If you haven’t noticed the ever-growing numbers of runners across London, it’s probably because you’re one of them and are too speedy to even recognise your fellow runners competition.
Every runner you know will have their favourite spaces to pelt around the city, but if they haven’t been to these particular two, then you should be whacking them into their Strava account and setting them on their way to tackle the most scenic running routes in the city.
Both Epping Forest Main Path and the Thames Path have been named among the most scenic running routes in the UK after price-comparison site Idealo crunched the numbers in a new study. They gathered the number of TikTok and Instagram posts that used tags including #trailrunning to gather the most popular scenic running routes around the country.
Epping Forest Main Path is a fine option to run deep into the path outside and away from the busy city life, and came in at 5th on the UK list with a number of different trails it offers for running. Thames Path was at 9th on the list, with 298km of riverside beauty to pick from when out on a run.
Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail was crowned victorious in the study, taking the number one spot for the most scenic running route in the whole UK. It was praised for its contemporary art runners can view along the way, which themselves take their inspiration from the stunning landscape. Arthur’s Seat was hot on its heels at number two, and it’s no wonder given the gorgeous views out over Edinburgh once you reach the top.
Read the full study on the best running routes around the UK by Idealo here.
The most scenic running routes in the UK
According to data from Idealo, the most scenic running routes across the UK are as follows:
- Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail, Gloucester
- Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
- Box Hill Circular, Guildford
- Malvern Hills Circular, Worcester
- Epping Forest Main Path, Chelmsford
- Cannock Chase Circular, Stafford
- West Highland Way, Glasgow
- Mam Tor and the Great Ridge, Sheffield
- Thames Path, London
- Helvellyn, Carlisle