Woolacombe parkrun ranked as one of the best in Britain

From the glass biomes of the Eden Project in Cornwall to the remote lanes of Bressay in the Shetland Islands, the best parkruns in the United Kingdom have been named by a new book.

And North Devon has a top-five inclusion.

Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire, a World Heritage Site, comes first on the Top 10 drawn up by author Lucy Waterlow for The Ultimate Guide to parkrun.

The hugely popular parkrun at Bushy Park in west London is second, followed by Severn parkrun in Monmouthshire, south Wales, which has sweeping views over the Severn estuary. The Eden project is the fourth.

Fifth is the challenging up-and-down (and beautiful) jog over the sand dunes at Woolacombe Bay in Devon.

The Full List
1 Fountains Abbey parkrun, North Yorkshire
2 Bushy parkrun, West London
3 Severn Bridge parkrun, Monmouthshire, Wales
4 Eden Project parkrun, Cornwall
5 Woolacombe Dunes parkrun, Devon
6 Portrush parkrun, Northern Ireland
7 Somerdale Pavilion parkrun, Somerset
8 Bressay parkrun, Shetland Islands
9 Holyrood parkrun, Edinburgh
10Sheringham parkrun, Norfolk

parkrun (always with a lowercase p) is a weekly free 5km run in parkland or other open space on a Saturday morning.

Since its launch in Bushy Park, London (second on the top 10 list), in October 2004, parkrun has become a global phenomenon. It is now in 2,000 locations across 22 countries of the world.

The perfect seasonal gift for parkrun fans and wannabe parkrunners, The Ultimate Guide to parkrun: Everything You Need to Know About the Friendliest 5k in the World delves into the event’s heart-warming world as well as some of the top runs in the UK and around the world.

Lucy Waterlow said: “There are so many scenic parkruns around the UK, it was difficult to narrow it down to a top 10. The ones I have chosen are all in beautiful and/or unique locations where you can take in some amazing sights whilst parkrunning.

“Many are in locations already popular with holidaymakers so you could tie in some 'parkrun tourism' with a trip away. And don't forget you don't need to be able to run to experience these parkruns. You can also walk the whole route if you want, or attend as a volunteer.”

Here is the book view on the Woolacombe Dunes parkrun: ‘Another parkrun that regularly attracts holidaymakers in the area, with an average turnout of 144. It is one of the slowest parkruns in the UK, with an average finishing time of 33:33, because it is partly run on a sandy beach and over some tricky sand dunes.

‘Many make the visit to take on the ‘Dune of Doom’ on the course, while the coastal weather can be an extra challenge if it is wet and windy. On a calm and sunny day though, it is idyllic. So while it is not one to visit for a PB, you can test your stamina while taking in the surrounding scenery and wildlife of this event held on National Trust land within an Area of Outstanding Beauty.’