With the sun rising by 5am and setting closer to 10pm, the UK is in peak summer mode – long days and record heat often sapping any energy to get outside and exercise. But you can still enjoy the sunshine safely and work up a sweat by swapping the scorching concrete for shaded trails, tree-lined parks and breezy coastlines that make up the 850+ parkrun routes here in the UK.
This summer, WWF and parkrun are teaming up to inspire people to get their daily dose of nature on the move – not just for fitness, but as a natural prescription for wellbeing, connection, and simple joy. With free, weekly 5k events across the country, the nature charity and community fitness collective are showing how nature can be your coach, your companion, and your coolest running partner this summer – helping you feel better, move better, and tread a little lighter on the planet. But you don’t have to run to take part. Whether you jog, walk, or volunteer, parkrun is about moving at your own pace – and reconnecting with nature while you do it.
Nature: your coolest running companion
As the planet heats up, green spaces are becoming ever more critical for both physical and mental wellbeing. Parks, wetlands, and tree-lined streets don’t just offer scenic running routes – they help cool urban areas by up to 10-12 degrees, providing outdoor thermal relief [1]. In metropolises like London, where temperatures can rise by several degrees, these green and blue oases can be lifelines.
But their benefits go beyond cooling the body – they help to settle the mind too. Research shows spending just 20 minutes in nature is proven to reduce stress, boost mood and mental wellbeing, whilst also reducing the risk of disease [2]. Inspired by WWF’s ‘A Prescription for Nature’ campaign, enjoying nature on the move can help strengthen and soothe. So don’t bottle it up, sweat it out.
Cool routes, warm days & wildlife you’ll meet along the way
Whether you’re chasing shade, sea breezes, or woodland serenity, these nature-dense parkrun routes offer more than just scenic trails – they’re alive with biodiversity. Here’s some of the natural wonders you might encounter on these beloved trails throughout the UK:
- Delamere parkrun, Cheshire: Delamere Forest in Cheshire offers a one-lap route that circles Blakemere Moss, a tranquil expanse teeming with birdlife. Runners and walkers follow cool, tree-lined trails under awnings of Corsican Pine, Scots Pine and Larch. Each season brings its own soundtrack; from the noisy black-headed gulls and calling geese to the melody of willow warblers in summer. Nature plays such a central role here that the course occasionally has to change during the annual froglet migration – the mass movement of newly metamorphosed frogs (froglets) from their breeding ponds into the surrounding habitat! [3,4].
- Mole Valley parkrun, Surrey: Set against the chalky North Downs, Mole Valley parkrun is rich in wildlife and summer shade. Yellowhammers dart over hedgerows, badgers roam the undergrowth, and bluebells carpet the trail in spring. In warmer months, the surrounding trees and vineyards provide a cooling breeze and dappled shade. Keep an eye out for the rare small blue butterfly, which thrives in this chalk grassland habitat [5]. The undulating course offers a mix of open views and sheltered paths, making it a scenic and refreshing challenge. And if you fancy a post-run treat, the course is vineyard-adjacent – perfect for a chilled glass of wine after your 5K.
- Bushy parkrun, London: This Royal Park is a haven for wildlife in the heart of the capital. Runners might spot red and fallow deer grazing in the open grasslands [6], while great spotted woodpeckers tap on the trunks of ancient trees. Despite its urban setting, Bushy Park feels wonderfully wild, with dragonflies skimming the water and butterflies flitting through the meadows. Shaded paths, surrounded by rare wildflowers, and gentle breezes off streams and lakes – home to freshwater fish like chub and roach – make this a refreshing urban route on warmer days [7].
- Newborough Forest parkrun / Coedwig Niwbwrch (Llanfairpwllgwyngyll), Ynys Môn: Situated on Ynys Môn, the area surrounding Newborough Forest parkrun supports a thriving red squirrel population. Volunteers enjoy calm, early-morning moments spent setting up the course, with the forest still and quiet apart from the rustle of squirrels and birdsong above. In the summer months, the red squirrels are especially active, often seen leaping from branch to branch high in the trees. Just beyond the trees lies the stunning Llanddwyn beach, offering breathtaking views over the dunes for those running by.
