Jan and Sarah dropped in on Mount Edgcumbe parkrun for an outing that packed plenty into five kilometres: hills, striking scenery, a relaxed atmosphere and a nice breakfast afterwards. With just 61 people taking part, it felt like a smaller, more laid-back morning than many parkruns — though there was nothing especially laid-back about the climbs.
For Jan and Sarah, it was the hilliest parkrun they had ever done. That is a memorable distinction for a distance that can look straightforward on paper. Mount Edgcumbe offered something different from a flat, fast 5K: a course where getting round and enjoying the setting could be every bit as satisfying as watching the clock.
A scenic reward for the climbs
The location is a big part of the appeal. Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, on Cornwall’s Rame Peninsula, brings together open parkland, gardens and coastal paths. It is easy to see why an outing here might stay in the memory for its surroundings as well as its hills. The park’s gardens also have views over Plymouth Sound, adding another reason to spend time at Mount Edgcumbe rather than heading straight home after a run.
That does not make the uphill sections any smaller. Jan and Sarah’s verdict — incredibly scenic and good fun, despite this being their hilliest parkrun yet — captures the particular pleasure of trying somewhere new. A challenging course can change the focus of a Saturday 5K. Instead of treating every stretch as a chance to gain seconds, there is room to notice where you are, take on the next climb and enjoy an event with a character of its own.
Small field, relaxed morning
There were 61 participants on the day. Jan and Sarah found the event probably the most laid-back parkrun they had visited, and its small field was part of the feel of the morning. The hills may not make Mount Edgcumbe an obvious choice for anyone seeking an easy personal best, but they gave this visit a story worth bringing back to the club.
And, importantly, the morning did not end at the finish. Jan and Sarah rounded it off with a nice breakfast afterwards — a fitting conclusion to a scenic, sociable trip. We will celebrate a quick time when one comes along, but outings like this are a reminder that a parkrun can be memorable for quite different reasons.
If this has put another destination on your parkrun list, the Mount Edgcumbe parkrun event page is the place to look for course and visit information before making your own trip. For more Carnies exploring beyond their usual parkrun, read about the Webbs’ Gibraltar parkrun visit. Have you found a scenic parkrun that was worth every climb? We would love to hear about it.
