ARDGILLAN
Tried and tested by Aoife @familywalksire (IG & Twitter)
Buggy Friendly rating: 5/10
Scenery: 9/10
Course:
This was my first ever parkrun which I completed in January 2016. Ardgillan parkrun starts behind the castle (beside the toilets). The run takes you through mainly forest trail (which requires a sturdy buggy) but also some very stoney/bumpy paths which I didn’t feel were very buggy-friendly but I certainly got a great workout! The kiddies seem to enjoy it at the time too!
The final stretch takes you up a steep hill (which feels like Mount Everest when pushing a double buggy). Needless to say the encouragement from the wonderful volunteers and fellow runners is so uplifting especially just when you need it. Even though I completed this course a few years ago I’ll never forget the feeling of finishing it and experiencing all the positivity and community spirit that surrounds Parkrun events.
Facilities, cafes and playgrounds:
There’s a cafe in the castle, an amazing playground, a fairy trail and walled gardens on the grounds also. Needless to say Argillan is such a beautiful place to explore with stunning views over Skerries and Balbriggan.
Overall:
Such an uplifting experience. Not sure I’d recommend it for buggies(depending on how sturdy your buggy is of course). Perhaps best to walk this one with a buggy but would love to hear from anyone else who’s done it with a buggy, especially more recently than me.