Hello again! With a few Norfolk parkruns now under my belt, it was time for the next alphabetical stop on the tour - Colney Lane. Set among open fields, riverside paths and woodland trails on the edge of Norwich, this one promised a proper mix of terrain, a bit of mud, and at least one hill to get the lungs working. As part of my mission to run every parkrun in Norfolk, I headed over to see how Colney Lane stacked up, and whether I’d still be smiling by the finish!  

Overview

Location: Colney Lane 

Course Type: Grass and tracks 

Terrain & Elevation: One big uphill and the rest is flat/downhill  

Buggy Friendly: Yes but can be a few roots 

Dogs Allowed: Yes  

Toilets: Yes  

Parking: Yes – around a 5 minute walk from start  

Café: No but free tea and coffee is available! 

Play area: No 

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

Quick summary: A pleasant two laps around the parkland of UEA university. The challenge comes from the sharp hill in the middle of each lap that makes your lungs burn even at the thought of it.  

A mist covered path with a field and tree either side. People are just visible in the far distance

A misty approach walking from the car park 

First Impressions

Arriving at the Triangle car park, I was pleased to find plenty of space and straightforward parking. Although there are payment machines on site, parking is free for parkrunners, so there’s no need to grab a ticket. From there, it’s just a short walk along a tarmac path leading out from the corner of the car park. At the end of the path, you emerge onto a wide-open field, with clear signs guiding you towards the cricket pavilion. This is where the pre-run buzz was building, with volunteers making final preparations and runners gathering in anticipation. The atmosphere felt warm and welcoming right from the start.    

The Run

Laps: 2   

Surface: Grass and trails. The grass sections are generally wide enough for several people to run abreast, but there are some sections of tighter trail where more care is needed. The section along the river can be very muddy.      

Highlights: The final section to the finish line brings you downhill, making it ideal for a sprint finish.       

The Route: The run begins beside the cricket pavilion with a short straight that quickly bends sharply to the right. Almost immediately, the grassy field starts to climb as you pass through a gap in the hedge. Emerging on the other side, you cross a track (one you’ll be flying down later) before enjoying a lovely, sweeping downhill across wide open grass. At the bottom, a sharp left around a set of cones guides you onto a mown path through longer grass. This leads into a long looping section that gradually drops towards the river path. There are usually a few volunteers and supporters dotted along here, offering claps and encouragement just when you need it most. 

At the far end of the field, a narrow break in the hedgerow ushers you onto the riverside trail. This is often the muddiest part of the course, and with tree roots lurking near the entrance, it pays to watch your footing - especially in winter. After a few hundred metres squeezed between hedge and river, the path opens briefly into a meadow before funnelling you back into woodland. 

Once under the trees, the course bites back with a sharp climb up to the top of the parkland. It’s a real lung-buster and may have you fondly remembering that earlier downhill! At the summit, a right turn leads onto a broad woodland path along the top edge of the UEA estate. This gently undulating stretch rolls on for several hundred metres before a slight right takes you past compost heaps and a storage area - a section that can get muddy thanks to grounds vehicles. 

You’re now on the track you crossed earlier, enjoying a gentle descent before a right turn sends you out for lap two. After repeating the adventure, the final time around ends with a left turn back onto the starting field. From here, it’s your chance to open up your stride and power for home. As you round the final corner, the finish line comes into full view, and the slight downhill gives you the perfect excuse for a fast, triumphant sprint finish. 

A small black dog on the left and a larger ginger labrador on the right. Both are wearing Saturday is for Barkrun dog bandanas, one is blue and the other yellow

Colney Lane is a popular parkrun for the dogs. Jasper and Wesley loved showing off their Saturday is for Barkrun bandanas there

Stats Snapshot

Average weekly finishers: 245 

Course record (male): Scott Greeves - 15:28 

Course record (female): Danielle Nimmock - 17:26 

Average finish time: 29:33 

A boardwalk overlooking a lake. Trees are reflected in the distance on the other side of the lake

If you have some time after the run, it is well worth a stroll around the UEA lake which is next to the parkrun route

Ratings out of 5

Scenery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Course Difficulty: ⭐⭐⭐ 

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Facilities: ⭐⭐⭐ 

Overall Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐   

Bonus Local Fact

Colney Lane takes its name from the nearby village of Colney. This got its name from Anglo-Saxon Old English words meaning a dry area surrounded by marshland. In the winter, you definitely notice the marsh part at points...