It was a lovely morning for a long drive through the beautiful scenery of the North East, which was lucky as it is a long drive to Hamsterley Forest! This was the venue for our latest parkrun tourism adventure, and 12 of us plus friends got up early to make the trip to this picturesque corner of County Durham. For most of us this was our first time at this fairly remote venue (it is the only parkrun that I have been to where the “How to get there by public transport” says “N/A”), and it didn’t disappoint.
The sun was just burning off what was left of the early morning mist as we listened to the first timers briefing which warned of hills and muddy terrain. After a brief start on the flat, you hit the first hill, which is the steepest and longest (to quote Shilpa Iyanna “It wasn’t a hill, it was a mountain!”) and provides an early test for the legs. After that there is more up and down, but nothing too drastic. Nor was it very muddy, though I imagine it could be after sustained rainfall. At least the last kilometre is mainly downhill or flat, so time can be recouped and you can actually start to appreciate the wonderful setting. There was also sky blue success – a win for Harry Mawdsley, and 2nd female for Julie Cross. The Forest cafe is also excellent and we were able to sit outside and enjoy coffee, sandwiches and/or cakes in the sun.
In a week when PBs were thin on the ground, Mark Anderson claimed one while finishing 2nd at Rising Sun, and there was a Newbiggin-by-the-Sea PB for Chris Jones. Also finishing 2nd was Izzy Neatrour – 2nd female at Jesmond Dene.
A couple of Claremonters were down in Cambridge ahead of the half-marathon there the following day – Lynne Cornell and Aoife Campbell. For Aoife, this is home soil, and she had a trot around Storey’s Field. Lynne was there with her friend and paint-throwing partner-in-crime, Susan, and they both took in Coldham’s Common parkrun. From the photos, it looks like they have managed to get all the green paint out – which is more than can be said for the paths on the Town Moor!
The Smiths were also away, but on familiar ground, in Devizes and Lucy Keating made a return trip to the Thames Path some 18 months after her first visit. However, the Tourist of the Week award goes to Claire Taylor who took in Poolbeg parkrun while on a trip to Dublin.
