Watermead Country Park parkrun

Bus: The nearest bus stop is Canal St in Thurmaston, served by the Arriva 5,5A and 6 bus services from Leicester to Thurmaston & Melton Mowbray. Allow 15 minutes to walk from the bus stop.

From the bus stop walk down canal street following the tarmac road through the barrier to the waterski club. The path bends to the right then left and then over a small canal bridge. Immediately in front is the gate leading into King Lears Lake. Follow the path round the lake until you reach the start/finish area.

From the city centre the most direct route is Belgrave Rd and Melton Rd towards Thurmaston then through Thurmaston village to Canal Street then follow the route described for public transport above.

Walkers from the Birstall can access the Watermead complex via Whiles Lane or Meadow Lane and walk north turning left after the river bridge into King Lears Lake and following the “route” path to the central car park where the start/finish area is.

For participants familiar with the “what3words” location app, the start can be located at bricks.belly.square

The event postcode is not the most reliable way to reach the main entrance to the park, and parkrunners are advised to follow the written instructions below and the brown tourist signs guiding you to Watermead Country Park North.

For participants familiar with the “what3words” location app, the main entrance can be located at hint.thanks.swift whilst the start can be located at bricks.belly.square

From the South, coming from Leicester, take the A607 Melton Rd. After the large roundabout between Thurmaston and Syston (Asda Roundabout) continue north but take the next left slip road following the brown Watermead Country Park signs, this leads to a small island, continue left past the Hope & Anchor Pub on your right hand side and in approx 250 metres the entrance to Watermead North Country Park will be on the left just as the road bends right, back towards the main A46.

There is no direct access to Watermead Country Park Park from the A46.

From the North, head down the A46 towards Leicester. At the Hobby Horse roundabout continue towards Leicester on the A607. A brown sign for Watermead Country Park North directs you first left in front of a car dealership. Turn left at the next roundabout and then left at the next T junction. Continue on this road for ½ mile crossing a small roundabout and passing the Hope & Anchor Pub on your right. Then follow the south approach above.

From further afield, the southern approach leaves the M1 at J21A, follows the A46 until the Hobby Horse Roundabout, then continue as above.

Northern approach leaves the M1 at J22 and heads towards Leicester on the A511/A50. Turn left onto A46 to Hobby Horse Roundabout then continue as above.

Parking: The park operates a pay on exit system using ANPR technology. Please expect delays at busy times exiting the park. Details of current parking charges can be found on the Leicester County Council website.

The main car park is at the bottom of the access road straight in front after passing the gate. A second smaller car park, accessed by the road to the left is out of bounds to parkrunners as it is needed for sailing base patrons and key volunteers only.

If all car parks are full / unavailable the nearest on street parking is in Syston, Thurmaston or Birstall.

We encourage people to car share, run, walk, cycle or take public transport wherever possible.

Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: the Bada Bean mobile coffee and snack van (in the park) or at The Hope and Anchor, Wanlip Road, LE7 1PD. There is ANPR in operation, so please make sure you make a purchase in the pub and enter your registration details into the tablet on the bar . Please come and join us!

Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at the Bada Bean mobile coffee and snack van (in the park) or at The Hope and Anchor, Wanlip Road, LE7 1PD. There is ANPR in operation, so please make sure you make a purchase in the pub and enter your registration details into the tablet on the bar - please come and join us!

Watermead Country Park parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the event as safe as possible, so participants, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

• Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
• Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the event by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
• Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
• We invite everyone to consider volunteering at parkrun. Your support helps your parkrun events remain sustainable and free for all in your community, and it’s also a wonderful way to improve your own health and happiness. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
• Take care near roads and car parks – some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the event, please drive carefully.
• Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
• Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us.
• If you see someone with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
• If you’re watching, keep clear of participants on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
• It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
• Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
• You are welcome to take part with one dog by your side, within reach at all times, on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead. The use of waist harnesses is prohibited. Please also see this Support Site entry for further details about parkrunning with dogs.
• parkrunners pushing buggies are welcome, but please take care of others around you and do your best to start at an appropriate place in the field for your pace.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Watermead Country Park parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners compare results.

parkrun events use Age Grading to help parkrunners see progress and compare results.

For more information, please see our Support page.

All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email watermeadcountrypark@parkrun.com to help.

parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.

To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.