Cookridge to Golden Acre Park

This 6.7 km run follows a lollipop shape, starting on Pinfold Lane. You’ll head out on a section of the Leeds County Way which serves as the 'stick' of the route, leading you towards the main loop. The path initially guides you past Paul's Pond and through the woodland of Breary Marsh Nature Reserve. Because the first section is an out-and-back, you can get a good sense of the terrain before you commit to the circuit in the park.

With the surface being only 30% paved, most of your run will be on trail and grassy tracks. Trail shoes are the practical choice here, particularly after wet weather when the ground through the reserve and around the park can become soft and slick underfoot. The 32 metres of total ascent are spread so thinly that you’ll barely notice them; the route feels almost completely flat. This makes it useful for maintaining an even pace without any notable climbs interrupting your rhythm.

The main circuit of the run is a loop around the lake in the centre of Golden Acre Park. The path is well-defined and straightforward to follow. Once you've completed the circle, you re-join the 'stick' to retrace your steps to the start. The return leg follows a slightly different line that bypasses Paul's Pond, giving you a minor variation for the final kilometre before you arrive back on Pinfold Lane.