- Fell Foot parkrun, Cumbria: Nestled on the shores of Lake Windermere, this route offers a breeze off the lake and an opportunity to soak and slap on your wet cap before running on. Otters may be spotted near the water, while swans paddle and herons wade along the shore. The surrounding meadows and woodlands are rich in native flora and fauna, including pink foxgloves and red admiral butterflies [8].
- Dolgellau parkrun, Eryri: Dolgellau parkrun is a gem in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, with the Cadair Idris Massif looming majestically above the route. The course itself follows a flat, peaceful, mostly shaded path along a disused railway line, crossing a river known for its salmon, otters, kingfishers and the occasional osprey. The beauty here isn’t just in the landscape – local volunteers, including from the Keep Wales Tidy group, help keep the route pristine. And in true Welsh fashion, if the drizzle starts, the low morning sun can create magical rainbows (or enfys, in Cymraeg). It’s a parkrun that’s as scenic as it is serene.
- Aviemore parkrun, Cairngorms: Tucked into the Seafield Estate in the Scottish Highlands, Aviemore parkrun offers an ever-changing tapestry of wild woodland and heather-filled heath. The route follows the scenic Speyside Way, beginning in open birch before descending past mature Scots Pine and sweeping heathland, with the River Spey nearby offering both cooling breezes and a thriving aquatic ecosystem. Wildlife enthusiasts are in for a treat; roe deer sightings are common, and the area is also home to badgers, pine martens, and even wildcats [9]. Keep an eye towards the sky for kestrels or venture further afield to glimpse ospreys and newly introduced beavers at Loch Garten.
- Portrush parkrun, Northern Ireland: Portrush parkrun in Northern Ireland offers a unique coastal experience, with the course taking place on the beach, and the added delight of sharing the space with a variety of land, sea, and airborne wildlife. Highlights have included a baby seal resting on the sand before returning to the water just in time for parkrun to start, as well as dolphins and porpoises spotted just offshore. In warmer months, large jellyfish often appear along the shoreline, while seabirds like guillemots, and a variety of gulls are a constant presence overhead [10]. Being able to run or walk barefoot with the water lapping around your ankles and the sand between your toes makes this one a truly special experience!
Running to Restore – It’s in our Nature
These routes aren’t just beautiful to observe – they’re essential to our health. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, ranking in the bottom 10% globally for biodiversity, with many of our green spaces under threat from development, pollution, and climate change [11]. When we lose nature, we lose one of our most powerful tools for healing, resilience, wellbeing and staying cool. Nature helps regulate temperatures, clean our air, and create habitats for wildlife – while also giving us places to breathe, reflect, and recover.
Whether you run it, walk it, or volunteer for it, parkrun is more than a Saturday 5k. It’s a shared celebration of our wild places, from woodland trails to urban greenways, and a reminder of why they’re worth protecting.
[1] The Benefits of Tree Shade and Turf on Globe and Surface Temperatures in an Urban Tropical Environment, Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) May 2020; https://auf.isa-arbor.com/content/46/3/228 [2] Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9, 7730. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
parkrun nature encounters –
[3] Birdwatching in Delemere Forest – Birdwatching UK [4] Reconnect With Nature In Delamere Forest [5] Norbury Park | Surrey Wildlife Trust [6] Deer in Bushy Park | The Royal Parks [7] Wildlife in Bushy Park | The Royal Parks [8] Things to See and Do at Fell Foot (National Trust Lake District) [9] Mawddach Trail Walk (Eryri National Park Authority) [10] Portrush Nature Reserve Overview (Visit Causeway Coast & Glens) [11] State of Nature Report (2023). WWF and State of Nature partners. Access here.
