Erddig parkrun (National Trust), Wales. Attempt to Run the Full Ponty but Pont y Bala was Cancelled.

We set out to Wales to complete the Full Ponty challenge (Pontypool, Pontypridd, Pontefract and Pont y Bala). The weather had other ideas and in the end over 400 UK parkruns were cancelled due to ice. We were so lucky to find a parkrun that was on and we were super lucky that it was the beautiful Erddig parkrun.
National Trust parkruns are always beautiful but Erddig parkrun was stunning. If tourists miss this parkrun to head over to Pont y Bala then they're missing a treat!
If you're in the area then the Grade I listed Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, World Heritage Site is a must visit. I was so happy to visit this incredible Wonder of the Waterways.
Happy running and stay safe,
Nicola :)

[@simonthecuddlyteddy]

Another smashing video Nicola, thanks. On my first and only canal boat holiday I was left to drive over that aqueduct whilst my friends all hid inside the boat. It was terrifying!

[@NicolaRuns]

Are you kidding?!?!??! 😱😱😱 Massive well done! That must have been such an experience 😱 That's super brave of you! Well done! Being up on a boat I think must be the worst. The kayakers said they felt worse walking than kayaking as they were so low down but on a canal boat you'd be above the level with just a sheer drop 😱😱😱 not for the feint hearted that's for sure!

[@terben7339]

It's good watching these from the perspective of an Australian summer. Cancellations here are more often due to flooding at riverside venues rather than ice. I volunteered and tailwalked on Saturday because I knew that Sunday's New Year parkrun was going to be over 30°C at 8:00am heading rapidly towards 37-38°C. A warm start to 2023. A Happy New Year to you and Poppy.

[@NicolaRuns]

OH MY GOODNESS! That's insanely hot! Tail walking sounds like an excellent call in weather like that l! ☀️ Happy New Year 🤗🎇

[@barnabynorman157]

That parkrun looked stunning but think it would be much nicer when warmer and OMG the aqueduct was amazing - I was getting wobbly just watching you! Thanks for sharing.

[@NicolaRuns]

I was not expecting to get wobbly legs walking over, it really surprised me! And Faith, bless her heart, couldn't come over to the other side. Very wobbly legs indeed! 😱

[@pennysimpson2777]

How absolutely spectacular! 😍

[@NicolaRuns]

Totally beautiful 😍

[@rhiannonruns829]

Beautiful scenery at that parkrun!

[@NicolaRuns]

We were lucky to stumble upon it. It was beautiful 😍

[@MrRennieFrumpkin]

Those old boys were doing a great job! Glad they stayed on their feet though!!

[@NicolaRuns]

They definitely were although it made me pretty nervous seeing them slip around! 😱

[@andyclark8991]

Nicola What a smashing cool video. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@NicolaRuns]

Thanks so much Andy! 😃 The universe smiled on us this day and turned what could have felt like a wasted trip into a brilliant adventure 😃 I was so happy!

[@patrickpattison6711]

Another great video, you did well to find a Parkrun on that weekend. I like your term Parkfaff, i always base any Parkrun tourism around what i can do afterwards as much as the run itself. A great excuse to visit places you might not otherwise consider. Happy running for 2023.

[@NicolaRuns]

Thank you 🤗 Happy New Year 🎇 We were so lucky to get to run and in retrospect maybe a little silly for touring so far away in the winter BUT it led to such an awesome weekend I think I'd do exactly the same again 😃 I totally agree about what you do afterwards. I never understand people who dash to a parkrun to "tick it off" and then leave. I think they're missing so much! And also part of the parkrun magic is being accepted into a local community in a new place so it's madness not to take advantage of that and ask what the local gems are 😍

[@BUSHMANandBLUE]

Yay! So cute🥰. Those white birds are albino robins👍.

[@NicolaRuns]

Oh I wondered what they were. Thanks Al ❤️❤️❤️

[@nolavout9094]

Happy new year all of u xx

[@elizabethrogers3030]

Happy New Year Nicola! Another great video as always. One of the things I love about you is that you can make a not ideal situation into a really fun adventure, and I think that is a really special trait to have, and pass on to the lovely Poppy, who doesn't complain much about the change of plans and always has fun no matter the situation. Wishing you, and Poppy, all the best for 2023, and I'm looking forward to whatever adventures you choose to share with us this year. Happy running :)

[@NicolaRuns]

Happy New Year! 🎇 Awww thank you so much. It can be hard to get over the initial disappointment sometimes but to be honest I watched the rate of cancelled events and didn't think we'd make it to a run and so it felt like a real gift when we did... And what a parkrun?! 😍😍😍 And then to randomly turn up at the aqueduct I'd really wanted to visit was just so lucky?! I think the universe smiled on me this day 🤗

[@adrians6488]

Another excellent video and some great ideas for places to visit, thanks. Looks a great place for a park run, but as someone who is very nesh and also no good at ice skating I'd probably wait until the summer! 😉 The birds are little egrets. (Mainly a winter visitor but there have been small settled colonies in the south since the late Eighties).

[@NicolaRuns]

The birds were so lovely! I was mesmerised 😍 I think a summer visit would definitely be better and I'd make a weekend of it and climb some of the mountains too. It's such a beautiful part of the world! I've not heard the word nesh for AGES, it's really nice to see it used 😃

[@dprid]

Crikey that takes me back. I first went to Erddig as a teenager a few weeks after it opened in 1977, and I played hockey matches under the aqueduct against the Monsanto factory team a couple of times 40+ years ago.

[@NicolaRuns]

Oh wow! I'm only just discovering Wales and I'm absolutely falling in love with it! 😍😍😍

[@richinleam]

Happy New Year. Another lovely looking Parkrun. When conditions are like that you just have to enjoy the day! I remember going to Leamington's 500th event last year and it was an absolute mud pit. Ankle deep mud, steep and slippy uphill section and deep puddles throughout. Clocked my slowest ever run but by far the most fun.

[@NicolaRuns]

Happy New Year! 🎇 Oh I love runs like that! Running in mud that's really silly makes me feel like a child 🤣 I've got a race on Sunday that I think might be like that 😂

[@Mookiethedog]

Really cool video. I loved the sheep and the aquaduct. It was very strange to see Poppy not being able to do her full sprint finish because of the ice! Happy New Year to you both!

[@NicolaRuns]

Thanks 🤗 Happy New Year! I did laugh at the kids running in 🤣 the team were saying "be careful it's icy" and so they were being super tentative as they'd already fallen! ❄️

[@SimonWilliamsTutor]

I grew up very near the Aqueduct (Pontcysyllte literally translates as connecting bridge by the way). Erddig is a gorgeous parkrun, bits of everything! I've run up Vomit Hill in the heat in the middle of summer - tough! Llangollen was due to get its own parkrun recently but I'm not sure what's happened to that.

[@NicolaRuns]

Ooh a parkrun in Llangollen would be ace. That's interesting about Pontcysyllte 😃 I'm so in love with Wales... Maybe I'll move there one day 😃

[@DanniiAndStuRunningAdventures]

I love the sheep part 😆 We did a 10k that included sheep, and they were the same, running everywhere. Great video

[@NicolaRuns]

Thank you 🤗 Lol the sheep! There were so many of them - An added obstacle hey?! 🐑😂 The poor shepherd marshal running backwards and forwards to keep the sheep off the path! 🤣

[@virtuocitygowf7272]

The sheer relief when you see a parkrun sign or pink hi-vis when touring 😥

[@NicolaRuns]

Oh my goodness EXACTLY this! 💯

[@arrontrevor7086]

Good job you managed to have a plan B after the cancellation. In Poland we had snow and ice all over the country that weekend but didn't cancel any events! I've run on icy paths a few times, and as long as you're careful it's not too much of a problem.

