The North East has a brand new parkrun, and it has already made quite an entrance with two editions now under its belt. The Ushaw Historic House parkrun, held at Ushaw Historic House in Durham is the latest addition to the region’s parkrun network.

The event had originally been scheduled to debut earlier this month but was postponed due to Storm Amy. When the rescheduled launch finally went ahead, word had clearly spread with some 641 participants turning up for the inaugural event. A spokesperson says: "Participants came from across the North East and beyond, many eager to add the elusive 'U' to their parkrun alphabet challenge!"

A total of 49 volunteers made the event possible. Organisers praised the efforts of those who gave up their time, as well as the Ushaw Historic House staff, Durham County Council, and Sport England, who helped fund and support the event.

The course features two laps on a mixture of grass and trail paths, circling the perimeter of two fields and running alongside the beautiful Ushaw Historic House and its landscaped flowerbeds. The start and finish are both located near the main car park and the Historic House itself. Runners are invited each week to stay for a post-parkrun coffee at the Ushaw Historic House Café.

With parking at a premium on opening day, organisers are encouraging participants to make use of the free Park & Ride service from Durham County Hall. The coach also picks up at Langley Park and is available to all parkrunners and supporters. Seats can be booked in advance for this weekend's event.

If you'd like to know more, visit the Ushaw Historic House parkrun website.

Image: Ushaw Historic House parkrun