around the beautiful lake in a north-westerly direction, picking up the Midshires Way.
Just before you reach Loughton Brook, take a right off the main lake path and head through the underpass beneath the Dansteed Way dual carriageway.
As you emerge from the underpass, cross the lovely small wooden footbridge over Loughton Brook and immediately turn right. This keeps you on the Midshires Way as it winds through Loughton Valley Linear Park.
Keep heading north with the brook on your right, passing under the A5 via another underpass, and continue on your north-westerly path.
At the 1.2-kilometre mark, you will hit a T-junction where you need to take a left. The official Midshires Way skirts around the boundary of Bradwell Abbey here, but I highly recommend taking a little shortcut through the abbey's nature trail. It is a fantastic spot to see the remains of the old abbey buildings and read the notice boards to soak up some local history.
Once you are on the northern side of the abbey, rejoin the Midshires Way heading north-east and cross under the main railway line.
When you meet Loughton Brook again, the path curves to the north. Keep following the Midshires Way north straight through the park until you reach the underpass for Miller's Way.
Head under Miller's Way and stick to the Midshires Way, which now puts you on the eastern side of the brook.
Just before the 4-kilometre mark, you will pass under the bridge of the old railway line that ran parallel to the Grand Union Canal. Walk under the bridge, take the ramp up onto it, and follow this old railway walk (which also doubles as a cycle route) in a north-westerly direction.
Keep an eye out on your right for the Bradwell Windmill: it is a brilliant spot to pause for some photos.
Stay on the Midshires Way along the disused railway line until just after the 6-kilometre mark. You will reach the Grand Union Canal and an old disused railway bridge. Do not cross this bridge! This is the point where we leave the Midshires Way to loop back towards the start.
Come off the bridge on the eastern side into an area known as the Quarry within Great Linford Manor Park.
Follow the path as it snakes down into St Leger Drive. Walk along the drive for about 100 metres, and just after Butler's Grove, take a right onto a footpath.
This path takes you through some quiet residential areas of Stantonbury and over a bridge crossing Marlborough Street.
You will soon meet another little stream: follow it down until you reach the underpass beneath Muck's Way.
Head through the underpass, and you will find a service area on the southern side with a McDonald's and a Costa Coffee. It is the perfect excuse for a quick tea break before tackling the small hill coming up!
Suitably refreshed, follow the path heading south up through the peaceful Linford Wood.
Emerge from the wood at Saxton Street. Cross over Saxton Street and Stanton Wood, then head under Dansteed Way to its southern side.
From here, it is a straightforward walk back: follow the path running parallel to the south side of Dansteed Way in a south-easterly direction.
Pass under Grafton Street via the underpass, keep on that south side of Dansteed Way, and it will lead you all the way back to your car at Lodge Lake.
Points of Interest along or near to the Route
Bradwell Abbey A scheduled ancient monument that was once a thriving medieval Benedictine priory. Today, only the small but historically significant Chapel of St Mary remains largely intact: featuring fascinating 14th-century wall paintings that are beautifully preserved.
Linford Wood An ancient woodland dating back at least 700 years, providing a vital green space within the Milton Keynes grid. It offers a dense canopy of oak and ash trees and features several public art installations scattered along its tranquil footpaths.
Milton Keynes Redways The extensive network of shared-use paths that crisscross the city. They provide safe, traffic-free routes for walkers and cyclists: uniquely integrating nature corridors and underpasses into the modern urban landscape.
Concrete Cows Created in 1978 by artist Liz Leyh and local schoolchildren, with subsequent repair work by Bill Billings, these iconic sculptures have become synonymous with Milton Keynes. While the original cows now reside at the Milton Keynes Museum, exact replicas stand at the original Bancroft site just off the redway network.
Bancroft Roman Villa This archaeological site preserves the foundations of an extensive Roman farming settlement and villa complex dating back to the late 1st century. Visitors can explore the outlined footprints of the ancient buildings and view interpretation boards detailing the history of the site: an excellent historical detour from the main path.
Bradwell Windmill Erected around 1814, this historic stone tower mill is a striking local landmark that was fully restored to working order in the late 20th century. It sits close to the canal and occasionally opens to the public during summer weekends: offering a fascinating glimpse into the area's agricultural past.
The Disused Railway Running adjacent to the canal in places, remnants of the old Wolverton to Newport Pagnell branch line can still be traced through the landscape. Much of this former railway trackbed has been cleverly repurposed by city planners: now serving as a wide, flat section of the modern redway system.
Grand Union Canal Serving as a major artery of the British waterway network, this historic canal provides a scenic, tranquil corridor through the heart of Milton Keynes. The towpaths offer a pleasant waterside alternative to the paved redways: complete with colourful narrowboats and abundant aquatic wildlife.
Midshires Way previous section (south): Oakhill and Loughton
Midshires Way next section (north): Stantonbury Lake and Little Linford
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.
parkrun event numbers per county
There are currently 66 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: