Scotland’s newest Parkrun route will open this weekend, marking the completion of another phase of development of Auldcathie District Park in Winchburgh, in West Lothian.
The original Parkrun route there broke the record for the post popular inaugural run with more than 600 entrants in January 2023.
On Saturday (August 31) at 9.30am, in the greenspace that now extends to 60 acres at the heart of the country’s fastest-growing town, a new route will see participants embark on three different loops.
The event will coincide with the opening of this latest phase of the park by Winchburgh Developments Ltd. (WDL) and will see runners climb to the top of the Auldcathie Hill, offering views across to the Forth bridges and the Pentland Hills.
The Auldcathie District Parkrun began last year as a route of two laps of 2.5km, has evolved to use the park extension and will, from this weekend, become a 5km course comprising three different loops.
“We have loved growing the Auldcathie Parkrun with new local runners joining us every week,” said Gillian Frame, event director at Auldcathie District Parkrun. “We feel this new final route, with less repetition and a little more undulation in the final loop, should challenge the regulars and provide new faces with a more scenic route.”
The park itself will see further development over the next two years. With a new pavilion and bike park to be opened, it should attract many people of all ages.
John Hamilton, CEO of Winchburgh Developments Ltd, said, “The Auldcathie Park has been a fantastic story for everyone from the outset. It was designed by the community, who have helped us shape what we now have: a fantastic area for Winchburgh Community Growing Group, a huge play and bouldering park, local coffee hut business and, of course, a fantastic ParkRun event each week.”
Auldcathie District Parkrun will now start in the park at Winchburgh Community Growing Group at 9.30am (behind the school campus at the entrance to Winchburgh from Linlithgow). Participants are invited to run or walk the route, with children or dogs if desired.
Refreshments and gelato will be on sale courtesy of Coffee By Nico and local award-winning producer Villaggio Gelato.
Winchburgh Developments Ltd is behind the development of one of the most ambitious placemaking projects in the UK. Earlier this year, the “West Lothian Riviera”, a new marina on the Union Canal was unveiled and, shortly afterwards, a new “core road” was opened through the emerging new town centre running on new bridge structures over the Edinburgh/Glasgow railway line and canal. Last year, the company completed the opening of the new motorway junction 1B, which has directly connected Winchburgh to the M9 motorway, enabling residents to enjoy significantly shorter commutes to Edinburgh and beyond.
In February, WDL was crowned Property Company of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Property Awards in recognition of its investment in the area and the significant development milestones it has achieved over the last 12 months with its “infrastructure-first” approach to community planning.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
