Is Homewood parkrun suitable for beginners?

Yes, with one caveat. The course is welcoming and the volunteer team is known for its warm first-timers briefing. However, the exposed tree roots throughout the woodland sections require you to watch your footing carefully. If you are very new to running and not confident on uneven terrain, take it steady and you will be fine.

What shoes should I wear at Homewood parkrun?

Trail shoes are strongly recommended. The course is mostly compacted earth and tree mulch with exposed roots throughout. In wet conditions parts of the route can become muddy. Road shoes will work in dry summer conditions but trail shoes give you much better grip and confidence on the rooty sections.

Where do I park for Homewood parkrun?

There are two free car parks on Foxhills Road, Ottershaw, KT16 0NQ. The bowling club car park has toilets and a ticket machine - take a free 3-hour ticket and display it. The playground car park further along Foxhills Road has no machine and no display requirement. Both are free.

Is Homewood parkrun good for a PB?

No. The combination of undulating woodland terrain, exposed tree roots and compacted earth surface makes Homewood a course you run for the experience rather than the clock. It is genuinely beautiful, particularly in good light through the pines, but not a place to chase a personal best.

Homewood parkrun: Course Guide, Terrain and Tips

Watch your footing: Exposed tree roots throughout the woodland sections are mentioned at every first-timers briefing. Take them seriously, especially on downhill sections and in wet conditions when they become slippery.

The honest version

Homewood parkrun has one of the most interesting backstories in Surrey. The event was originally registered at Homewood Park nearby but had to find a new home, eventually settling at Ottershaw Memorial Fields less than a mile away. The Homewood name came with them, which is why the postcode and address point to Ottershaw rather than anywhere called Homewood.

What you find there is one of the better-looking parkruns in the south east. Three laps of the woodland trails through Ether Hill, starting on the playing fields and then diving into a proper mix of pine forest, birch woodland and fern-lined singletrack. It is undulating throughout, the roots are real and frequent, and the course uses compacted earth and tree mulch for the majority of its length. Beautiful on a sunny morning. Genuinely demanding underfoot whatever the weather.

Homewood parkrun event sign on the playing fields at Ottershaw Memorial Fields — The event sets up on the playing fields before heading into the Ether Hill woodland. Photos by Paul Killick.

The route

You start on the playing fields next to Foxhills Road and run half a lap of the field before entering the woods. Each of the three woodland loops is approximately 1.5km. After the third lap you exit the trees and run clockwise around the fields to finish between the two car parks.

Start

Playing fields, Foxhills Road
The start line is on the grass next to the road. Half a lap of the field before you hit the treeline. A good chance to find your space before the paths narrow.
Into the woods

Ether Hill woodland trail begins
The course drops into the trees and the character changes immediately. Compacted earth and tree mulch underfoot, canopy overhead. Views over Queenswood Golf Course appear on the higher sections. This is what people come for.
Loops 1 to 3

Three laps of undulating woodland, approx 1.5km each
The route is consistently undulating with no flat stretches to recover on. Tree roots are present throughout and are highlighted in the first-timers briefing for good reason. Two short sections of hard surface break up the natural trail. Signs and marshals are at all turning points.
Finish

Clockwise around the fields
After the third woodland lap you exit the trees and run clockwise around the playing fields to finish between the two car parks. The grass finish is a welcome change of pace after three rounds of roots and mulch.

Narrow trail through ferns at Homewood parkrun showing exposed tree roots on the path — The roots are real. This is what the narrower singletrack sections look like. Watch your footing on the way down.

Elevation profile: 77m total gain, undulating throughout

Course statistics

Average finish times, course records and full results on the parkrun website.

View on parkrun →

What to wear on your feet

Shoe recommendation by conditions

Dry

Trail shoes are the right call even in dry conditions. The exposed roots and undulating compacted earth reward grip and stability. A road shoe will get you round but you will feel every root more keenly on the descents.

