If you want to experience a truly enjoyable trail parkrun, then it is hard to beat the Forest of Dean parkrun. It is set in the heart of the forest, a recognised area of outstanding natural beauty, on the outskirts of the small town of Coleford. The friendly parkrun volunteers offer a warm welcome to parkrun tourists and other visitors to this beautiful part of the country.
Getting there and Parking
The parkrun start is just off the A4136 about 6 miles from Monmouth. This is a good road and easy to drive. However, should you come from the Ross-on-Wye direction, you may be tempted to take the short route via Symonds Yat East. This route is stunningly scenic but some of the roads are very narrow with only a few passing points. If you are not used to driving on such narrow country roads, particularly in the busy Summer months, the longer route via Monmouth may be advisable.
The website recommends parking at the local Berry Hill Rugby club, which is an 8 minute walk from the start. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/forest-of-dean/course/
However, if you arrive before 8.25 am you should be able to park in the local school, The Five Acres High School, which is literally just across the road from the start. In the holiday season it may be wise to park at the rugby club as up to 250 runners could be running and parking places will be taken early at the school.
Insect Bites
Just a little word of warning: as you will be in a forest you may get bitten! Mary got bit 5 times just watching me as I ran the course! Oh why didn’t we remember to bring the Avon Skin So Soft spray with us? Lesson learnt – bring insect repellent to any parkrun in a wooded area or near water during the summer mosquito season!
Course Features
The course is a fairly flat route with only a couple of gradual inclines. However, it is a trail course and so it could get muddy after rain or if the days or weeks before have been rainy. Trail running shoes may be more appropriate footwear for wet conditions. When I ran the weather had been dry so my normal running shoes sufficed. However, there were still a few muddy patches remaining despite the dry weather.
Logs, branches on the course- any chance of a PB?
As the course is through a forest you have to be careful with your footing. There may be the occasional log to jump or tree root to avoid. You just have to take care. Needless to say, such a course means the Forest of Dean parkrun is not a PB course but the lack of steep gradients makes it a relatively fast run.
A nice feature about this run is that the course is permanently marked so you can run it any time if you are in the area. The excellent markings make it easy to follow the route. There is also a large map at the start of the run showing a detailed outline of the course
Just to add a little bit of fun there is a bell at the end of the run in the finishing funnel. The sign says: ring if you have a PB, birthday, you’re a tourist or ring just because you want to. What a nice thing to do. I rang it is as I was a first-timer and it brought a smile to my face and to the faces of the other runners there.
It wouldn’t be a good parkrun without tea and coffee at the end. We loved the refreshment set up here. Only 50p for a tea or coffee, and a variety of delightful cakes were on sale for the the same price. We left the Forest of Dean after our refreshments saying we would definitely come again. We hope you do, too.
History of Parkrun
The first parkrun was back in 2004 in Bushy Park, Teddington, London. The brainchild of Paul and Joanne Sinton-Hewit, the parkrun idea spread rapidly spread throughout the UK and Ireland. It is now a global phenomena which holds true to the founding principles wherever it is run. A short history of the parkrun can be found at this link: https://www.parkrun.com/about/our-story/
For more information on parkrun including details of where they are held see Parkrun website: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/
Godiva Travellers 
even for the non-runners like myself, this makes a park run feel enticing! Certainly looks a lovely place to visit too. Maybe a parkwalk 🙂
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Yes, you could easily walk the route here as it is signposted. It’s a lovely area to explore.
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