Hello! Here at Chunks, we’re big fans of all kinds of sport (as you can probably tell from the things we sell), but parkrun has a special place in our hearts. This year, I set myself a challenge: to complete every parkrun in Norfolk. It might be a bit of a niche quest, but I thought some of you might enjoy coming along for the journey. So, let’s kick things off where the alphabet tells us to - Blickling! 

Overview

Location: Blickling

Course Type: Trail

Terrain & Elevation: Undulating

Buggy Friendly: Yes – as long as you don’t mind a few bumpy sections!

Dogs Allowed: Yes 

Toilets: Yes 

Parking: Paid parking a few minutes’ walk from the start area. Free for National Trust members 

Café: Yes 

Play area: No

Official Parkrun Page: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/blickling/  

Quick summary: A splendid dash around the beautiful estate of Blickling Hall. A tough hill to start, but a wonderful downhill sprint finish to make up for it.  

First Impressions

I arrived relatively early, around 8:30, but the car park was already filling up fast. Helpfully, a friendly volunteer was on hand to direct me towards the correct area of the car park, but if you arrived later, it could be more problematic. Once parked, it was simple to follow the signs and the crowd to where everyone was gathering for the briefing. Many people left coats and jumpers near this briefing area, but there is no specific area for this. I would either suggest leaving them in your car or bringing them on the run if you are at all worried about leaving your belongings. Despite this, I left my coat with no problems! Overall, it was a very friendly and easy to find start with a real buzz of anticipation. 

A view of the Blickling mausoleum pyramid

The Run

Laps: 2

Surface: A mixed trail path suitable for trail shoes, with some sections having larger stones and the occasional potholes (especially near the start). However, most of the path is of better quality and is a very smooth trail. 

Highlights: A particular highlight is running past the large pyramid-shaped mausoleum on both laps. Well worth a closer look after you have finished your run!  

The Route: The run begins with a short walk up the multi-use path from the meeting point where the briefing takes place. This means that everyone walks up together, which can feel a little crowded. If you’re hoping for a faster start, I’d recommend drifting over to the grassy verge on the right; the two paths merge very quickly after the start, and positioning yourself here makes it much easier to find some space and settle into your pace. 

Once the paths come together, you pass through a wooden gate and head steadily uphill. After a sharp right turn, the ground finally levels out (a welcome relief!), and this is your cue to look out for the striking pyramid ahead. This 18th-century mausoleum was built by Lady Caroline Suffield for her father and his wives; a slightly morbid sight for a parkrun course, perhaps, but certainly one of its most unique and memorable features. 

After the pyramid, the route dips into a short stretch of woodland before opening out between two sweeping fields. Here, the path begins to slope downhill and briefly re-enters the trees. As you continue descending, the gradient sharpens, and you’ll pass the eventual finish area. For now, though, the first lap swings right and sends you back up the hill to do it all again. The course is undeniably made tougher by the hills, but it remains a genuinely beautiful run through one of Norfolk’s most impressive estates. 

On special occasions, Blickling hosts one-lap events that take in the wider parkland but still stick to the excellent multi-use path. These tend to draw bigger crowds but are absolutely worth experiencing. I’d highly recommend the annual bluebell special - a spectacular route framed by a violet carpet of flowers that blankets the estate each spring. 

The Blickling bluebells emerge each spring to glorious effect 

Stats Snapshot

Average weekly finishers: 245 Course record (male): Scott Greeves - 15:28 Course record (female): Danielle Nimmock - 17:26 Average finish time: 29:25

Stats correct at time of publishing - 15/11/25 

Ratings out of 5

Scenery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Course Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Facilities: ⭐⭐⭐

Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bonus Local Fact

Blickling Hall is thought to be the birthplace of Anne Boleyn – Henry VIII’s second wife!  

A bonus Blickling rainbow 🌈