Upton House parkrun takes place on the trails of Upton Country Park. The park is on the outskirts of Poole, overlooking Holes Bay.

Getting There

It is 3 miles north-west of Poole, just off the A35/A350 and easily accessible by car. Upton House is a popular parkrun with tourists (particularly those attempting to alphabeteer – run a parkrun beginning with each letter of the alphabet as there aren’t many ‘U’s). The start is a short walk from the car park – just follow the crowd!

Parking

There is plenty of parking at Upton. It’s pay & display; general parking costs £1.50 hour. There is a Weekend Earlybird price of £1 as long as you exit by 10.45 am. Note – this requires pressing a button on the ticket machine when you purchase your ticket – easily missed!

Toilets

There is a large toilet block in the car park and a couple more toilets by the tea rooms near the start.

Course

The course consists of one large loop, one small loop, then once more round the big loop. The start and finish are in a slightly different place. If you want to leave belongings – I would do so near where the briefing takes place, which is between the two.

Terrain

The run takes place on gravel trails. At times, these trails run though the woods. There is one raised, exposed section where it can be a bit windy, but offers spectacular views across the bay. It’s gently undulating with one short, sharp incline which must be negotiated twice; once right at the finish when you could really do without a hill…

Difficulty

Run Britain Rankings for UK parkruns place Upton House as the 454th fastest out of a total of 706. The course has a total elevation of 41 metres.

Fun Factor

Upton Country park is a very pleasant place for a run, with its wooded trails and views across the bay. It’s very friendly, with a nice mix of regulars and visitors.

Nearby Attractions

There is loads to do in Upton Country Park, from its manor house and walled garden, to woodland trails and even a fairy grotto. Check out my blog on Upton Country Park.

Upton is on the outskirts of Poole. There is plenty to do in the surrounding area with beaches, boat trips, Brownsea Island, a quay lined with restaurants and bars, museums, a theatre… To find out more about things to do in Poole, check out my blog on 100 Things To Do in (and around) Bournemouth.