Panshanger parkrun

Chris Jeanes
19 hours ago
7 min read

It was a cold and frosty morning in the middle of winter as I drove to Hertford for my 70th parkrun at Panshanger park (run number 478 of this event). I allowed myself plenty of time to get there as I wasn't sure what the parking situation was like. This is a parkrun I had been meaning to do for some time but didn't want to do it when it was wet and potentially muddy, which is part of the reason I visited on a frosty morning when the ground was likely to be hard. First of all, I managed to arrive at the old recommended parking location, the car park off of Thieves Lane at Hertford. This was much more convienient for the previous course which started much closer to Hertford. The start of the current route is on the Welwyn Garden City side of the Panshanger estate, a good 2.5km away from Theives Lane, it was a lovely run in, but there is parking much closer to the start now at Panshanger lane, but I didn't know this at the time. Anyway on arrival at the Theives Lane car park I was struck by the beauty of the park, and was very fortunate to meet a couple of other runners on their way to parkrun who offered to lead me to the start approximately 2.5km away on the other side of the park (glad I allowed plenty of time on the morning). The parkrun itself is a one lap trail course on a mixture of dirt, gravel and woodland paths, with a bit of climb in the middle of the course. It was also nothing short of stunning on the morning of my visit. [I first visited this parkrun on 11th January 2025]

At least my beard matches the frosty ground

Bit of History

Panshanger country park was originally part of the Panshanger estate, home to the Earl of Cowper. The 5th Earl in 1799 commissioned Humphrey Repton to design plans for the remodelling of the landscape on the Cole Green estate and the neighbouring Panshanger estate, which became home to a new mansion for the family, a replacement to the earlier house at Cole Green. Part of the estate was later sold in 1919 and the land was developed into Welwyn Garden City. In 1953 the remaining land at Panshanger was sold, and the house was demolished with the land turned over to sand and gravel extraction which continues to this day under the ownership of Tarmac. In addition to the extraction work over 1,000 acres of the park are now designated as a country park and nature reserve, 200 acres of which are open to the public. The park today consists of wetlands, grasslands and reedbeds, which serve as a home to a wide variety of damselfly and dragonfly species. The park is also home to kingfishers, waterfowl and osprey. The plan is to turn more of the park over to nature as the gravel extraction work is completed. The park also contains the largest maiden oak in the courtry, which is belived to have been planted by Queen Elizabeth I.

Briefings

The visitor and first timer brief focused on a description of the course, one lap with two inclines, a warning about the icy course, the potentially muddy first corner and a warning to go slow if not wearing trail shoes. The brief was also signed for those who cannot hear. This was the first time I have seen this and I'm not sure if this is done every week at this course or just when a signer is available. The same signer also signed the main briefing as well. The main briefing started with a thank you to all the volunteers as well as nicely asking for future volunteers to step forward so this event can continue. There was then a welcome offered to their new Run Director Sarah, and a thank you to their outgoing Run Director Phil for all he has done. A shout out to no less than four runners here today completing their 250th parkruns, as well as a shout out to someone completing their 50th location on their 100th parkrun (which is quite some achievement), a number of other runners also completing 50th parkruns and some arbitrary 150th parkrun as well. Then the usual rules about under 11s within arms length of responsible adults and dogs needing to be one per person on a short hand held lead. The briefing then moved on to warnings about the icy nature of the course this morning and a reminder to take care on any slippery sections. He then advised everyone to please take care, there were extra marshals placed out on course to point out the worst of the ice, but that we all needed to take care on our way round. After that we were set off!

A well signed visitor breifing, this was good to see!

Course Description

Essentially a one lap course in an anti-clockwise direction around the park, you start not that far from the recommended parking in Panshanger Lane, just don't do what I did and park in Hertford (unless you like a nice long scenic warmup - which you may well do, but just bear in mind it is quite a way to the start from the Thieves Lane car park).

An information board I found close to the start

Anyway from the start you essentially follow a route alongside the river in a roughly South Eastern direction, until you reach Kings Lake, you take a sweeping left turn and then start heading uphill across a field heading for the woods on the other side of the field, at the top of the hill you enter the tree line and take a right turn following a woodland trail, you climb a little further uphill taking a left turn across another field and then entering another section of woods, taking another left turn you have now reached roughly the halfway point of the course, you are now at the top of the hill and then rest of the course is now flat until a downhill section towards the finish. For now stay on this woodland path, and you will soon emerge from the treeline, to enter an open section of the route, keep the trees on your right, and then you will take a sweeping left to head down to a break in the trees on the other side of the field which will bring you onto a right turn onto an access track, you then take a left turn back into the treeline and then a right turn onto the Western Approach path, soon coming to a downhill section which takes you back towards the finish. There are some stunning views particularly from the higher sections of this course, so remember to take a look around every once in a while.

A lovely single lap route around some stunning countryside!

Difficulty

In summer this would be probably a 2 out of 5, there is not that much elevation and the trails would be very runnable, and in winter I think it gets very muddy so it would be a 3 out of 5. On the frosty morning In visited on, it was very cold and a bit slippery in places so going to give it a 2.5 out of 5 for the morning of my visit, but so glad I did come in the heavy frost as it did make the whole event very magical.

Elevation

Only really one uphill on this course with a break halfway up the hill. Total elevation is only 39m, so it is not hilly by any stretch. Lovely downhill section to finish as a reward for the climb in the middle. One lap as well so once you are at the top of the hill you don't have to do it again.

Only really one uphill with a slight break in the middle.

Parking, Facilities and Coffee

There is limited parking close to the start at Panshanger lane and a car parking marshal will advise you where to park, if it is full they may direct you to a couple of other car parking options 1km or so away. Or you could do what I did and park in Thieves Lane car park at Hertford which is a good 2.5km jog away from the start, there was o charge here and parking was ample, there was even a coffee van (Planted Coffee Company) at this car park as well, but I couldn't really recommend it unless you arrive very early. Just so you are aware there are no toilets at this venue and no official cafe for a post parkrun coffee, although the Panshanger parkrun website advises that the closest cafe is at Tewinbury Farm Hotel.

Planted Coffee Company van at Thieves Lane Car Park (not sure if they are here every week?)

Other Points of Interest

I got to see some stunning scenery that I would have missed had I parked closer to the park, example of which is the photo below (there were many other beautiful photos I took as well but I won't bore you with them all)... also of note was that I was issued with a very special and interesting finish token in bright yellow, which required extra processing with a trip to the run director at the finish and a reminder of why it is so important to return your finish tokens every week...

Summary

For a last minute decision to do a new parkrun on a cold and frosty winters morning, I was so pleased with my choice to come here. Despite not having my usual run buddies with me this morning, I had such an enjoyable morning out. The scenery also succesfully took my mind off the fact that it was such a bitterly cold morning, and I am also very grateful to the two runners who guided me all the way to the start from Theives Lane, massively appreciated as I am not sure I would have found the start otherwise. All in all a thoroughly recommended parkrun!