London Trail Running

Hi!

I'm moving to London at the beginning of next week and I wanted to find out where the best places were to get some trail running in. People have told me that Hampstead Heath or Richmond Park were good places and I was wondering if anyone on here had some favourite routes?

I'm looking for somewhere, near a tube station or bus route, that has wooded areas and preferably some muddy hills etc! Basically somewhere that feels like you're in the country but is close to home (which will be Balham/Clapham)!

I want to get some specific training in for the Hellrunner, if it's at all possible to train specifically for the Hellrunner!

 Thanks!

Catch a bus to Streatham and run up and down the Common a few times. Should get your hill training done if nothing else. Don't bother with Hampstead Heath it's too small. You'll be close to Clapham Common where  there are zillions of runners. Then there's Tooting Bec Common just down the road, Wandsworth Common is close too. Richmond Park is the best. You can run on paths or off-road, enjoying the scenery and wildlife. And once you're down that way then there's Bushey Park too, and the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.

Or, catch  a train from Balham out into the sticks for some hilly running on the South Downs (or somewhere like that). Catch a train from Clapham Junction and you could end up anywhere.....

My advice wld be to join a club which holds events all over London. Serpentine running club wld be my choice, they have an excellent web site www.serpentine.org

Good luck

R

My advice wld be to join a club which holds events all over London. Serpentine running club wld be my choice, they have an excellent web site www.serpentine.org.uk

Good luck

R

Thanks everyone!

Womble - I'll be heading to Richmond, Bushy park and Hampton court first chance I get then, I was also definitely looking forward to getting the train down to Winchester and further along the South Downs Way, I hear it's beautiful down there.

Robert - I have seen the Serpentine club advertised, they look incredibly well organised! I'll be checking them out soon too.

Sezz - That is one excellent tip! I've never hear of Trent Country Park, but the name sounds like it might be exactly what I was looking for!

My Oyster card is going to be getting a loooot of use I feel!

Thanks, and keep them coming!!

I've been Googling Epping Forest and Trent Country Park and they both look like perfect spots for getting really muddy! Being rather far north from me in Balham, however, I think these ones will be good Sunday long runs as it will be a good hour or more to travel there. So Sezz and Gavo, thanks for the info, you've sorted out my weekends for me!

 I'll also be checking out Hampstead because, as Rowan says, it doesn't look like it's that small from Google satellite photos! I also want to check out the bathing and swimming pools/lido there too!

Richmond is going to be closer to me, only about 20 mins by overland train and bus from me in Balham. So there's another weekend day that's sorted. Tooting Bec common, wandsworth common and Brockwell Park I think are going to be my main evening runs.

Anyone know what Battersea park is like? It looks quite sculpted and well looked after in photos? I've been running in Liverpool for a while now and I absolutely love running down the River so I think that park has to be on the list too!

 Thanks again everyone!

Yep, Wimbledon Common is a great place for hills and mud. It may be worth contacting Wimbledon Millers Running Club as they organise Sunday morning runs there.

So many running clubs to choose from in London!

Thanks for the advice Dom. 

We do some good hill training in Greenwich which would be good training for Hell Runner www.londoncityrunner.com

@Gavo, Orion's my club. We train in our lovely Epping Forest lots.  The 15 is in the spring.  We're a very friendly bunch and we run out most days, including longer runs on weekend mornings.  It is a bit of a trek across the river and East though from where you are Pantalaimon.  You must be fairly near the Thames?  It's quite mellow running down the tow paths round there.