The county of Hertfordshire.
The pins on the map mark the locations of parkruns within the county. The green pins show the venues I have officially visited while the red pins are venues that I still need to visit. The list below covers 5k events only, not junior parkruns.
Aldenham - Aldenham Country Park, Elstree, Hertfordshire (London+)
Course: Two laps (not identical) around Aldenham Reservoir
Underfoot: Dirt paths, tarmac, compacted stone
Profile: Flat
Notes:
Further reading: My 2024 Aldenham parkrun write-up. There is also my original Aldenham parkrun blog post
Barclay - Barclay Park, Hoddlesdon, Hertfordshire
Course: Three laps
Underfoot: Tarmac, Grass (and mud)
Profile: Undulating
Notes: Really enjoyable three-lapper
Further reading: My Barclay parkrun blog post
Cassiobury - Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire (London+)
Course: Two and a half laps
Underfoot: Tarmac
Profile: Flat
Notes: Flat, fast and a pleasant course (has a couple of tight turns)
Further reading: My Cassiobury parkrun blog post
Castle Park - Castle Park, Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
Course: Two laps plus a little tail
Underfoot: Grass and tarmac (muddy in winter)
Profile: Flat
Notes: Hatfield Forest parkrun (Essex) has relocated here
Further reading: My Castle Park parkrun blog post
Ellenbrook Fields - Ellenbrook Fields, Hatfield, Hertfordshire (CLOSED)
Course: Small loop followed by a large loop
Underfoot: Grass / tarmac / dirt(mud)
Profile: Flat
Notes: Takes place on the former site of Hatfield Aerodrome - lots of interesting history.
Further reading: My Ellenbrook Fields parkrun blog post
Gadebridge - Gadebridge Park, Leighton Buzzard Road, Hemel Hempstead
Course: A start tail then two anti-clockwise laps
Underfoot: Tarmac and grass
Profile: Undulating (some may say hilly)
Elevation gain: 54m
GPS data: Gadebridge parkrun
Notes: Nice park. Nice view from the high point.
Further reading: My Gadebridge parkrun blog post.
Heartwood Forest - High Street, Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire (CLOSED)
Course: approx one-and-three-quarter laps
Underfoot: Gravel paths and grass
Profile: Undulating
Notes: A brand new forest. See Heartwood Forest parkrun's news page for info regarding closure
Further reading: My Heartwood Forest parkrun blog post.
Jersey Farm - Jersey Farm Woodland Park, Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire
Course: Two laps
Underfoot: Grass and bridleway
Profile: Gently undulating
Notes: This venue replaces Heartwood Forest
Further reading: My Jersey Farm parkrun blog post.
Leavesden Country - Leavesden Country Park, Abbotts Langley, Hertfordshire (London+)
Course: Three laps (plus start/finish tail)
Underfoot: 50/50 mix of hard paths and grass/mud
Profile: Gently undulating
Notes: Just down the road from the Harry Potter Studio Tour
Further reading: My Leavesden Country parkrun blog post
Letchworth - The Grange Recreation Ground, Letchworth, Hertfordshire
Course: Two laps
Underfoot: Grass, gravel and trail
Profile: long gradual incline each lap
Notes: Enjoy the views of the fields of crops
Further reading: My Letchworth parkrun blog post
Course: 2 laps and an out-and-back (tbc)
Underfoot: Grass, concrete, and gravel tracks
Profile: tbc
Notes:
Further reading: Not yet visited
Panshanger - Panshanger Park, Thieves Lane Entrance, Hertford, Hertfordshire
Course: 1 lap (or point to point)
Underfoot: trail paths, grass, dirt (mud)
Profile: undulating with a short uphill finish
Notes: fun course in a beautiful country park, but that short uphill finish is tough!
Further reading: My Panshanger parkrun blog post
Rickmansworth - Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire (London+)
Course: 2 laps plus a start-finish tail
Underfoot: Tarmac and a slightly stony footpath
Profile: Flat
Notes: Watch out for vehicles near the start-finish / watch out for loose dogs
Further reading: My Rickmansworth parkrun blog post
South Oxhey - South Oxhey Playing Fields, Green Lane, Watford (London+)
Course: Three laps
Underfoot: Grass (you can run about 150 metres each lap on tarmac if you choose)
Profile: Long steady incline / decline on each lap
Notes: You can chill out in a hammock post-run
Further reading: My South Oxhey parkrun blog post
St. Albans - Verulamium Park, St. Albans, Herfordshire
Course: Out - three laps of a lake, then back
Underfoot: Tarmac (grass at the start/finish)
Profile: flat with just the slightest of gradients during the out / back
Elevation gain: 11m
GPS data: St. Albans parkrun
Notes: Hang around and enjoy some of the Roman history
Further reading: My St. Albans parkrun blog post
Stevenage - Six Hills Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Course: Almost two laps
Underfoot: Tarmac with a short section on a dirt path
Profile: Mildly undulating
Notes: Has a bit of everything - very good
Further reading: My Stevenage parkrun blog post
Tring - Tring Park, Tring, Hertfordshire (CLOSED)
Course: One lap
Underfoot: Grass, dirt (mud)
Profile: A hill, then flat-ish, then undulating
Elevation gain: 85m
GPS data: Tring parkrun
Notes: A brilliant venue. Free roaming cows. Now closed.
Further reading: My Tring parkrun blog entry
Westmill - Edge Outdoor Activities, Westmill Farm, Ware, Hertfordshire
Course: Almost two laps
Underfoot: Grass / dirt paths / small amount of gravel/tarmac
Profile: undulating
Notes: Great views across the lakes and out into the coutryside.
Further reading: My Westmill parkrun blog entry
Please note: Information contained within the blog posts, such as the course configuration, parking arrangements, availability of toilets etc, may change. Please always check with the relevant events' web page and social media channels for the latest and most accurate information.
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