'The Great Grape Challenge'! - Squerryes parkrun #180 - 03/08/24

Last year I attended Mole Valley parkrun to celebrate my 400th parkrun. It’s set in the incredible Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking. You run alongside the vines which feels incredible and the views are breathtaking. We crowned the day by doing a wine-tasting tour afterwards. It was a lovely day at a lovely venue and the seeds were sown to do more parkruns at vineyards and so ‘The Great Grape Challenge’ was born! 

An enquiry to the knowledgeable parkrun enthusiasts on the Facebook Tourism and World Travel forums about parkruns going through vineyards has unearthed an inordinate number of events with multiple trips to South Africa and New Zealand needed. I am compiling the list and hope the developers of the 5k app will add it to the rostrum of challenges. 

I took a step towards completing ‘The Great Grape Challenge’ by heading to Squerryes parkrun. Located just outside the M25 in Kent, Andrew, today’s Run Director, explained that although this was parkrun, we weren’t in a park, but rather the 2,500-acre private Squerryes Estate. The Estate produces foodstuff for its 200 dairy herd which produces milk for M&S. It is home to Westerham Brewery Co. Ltd which makes craft beers. There’s a restaurant, farm shop and most importantly to us, since September 2019 home to Squerryes parkrun. 

Andrew gave a comprehensive first timers welcome. Photo credit Shveta Shah.

There were a lot of tourists in attendance with one person from Sydney Australia and a crew from Heathfield Road Runners. A mixed ability and a mixed age field meant the event felt expansive while being warm, friendly and welcoming at the same time. We were cheered around by a band of cheery marshalls with Rosemary awaiting to scan our barcodes. 

Heathfield Road Runners in attendance.

The course is one and a half clockwise laps predominately around the fields with the vines. There is a section of the course where you’re running through the vines and it’s a wonderful immersive experience. It’s largely trail or grassy underfoot some of it uneven and trail shoes are going to be necessary when it’s wet. Large sections of the course are single-file. With some undulation and a minor hill which due to today’s heat felt like climbing Everest I found myself swapping places and battling it out with a few other participants. There was a slight drizzle in the air but the ground remained good to firm and the competition spicy but still friendly.  

Running in the vines! Photo credit Squerryes parkrun team.

The family motto at Squerryes Court is ‘Liccet Esse Beatis’ which means it’s permitted to be joyful’ which we certainly were. We left with a bottle of their award-winning sparkling rose ensuring ‘Liccet Esse Beatis’ for tomorrow too.   

‘Liccet Esse Beatis’ for tomorrow too. Photo credit Gemma Southren.

Happy Running

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N.B. The 2024 Southwark Slam, running all the parkruns in the London Borough of Southwark, in the calendar month of September. It will commence on 07/09/24. The first Saturday will be at Southwark parkrun, on 07/09/24, for their birthday. The second Saturday, 14/09/24,  will be at Peckham Rye parkrun. The third Saturday, 21/09/24, will be Dulwich parkrun. The fourth and final Saturday, 28/09/24, will be at Burgess parkrun for their birthday. Complete all 4 events and become a Southwark Slammer!

Become a Southwark Slammer!