RTH

Watchwood Plantation is locally known due to its locally maintained MTB trails, but it also makes for a lovely walk. There is a memorial situated in Watchwood that commemorates the deaths of three Polish airmen who crashed there on October 13, 1940 when returning to their UK base, at RAF Swinderby. This lovely walk then takes you through the now-defunct Calverton Coal Mine. Opened in 1952, Calverton was the first pit opened by the newly created National Coal Board. In its prime, the pit employed around 750 men and produced a record 40,500 tons of coal per week until its closure in 1999. Eventually it was turned in to the nature reserve we see today, with practically no indication that under 30 years ago it was a fully working mine. FYI - There is a small car park at the entrance to Watch Wood, or on the road parking along Gravelly Hollow.

Whilst you do have to cross the A52, this is still a good one if you’re after quiet paths & roads. Extend it by adding a lap of the HP lake at start or end.

Scenic route that can be hiked or ran. Starting and finishing in Youlgreave, Derbyshire Dales, it incorporates some of The Limestone Way; taking in the River Bradford, River Lathkill, and Lathkill Dale. There is a carpark, and on-street parking available (if you get there early enough), with a couple of pubs & cafes for refueling at the end.

Parkrun 5k route

The Taff Trail runs 55 miles from Brecon all the way to Cardiff Bay. The first 20 or so miles are beautiful; along the canal, and through lush forest. The latter miles are much more urban and you go through housing and industrial estates at times. Would make an excellent gravel bike route!

Incorporating the Brecon Canal, Taff Trail, and Pen y Fan ridge. Done as a run starting from the Brecon canal basin but it could be hiked in a day. Lots of pay & display parking is available near the start point. 6 miles along the canal to Talybont on Usk then turning on to the Taff Trail. The first section is stoney and muddy but turns in to a forestry trail. This runs for another 6-7 miles taking you on a gradual incline through the forest until you come to a road. You run along this for a few minutes before turning right to get on to the path which will take you towards the Black Mountains (which are a bit icy at the moment). Once up you run along the ridge covering Cefn Cul, Rhiw yr Ysgfarnog, Craig Gwaun Taf, Corn Du, Pen y Fan, and Cefn Cwm Llwch. The route then drops down to one of the main carparks and a single track road takes you back in to Brecon. I was staying at a campsite in Pencelli so bolted this run back to camp on to the end but the route is 26 miles if you start and finish in Brecon.

Scenic circular route across the Derbyshire Dales that starts and ends at the pub in Parwich 🍻 The terrain mostly consists of grassland /farmers fields, as well as a stint on the High Peak Trail. It’s not overly hilly but there are some bumps and there is 1 trig point to be bagged at Harboro Rocks. The route will be ran as a race on 12th July 2026 and will probably be much more pleasant compared to January!