Temple Newsam parkrun
Leeds, West Yorkshire
Temple Newsam has plenty to keep you occupied. A few weeks before, on the one really warm day in July, I’d watched open-air theatre on the other side of the hall. There is a mass of open space, car parks scattered around (most of them free), and Go Ape if you want to get into the trees. On this cool August morning I was stood round the back (front?) of the hall, standing part-way up the hill and ready for a hilly run. You generally have to be in Yorkshire, and with this route starting on the hill you’re well aware you’re going to be coming back up it.
As the photos should show, it’s a wide path at the start, with a large grassy area off to one side should you get really stuck in the wrong position. The course has great variety; a wide tarmacced path, narrower paths through trees, a gravelly path well within earshot of the M1 plus ascents and descents.
There’s a long downhill section during which the noise of the M1 gets louder. A sharpish left at the bottom takes the route along a hard-packed path to head away, bit by bit to start with, from the noise. It’s obvious where it’s coming from, and yet all you can see are trees and grass, with the occasional decorated bench to distract. I found it a slightly trippy effect - traffic, traffic all around, nor any car to see.
The approach to the hill varies, taking the left path on the first lap, then turning right to go past the lake and take a longer route in to the finish. I kind of dreaded the second, but I think you climb the same amount (and then don’t go past the finish to the top of the hill) over a longer route, so it’s probably a little more straightforward.
The place has all the facilities you might want - toilets and cafe right next to the start, parking and some public transport (with some walking). The surface is good throughout, despite going onto different types of path. You’ve just got to get up the hill a couple of times.
Results from Temple Newsam parkrun #451, 26/8/23; 141 finishers
Thanks for sharing