Dartford Heath parkrun
Situated in south east London / Kent, not far from the M25, Dartford Heath parkrun is a lovely two-lap course, entirely on flat trail paths. The nearest car park to the start line, on Heath Lane, is very small and will probably be full by 8.30am. Car parking is a bit of a contentious issue here and parkrunners are asked not to park on Heathclose Road and should instead use the car parks on Denton Road and Oakfield Lane or park in Parsons Lane. Alternatively, Crayford train station is about a 20 minute walk from parkrun. There are no toilets, café or any other facilities at Dartford Heath, so do prepare for that beforehand. Runners are encouraged to bring their own refreshments, on the course page.
The initial gathering point is actually at the finish line. After the briefings, runners are walked a short distance to the start line. It’s a bit of a squeeze to begin with, as it’s quite narrow, but it soon thins out. The course takes you twice around the heath, in and out of woodland and past green heathland. It’s a really nice course and is very flat. The surface is uneven, because it’s all on trail paths, often through trees where there are roots to be avoided. The team have flagged and signposted the really prominent roots, but it’s advisable to be mindful of your footing the whole way round.
There were marshals at all the key points and, even though I was running totally alone at some points, I didn’t feel there was any chance of taking a wrong turn. There were lots of dog walkers along the course, but everyone seemed to be able to co-exist okay. I really enjoyed this parkrun… just don’t forget to take your own refreshments!
Official Event Page: Dartford Heath parkrun
Nearby postcode: DA1 2TN
Hills (as logged by Suunto Spartan Trainer): Ascent 7m / Descent 7m
Subjective PB potential: 8/10 –flat, but uneven paths
Distance Displayed on Suunto Spartan Trainer: 5.12 km
parkrun : Hardest & Easiest Courses in UK | course difficulty
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