Who else plays parkrun tourism roulette?
That slightly chaotic but wildly fun game where you only decide on your parkrun destination while you’re en route… how far can you get? Where will you end up?
That was the vibe for Iona and me this Saturday. The plan was originally to head to The Plens parkrun, but once we were up and caffeinated, we realised we might just have time to go a bit further east. So we took a gamble, plugged the postcode in for Pocket parkrun — and hit the road!
And yes — we made it — you can watch our Pocket parkrun adventure on our YouTube Channel.
The Curious Name: Why “Pocket parkrun”?
We were both intrigued by the name. Turns out, Pocket Park is named after the nearby Pocket Park Nature Reserve, a charming slice of green in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. These parks were part of a national initiative in the ’80s and ’90s encouraging communities to turn neglected or unused land into small, public green spaces. The “pocket” refers to their size — usually small, local, and easily accessible.
In this case, Pocket Park became a popular spot in the Riverside Park area of St Neots, and eventually gave its name to the parkrun itself. It’s a peaceful, scenic course — a mix of winding river views and leafy paths through the park. Perfect weather greeted us: blue skies, a cool breeze, and sunlight dancing on the water as we ran past. Pretty idyllic.
Breakfast & Hydro Power at The River Mill
Post-parkrun, the chat with fellow runners led to a very important discovery: there’s a Hotel Chocolat factory shop and café not far away. But first — breakfast. We stopped at The River Mill, a picturesque pub right by the River Great Ouse.
Here’s the cool part: The River Mill is not just a pretty face — it’s powered by a hydroelectric scheme. The mill wheel was restored and converted into a modern hydro turbine, generating electricity from the flowing river. So yes, our eggs and toast were made possible by renewable energy and a centuries-old mill!
Chocolate? Absolutely Yes.
Next stop was the Hotel Chocolat Factory Outlet — where dreams come true in the form of factory seconds, free samples, and steaming mugs of mint hot chocolate. We may have left with a few bags of discounted goodies. Okay, more than a few. Let’s call it post-run recovery fuel. 🍫
Exploring St Neots: A Bit of Local History
With the sugar high kicking in, we took a walk into St Neots, a charming market town with a surprisingly rich history. It’s named after Saint Neot, a 9th-century monk known for his piety and miracle-working (including the ability to turn water into fish — handy skill). The town grew around a priory built to house his relics, and later flourished due to its position on the river and main coaching routes.
We visited the St Neots Museum, which is located in what used to be the town’s police station and magistrate’s court. It’s a cosy, hands-on little museum packed with local stories — from Roman archaeology to Victorian life. There’s even an old jail cell complete with a very unforgiving wooden bed, which we had a quick lie-down on (would not recommend for more than 30 seconds).
Just around the corner is the St Neots Parish Church of St Mary, a striking medieval church with roots in the 12th century, though much of what you see today is 15th century. The interior is beautiful — soaring arches, stained glass, and that quiet, peaceful atmosphere that churches seem to hold so well.
Wrapping Up a Wholesome Day
With the sun starting to dip, we made our way back along the river, full of fresh air, good food, chocolate, and a head full of local stories.
On our way back to the car, we made a quick detour so Iona could grab a photo with the striking statue of the Eynesbury Giant — a tribute to James Toller, the famously tall local who once lived in the area. Standing proudly beside the cycle route in Pocket Park, the sculpture makes quite the impression, and of course, we couldn’t resist capturing the moment (especially with Iona standing next to him for scale!).
This is what I love most about parkrun tourism — not just the running, but the unexpected turns. From a nature reserve with a curious name, to a chocolate factory, to a hydro-powered breakfast and a museum jail cell… it’s the kind of day you just couldn’t plan, and wouldn’t want to.
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