“Free, for everyone, forever.”

Volunteer Tailwalker and parkwalker

Every Saturday morning a little before 9:30am, a small crowd gathers in each of West Lothian’s three beautiful country parks, as well as the foreshores at Bo'ness and Cramond, the Heriot-Watt University Campus, in Holyrood Park, and in a few other locations in the surrounding area.

Many dressed in what could be described as “garish casual” attire, and sometimes with a fun dress-up or two thrown in, they are meeting to walk or jog an organised scenic 5km trail through the park.

This is parkrun and parkwalk. It’s a global phenomenon that has been responsible for transforming the mental and physical health of countless people over the past 21 years. Parkrun and parkwalk are the same event: you choose to either walk or run the route.

It’s seemingly incredibly simple: the opportunity to walk or jog once a week and at informal yet organised event. It’s completely free to participate, the trail is fully marshalled, there is the option of recording your time if you wish, going to a nearby cafe for breakfast afterwards, or going straight home.

What’s the attraction? Why has the simple act of meeting for a walk or jog with a bunch of people you don’t know (yet) become such a successful and well-loved institution? There are currently nearly 900 parkrun locations in the UK, with 80 in Scotland; more are being added regularly.

One of Livingston parkrun’s Run Directors, Alan, says, “I think that the most amazing thing with parkrun is the strong sense of belonging that can develop over time for runners, walkers and volunteers alike. We definitely feel like a big family, with relatives all over the country!”

Pre-event briefing at Polkemmet Country Park parkrun

Since its beginnings in England in 2004 parkrun has managed to maintain an informality combined with excellent organisation. Their strapline is “free, for everyone, forever.” For people who want to walk or run with others but are anxious about joining a group, parkrun and parkwalk perfectly strike the balance. You can turn up and be part of it without joining a group, or having to introduce yourself in any way, or committing to attendance. You can participate alone, or with a friend; you’re encouraged to register, but can go anonymously; attend once, or go every week – nobody is counting except you. Take your dog and your kids; go to one closest home or visit one the other side of the country.

Walk, walk/jog, or run flat out, it’s entirely up to you

It’s a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and completely judgement-free. People of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels participate. Walk, walk/jog, or run flat out, it’s entirely up to you. There is always a tail-walker so you are never alone at the back. (If you’re very fast you may be alone at the front, but there are marshals to guide you!).

And it can become addictive! Some people travel all over the country - and the world - chasing different parkrun challenges. Some people reach 100 parkruns (or more!) and complete it with balloons and celebration cakes to share; some quietly complete their 100^th without telling anyone. You genuinely run your own run, or walk your own walk. The magic of parkrun is that the way you do it is the right way for you, and you will be fully supported by the community regardless.

Volunteers at Beecraig's Country Park parkrun, at a winter event. Photo by David McNulty Running Photography

An article on parkrun and parkwalk would not be complete without mentioning the volunteers who make it happen every week. As a free event, parkrun relies entirely on volunteers to check the course, marshals directing the way and applauding participants, time-keepers, tail-walkers and a host of other roles. People volunteer for many reasons; I have spoken to some who do it to give back as parkrun has helped them turn their own lives around in some way; some do it for the camaraderie and community; some want to be part of parkrun without actually running or walking. For David, who runs and volunteers regularly at Polkemmet, parkrun started as a social run on a Saturday, and he ran nearly 70 times before volunteering...but now the volunteering is on an equal footing with the running. He says, “It's a great community and a good chunk of the volunteers are now very good friends and it is this, as well as the obvious benefits of a run/jog or walk, that make a Saturday morning a parkrun morning.”

Whatever the reasons, everyone who volunteers, either one-off or regularly, is making an enormous contribution to a community which is quietly changing lives for the better.

If you are looking for a way to improve your mental and physical health this year, try parkrun on Saturday. Register at www.parkrun.org.uk and rock up at one of the locations below.

All commence at 9:30am every Saturday morning. There is a pre-event briefing so aim to arrive by around 9:15am if you have not been before. If the weather is bad, please check each parkrun Facebook page for updates in case of cancellation. It is unlikely to be cancelled for a bit of rain, but ice or snow may stop play.

Polkemmet Country parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/polkemmetcountry. Updates at www.facebook.com/Polkemmetparkrun

Beecraigs Country Park parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/beecraigscountrypark.

Updates at www.facebook.com/beecraigscountryparkparkrun

Livingston parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/livingston. Updates at www.facebook.com/livingstonparkrun

Auldcathie District parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/auldcathiedistrict. Updates at www.facebook.com/auldcathiedistrictparkrun

Oriam parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/oriam. Updates on the Oriam parkrun Facebook page.

Edinburgh parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/edinburgh. Updates at www.facebook.com/edinburghparkrun

Holyrood parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/holyrood. Updates at www.facebook.com/holyroodparkrun

Bo’ness Foreshore parkrun. All details at www.parkrun.org.uk/bonessforeshore. Updates at www.facebook.com/bonessforeshoreparkrun

A map of all events is at the main parkrun website: www.parkrun.org.uk

Auldcathie District parkrun opened in January 2024. Team GB Olympic Paraathlete and Winchburgh resident, Ben Rowlings, cut the ribbon. Run Director Ian Fyfe says, “We thought we might get 200, we planned for 400 and ended up with 601 at the first event! Carnage! But great fun and we now regularly have 150+ runners/walkers every week.”

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Article published in Konect February 2026

Author: Helen-Jane Gisbourne