Wet

Trail shoes with proper grip are essential after rain. The team lays woodchip on problem areas during wet spells, but the roots become genuinely slippery and muddy patches do form on the lower sections. Do not turn up in road shoes after a wet week.

Avoid

Carbon-plated race shoes. They offer nothing useful on roots and compacted earth, and the stiff construction will make the undulating terrain uncomfortable. You are not here for a fast time.

Narrow trail section at Homewood parkrun with exposed roots and fence alongside — Some sections are narrow enough that overtaking is tricky. Start at the right place for your pace.

In wet weather

After heavy rainfall, parts of the course can become muddy enough to slow everyone down significantly. The volunteer team runs working parties to lay woodchip on the worst sections, which helps considerably. If you are checking the forecast before a wet-week visit, it is worth a quick look at the Homewood Facebook page to see whether any course notes have been posted.

The tree canopy gives some protection when it is raining on the day, but the roots hold water and the lower-lying sections can get boggy. Gaiters are overkill but a change of shoes for the drive home is not a bad idea after a proper wet one.

Getting there and parking

Two free car parks on Foxhills Road, both signposted for Ottershaw Memorial Fields. Coming from the Ottershaw roundabout, take Foxhills Road and they appear on your left after roughly 200 to 300 metres.

The bowling club car park has toilets and a ticket machine. Parking is free but you must take a 3-hour ticket from the machine and display it on your dashboard. The playground car park further along has no machine and no display requirement. Both are free and three hours is more than enough time.

By train: Chertsey and Addlestone stations are both around 2 miles away. The 446 bus from Woking stops on Brox Road and the 461 stops at The Otter on Murray Road, each about a 10-minute walk to the Foxhills Road car park.

After the run

The regular post-run meetup is at the Old School Cafe on Longcross Road, Chertsey, KT16 0DP. The Homewood community makes a point of heading there after most Saturdays, so it is worth the short drive if you want to put faces to the pink volunteer bibs.

Buggies and pushchairs

The official guidance is to contact the event team in advance if you are bringing a pushchair, as the terrain does present challenges. Double buggies are not permitted due to narrow sections on the uphill stretch. A single off-road buggy can manage the course in dry conditions with a confident pusher, but it is not easy going and some sections will need careful navigation. When in doubt, email the team before turning up.

SaturdayOff verdict

Terrain

Woodland trail, compacted earth

Elevation

77m, undulating throughout

Difficulty

Moderate

PB potential

None

Suitable for beginners

Yes, with care on roots

Dogs welcome

Yes, short lead

Pushchair friendly

Single buggy, dry only

Post-run cafe

Old School Cafe, Chertsey

Common questions

Is Homewood parkrun suitable for beginners?: Yes, with one caveat. The team is welcoming and the first-timers briefing is thorough. The tree roots do require you to watch where you are putting your feet, so take the woodland sections at a pace you are comfortable with and you will enjoy it.
What shoes should I wear at Homewood parkrun?: Trail shoes. Even in dry conditions, the exposed roots and compacted earth benefit from grip and stability. In wet weather trail shoes are essential. Avoid road shoes after rain.
Where do I park for Homewood parkrun?: Two free car parks on Foxhills Road, KT16 0NQ. The bowling club car park has toilets and needs a free 3-hour display ticket from the machine. The playground car park has no machine. Both are free. Arrive by 8.45am to be comfortable.
Is Homewood parkrun good for a PB?: No. The undulating woodland terrain, exposed roots and natural trail surface mean this is a course you run for the experience. Come here for the trees, not the clock.
Why is it called Homewood parkrun if it is at Ottershaw Memorial Fields?: The event was originally registered at Homewood Park nearby but relocated to Ottershaw Memorial Fields less than a mile away. The Homewood name stayed with the event after the move.

Guide based on course knowledge and photos submitted by Paul Killick. Last updated June 2026.