Watermead Country Park junior parkrun

Bus: The nearest bus stop is Canal St in Thurmaston, currently served by the Arriva 5, 5A and 6 bus service from Leicester to Thurmaston and 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 area can access the Watermead complex via Worcester Avenue and walk north, turning left after the river bridge into King Lears Lake and following the path north to the central car park where the start/finish area is (approx. 1 mile).

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

he 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 ///pocket.reply.squad.

From the South / Leicester
From Leicester, head north on the A607 Melton Road. After the large roundabout between Thurmaston and Syston (the Asda roundabout), continue north and take the next left slip road, following the brown signs for Watermead Country Park. At the small roundabout, turn left and continue past the Hope & Anchor pub on your right. After approximately 250 metres, the entrance to Watermead North Country Park is on the left, just as the road bends to the right towards the A46. Please note: there is no direct access to Watermead Country Park from the A46.

From the North
Head south on the A46 towards Leicester. At the Hobby Horse roundabout, continue towards Leicester on the A607. Take the first left, following the brown sign for Watermead Country Park North, onto the small slip road in front of the car dealership. Turn left at the next roundabout and continue to the T-junction. Turn left, following the brown country park signs. Continue straight across the next roundabout and pass the Hope & Anchor pub on your right. After approximately 250 metres, the entrance to Watermead North Country Park is on the left, just as the road bends to the right towards the A46.

From the West
If travelling from the west of Leicestershire, follow the A46 to the Hobby Horse roundabout. Turn right onto the A607 towards Leicester, then follow the “From the North” directions above.

Parking
Please note that ANPR-controlled paid parking is in operation at Watermead North Country Park.

After entering the park, follow the entrance road and pass through the parking barrier. The main car park is located at the end of this road. The picnic field and our start line are immediately next to the car park, so you won’t have far to walk once you arrive.

Parking charges are:
Up to 1 hour: £2.50
Up to 2 hours: £4.00
Up to 3 hours: £5.00
Over 3 hours: £5.50

Payment is contactless only at the exit, or you can pay online using the QR code available at our event.

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: at the Hope & Anchor Pub, Wanlip Rd, Syston, Leicester, LE7 1PD or the Bada Beans mobile coffee and snack van which will be on site. Please come and join us!

Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at at the Hope & Anchor Pub, Wanlip Rd, Syston, Leicester, LE7 1PD or the Bada Beans mobile coffee and snack van which will be on site - please come and join us!

Watermead Country Park junior parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. To make the event as safe as possible, participants, spectators and volunteers are asked to take note of the following rules and guidelines:

• Whilst parkrun fully accepts its duty of care and will do everything it can to minimise risk of injury and harm to all participants whilst at parkrun events, it is parent/guardians who ultimately have responsibility for the welfare of their children.
• It is not mandatory for a parent/guardian to participate in junior parkruns, but children under the age of 11 must be accompanied to/from the event by a responsible adult, and the responsible adult must remain in attendance for the duration of the event.
• junior events are open and inclusive. Disabled people may participate wherever it is safe for them to do so. The event team can provide disabled participants with course information in order that the participant (or their parent/guardian) can make an informed decision about their safe participation.
• Whilst more competitive children can use junior parkruns to test themselves against their own time, and against others, participation should ultimately be for fun, and we urge all parents/guardians/volunteers not to put children under undue pressure to perform.
• junior parkruns are running, jogging and walking events, and the use of children’s scooters, balance bikes, trikes or cycles is prohibited.
• Slower runners are encouraged to seed themselves, by starting towards the back of the group especially if an adult is accompanying them.
• junior parkruns are timed events. Only those aged between 4 to 14 years old completing the course themselves will be given a result. ​
• Exceptions to this rule are subject to the discretion of parkrun head office. Examples include those over 14 with special educational needs (SEN) or those with a registered disability, for whom social interaction and physical activity may be difficult but important.
• A strict ‘no barcode no result’ policy will be enforced.
• Buggies are allowed, subject to course conditions, but only if the adult pushing the buggy is accompanying a junior parkrunner. Adults with buggies are urged to position themselves appropriately for the safety and enjoyment of all.
• With the exception of assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed to accompany walkers, joggers, runners or volunteers at junior parkrun events.
• 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.
• Spectators should keep clear of participants on the course and keep control of any children and dogs.
• Participants should take care near roads and car parks, congregate away from the cars and be careful if driving to/from the event.
• Photography or filming is likely to take place at junior parkrun events. Please see our photos page for more details.
• 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.

Please consider helping the event by volunteering - this event survives only because of your generosity. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.

All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email watermeadcountryparkjuniors@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.