Budhill, Barlanark, Cranhill Parks

Run time: 40:02
Distance covered: 4.22 miles (6.79km)
Soundtrack: Two Crime Writers & a Microphone podcast 
Conditions: overcast, muggy



I came across a great quote from Werner Herzog the other day: "The world reveals itself to those who travel on foot." It reminded me of the real attraction of this project.

Again, I was running in an area I've passed through hundreds of times by car, but it's completely transformed on foot.

Another thing I noticed from the volume of cars on the road and the people on the pavements, it feels like lockdown is starting to ease off, no matter what the official advice is. People do seem to be getting better at observing a safe distance though, and it's still possible to run out on the road when necessary.

I started off in Budhill Park, which is small but well-kept. They had a special Covid19 banner that helpfully measures out six feet. A nice park, and like many of them at this time of year, improved by the blossom.





From there, I ran up Mansionhouse Drive, which starts out with a little oasis of older buildings among predominately 60s local authority housing stock. I've driven through here so many times on the way to the Fort shopping centre, but I never noticed how hilly it was. I turned off Mansionhouse and approached Barlanark Park, which I never knew existed before now, as it's tucked away out of sight from the main roads.


This was something of an oasis too - some nice trees and a hill that looked like a good spot for dog walking, and a hidden-away woodland trail (where the shaky pic of the bluebells at the top of the post was taken). Like a lot of the off-the-beaten-path tracks, it felt happily forgotten, rather than neglected.



From there, I lost my bearings (easy to do in the meandering streets), and almost looped back around to Budhill Park before I worked out where I was and reversed course. I headed up the steep hill to join Edinburgh Road, which was busier than usual, but nowhere near the gridlock you would normally see on a Friday afternoon.



From there, a flat run to the final calling point, Cranhill Park. The sign here had been stolen, but in its place, I was welcomed by this...



It felt like there was a story behind this. One of the other park users looked at me suspiciously as I got too close to the wine, so I'm assuming it was his and he was coming back to it. Fair enough - I'm not going to come between a man and his al fresco refreshment.

Again, this one was a cut above the usual dog walking parks thanks to some interesting terrain and some nice trees.





From there, it was back down the hill to Budhill. Unlike my last run, I found plenty to like about all three calling points this time. 

Some extra miles on the clock thanks to getting lost, but that never hurts. In fact, it's part of the enjoyment. Three more parks I've unknowingly driven within yards of countless times, and a little more of the world revealed to me.







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