Hello again! With Blickling conquered, and Brundall survived, it was time for stop number three on my Norfolk parkrun tour: Catton. In the suburbs of Norwich and looking to be a bit quicker underfoot, this one promised flatter paths, and, hopefully, fewer hills to make my lungs burst into flames halfway round. As part of my ongoing quest to run every parkrun in Norfolk, I rocked up to Catton ready to see whether my legs were up to the job.   

Image shows the Catton parkrun sign on a gravel track

The obligatory parkrun sign photo

Overview

Location: Catton 

Course Type: Grassy paths and Trails 

Terrain & Elevation: Undulating 

Buggy Friendly: Yes 

Dogs Allowed: Yes  

Toilets: Yes  

Parking: No – parking is possible on surrounding roads but can be busy  

Café: No (most weeks there is a coffee trailer with hot drinks and some snacks)  

Play area: No 

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

Quick summary: A varied figure of eight course that feels surprisingly rural despite being in the Norwich suburbs.   

Looking along a tarmac track with grass to either side. A prominent tree is in the background

The park was particularly pretty in the pre-parkrun sun

First Impressions

The first challenge at this parkrun is finding somewhere to park, so I’d strongly recommend cycling, walking, or car sharing if you can. I managed to squeeze into a roadside spot just outside the park entrance, but these fill up quickly and it’s important to be mindful of local residents. Once through the gates, it’s a short stroll along the main path towards the community centre in the heart of the park, where a couple of toilets are available. The briefing takes place just outside the building and is delivered via microphone and speaker, making it easy to hear even on a busy morning. Despite the crowds, there was a warm, friendly buzz on arrival - a lovely welcome to a popular parkrun.

A muddy section of grass with brightly coloured cones showing a route

Some parts were muddy but the route was well marked

The Run

Laps: 2    

Surface: Starts on grass. Then follows dirt paths around the park that vary in quality and the number of potholes but all very runnable.       

Highlights: The variety of this course makes it very interesting with a particular favourite part of mine is twisting through the small woodland section.      

The Route: The run kicks off with everyone spread across a wide grassy start line, ready to charge across the bumpy turf the moment the whistle blows. You’re immediately funnelled around a big tree as the path narrows, before settling into a gentle uphill along the park’s edge. The mix of grass and dirt tracks is plenty wide enough, but can be a bit rutted in places, and there’s a section that feels almost like a washboard. If you're pushing a buggy, you’ll definitely know about it!   

As the route curves around the far end of the park, the climb continues a little longer before rewarding you with a fun, twisty descent. Soon you dip into a lovely stretch of woodland for a few hundred metres. The path here is good underfoot, though a couple of eager tree roots keep things interesting.   

Popping out of the trees, you’ll spot the finish area in the distance, but don’t get too excited yet. You pass by it on the right onto a tarmac path, which turns before cutting across the centre of the park up the steepest hill of the course. Thankfully, it’s on firm ground, so you can grit your teeth and get it done without slipping around.   

At the top, another right sends you swooping back down the same hill from the opening section, looping anticlockwise until you reach the base of the tarmac climb again. One more right and you’re heading back up for round two. This time, at the top, you turn left and rejoin the original line, following the familiar downhill that leads you towards the woodland once more. On the second exit, though, there’s no detour; it’s your moment to unleash whatever energy is left and sprint full throttle for the finish!   

A wooden statue of a falcon sitting on top of a tree stump

Look out for the falcon statue near the start area

Stats Snapshot

Average weekly finishers: 363 

Course record (male): Adam Hickey - 15:30 

Course record (female): Iona Lake - 17:12 

Average finish time: 29:04 

Ratings out of 5

Scenery: ⭐⭐⭐ 

Course Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ 

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐ 

Facilities: ⭐⭐ 

Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐   

Bonus Local Fact

The park was the first commission for Humphrey Repton, the well-known landscape designer.    

A bonus sunset at the park