Just outside the M25, in the Shire county of Kent and the Civil Parish of Eynsford is the 460 acres of Lullingston Country Park. It has been awarded the Green Flag award every year since 2009 and a Gold Medal in the Country Parks category of the South and Southwest in Bloom campaign every year since 2010. Along with the incredible wildflower displays, countryside walks and ancient woodlands, there are the views. Views of rolling countryside, views of Lullingstone Castle and views of the spectacular lavender fields of Castle Farm.
Lullingstone Country Park is home to orienteering, horse riding, dog walking and many other activities for the whole family and since April 2015 a parkrun.
The course start is situated 100m north of the car park in a field of wildflowers. We gathered with the other 93 participants for the course briefing from John, the very helpful Run Director. I’d emailed John earlier in the week to confirm they would be going ahead and he’d offered to collect us from the train station if that would help. The kindness found at parkruns never ceases to amaze me.
The course, predominately on grass is two laps of a clockwise route. The 120m of elevation means this is considered one of the toughest events in the UK. You start going uphill through the tall grass and wildflowers before entering a forest section which is trail underfoot. One of the many friendly marshalls directs you right as the course starts to go downhill and then you burst out of the forest section to behold the spectacular views of the Kent countryside and in June and July the flowering lavender fields. This is what I’d come for and I wasn’t disappointed.
The results pages reveals that there was a healthy attendance from lots of local running clubs including Eynsford Running Club and Rockford Running Club. On the course there were quite a few runners in their bright Ashford Striders shirts too.
While parkwalking this week I had the great company of Graham Hollands and Sabrina Mora both seasoned parkrun tourists and volunteers. Graham completed 52 parkruns last year and Sabrina is closing in on completing her second Alaphbet challenge (running a parkrun with each letter of the alphabet) having secured Yodogawa kassenkoen Hirakata chiku in Japan earlier this year! Both of them had excellent parkrun tales and event recommendations.
Lullingston parkrun isn’t too far from RAF Biggin Hill and as we packed up the event John pointed out a spitfire plane flying overhead. It has a distinct shape and engine noise and seeing it triggered a strong sense of remembrance and pride. With the soothing scent of lavender in the air, it was a wonderful moment, to end a wonderful morning, in the wonderful hills of Kent.
Lullingstone Country Park has an excellent visitor centre with both a cafe and shop. You can book guided tours and lavender field walks by clicking here. You can really make a day of your visit.
For £2,975 you can purchase a 30-minute flight in a Spitefire to discover why Kent is known as the ‘Garden of England’. Alternatively, go to Lullingston parkrun, get there whilst the lavender is out, you won’t regret it and it’s free.
Happy Running
Love lullngstone park. A favourite for a winter walk!
A fantastic read, must visit. Well done to you all, legends.
A lovely read. I might have to do this one while I’m still in Kent! Thanks