Can we run Ross-on-Wye parkrun or will snow and ice stop play?
Frosty mornings . . . the days when your parkrun location map turns red as venues cancel with slippy paths or dangerous access. For the parkrun tourist who’s on a mission to get a parkrun in every week (Me to hit my 500 before my 50th birthday target), it’s a morning with a frisson of excitement, will we get to our parkrun destination to find it’s not on?
Watch our video of Ross-on-Wye parkrun on YouTube
Pulling into the car park as the sun peeping over the hill bathed the land in a golden glow, we spotted the pink hi-vis heroes and the flags fluttering and we breathed a sigh of relief, parkrun was on! We always get there early if we can, so we had a few moments to enjoy the spectacular sight of the sun rising over the hill behind Ross-on-Wye and the view of the river nearby, before we headed to join the gathering crowd of runners.
3 2 1 Go . . .
This is running perfection, beautiful views, crisp winter air, crunchy, firm ground beneath our feet and surrounded by fellow parkrunners. We fell into step with Olivia, 7 years old and running her first ever full parkrun. Iona kept her company for the rest of the run, walking a bit, sprinting a bit and of course sharing Haribo!
It’s a two-lap course, both Iona and Olivia stripped off a couple of layers as we completed the first lap (more on that later!) and we trotted round the second lap chatting away and enjoying the sun’s rays now risen above the hill.
Exploring Ross-on-Wye
parkrun complete, barcodes scanned, the normal breakfast provision at the pavilion wasn’t available, so we walked into Ross-on-Wye for our breakfast fix. We found a great breakfast at Cafe Delights. Replete, it was time to explore Ross-on-Wye, which we discovered is the birthplace of British Tourism, apparently, and had the first illustrated guide published about the area, though the train service that brought folks to the town is no more. Prospect Garden is definitely worth a visit, with great views over the river valley, and the nearby church and plague cross. Time to warm up again and to meet with a friend I’d not seen in a while, who treated us to hot-chocs and cakes in The Baobab Tree Kitchen, delicious.
Now, that earlier disrobing on lap two of parkrun had resulted in the loss of a pink ski glove, so round the course we went to see if we could spot it, there it was, right back at the start tucked between the railings, but the walk was lovely and worth it anyway!
A Stop-Off at Malvern Hills
Heading home, we reached the Malverns as the sun was starting to set, and the lure of snow-capped hills and the views was too much of a lure. Parking the car, we scrambled our way up the hill and were truly rewarded. The views and the sunset were epic, a perfect photo in every direction, I couldn’t stop clicking the shutter.
Sliding our way back down the hill, back into the warmth of the car, homeward bound, what a day, definitely worth the early cold start. And a huge congrats to Olivia for smashing her first parkrun!
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