[@NicolaRuns]

To be honest I think other countries are much better at dealing with snow and ice than we are here in the UK! Oh and this was Plan C! We had a few options but first 2 cancelled that morning and as it turned out so many others were cancelled too! 😱

[@lynseygamble2398]

My husband and I went to pont y bala on the weekend thought we may see you. Great Parkrun though we have Erddig to do aswell, looks a nice course.

[@NicolaRuns]

It's so far that I need a clear weekend to do it and also I'd like the weather to be a bit warmer so that we don't face cancellations again. I hope you had a great run, I can't wait to run there and complete my Full Ponty 😃

[@michael24rhos]

What a lovely video! I live between erddig/Llangollen there's lots of lovely places to see here. Chirk canal tunnel/Chirk Castle/ crow castle in Llangollen to name a few! If you ever need a tour guide 😊

[@NicolaRuns]

Thanks Michael 😀 Yes we were trying to choose what to do as there was so much on offer. What a lovely part of the world you live in! 😍 There was talk of Llangollen getting a parkrun at some point so if that happens then we might have to return for a visit! Still need to make it to Bala too! 🙃 So many parkruns, not enough Saturdays!

[@michael24rhos]

I'm yet to do my first park run iv started back running only ever done 5k so I typed in errdig park run and you popped up. Currently watching some of your park runs on KZbin seems a good idea to visit new places for running! Trevor canal to Llangollen is beautiful just over 4 miles long! Keep Enjoying your passion and your videos are inspiring! Just watched your 600 park run buy the sea side!

[@NicolaRuns]

Thank you 🤗 Really pleased you're enjoying the vidros. Ooh yes you must get to parkrun! Using it to explore new places is our favourite thing to do. We're currently on a 7 hour train journey in Norway to get to a labour day parkrun tomorrow. It's such a great way to explore the world 🌍

[@michael24rhos]

@@NicolaRuns hope the hols are going well nicola! Iv just done 5.7k in 33 mins! first one in 3 years looking back on my running app my best was about 20 mins so hopefully I'll be back to that by summer! Thanks for the motivational videos 👍 🏃‍♂️

[@NicolaRuns]

@@michael24rhos thanks, just a long weekend so literally just landed back in Manchester after running the Norwegian extra day parkrun this morning! Gotta love extra parkrundays! That's a decent run, a great benchmark. It's good to know where you are so you can see your progress 🏃‍♂️

[@gavinbillington437]

I enjoyed my brief spell as a shepherd, farming is in my blood with my grandad being a dairy farmer. I managed to get all the sheep onto one side of the path, but I'm not sure if that was through skill or luck. 🤣 It is easy to forget the beauty on your doorstep.

[@NicolaRuns]

Oh my goodness you did such a great job and I was giggling so much at your shepherd comments 🤣 I always think blag it and say it was shepherding skill 😉 nobody will know... You might have to take a crook next time you volunteer to marshal 😜 thank you so much for volunteering and yes, we thought it was an absolutely stunning parkrun! 😍

[@Welshbud]

Fabulous. Thanks.

[@NicolaRuns]

Happy New Year 🎇 You're more than welcome 🤗

[@Josietea]

I was marshalling in the same day at another parkrun… I’m pleased I wasn’t the only one doing a black ice dance! 😅

[@NicolaRuns]

It looked so fun to be stood on it just slip sliding around 😃😂 Although I hope you weren't too cold! ❄️

[@markporritt9883]

Meanwhile yesterday in Australia we had a 37 degree Celsius parkrun day 😂

[@NicolaRuns]

It's mad isn't it?! You can watch all the ice and snow videos from the UK to cool down a bit 😜🤣

[@alanrobinson2229]

Little Egrets,you never saw them in UK,when I was a kid.

[@NicolaRuns]

I knew someone would let me know 😃 thanks, they're so beautiful! 😍

[@taffman1]

Evening, when you sped up the footage of the two older gents running, it reminded me the 'Benny Hill' running scene at the end of the show, just missing the appropriate music.

[@NicolaRuns]

Lol, I totally see that 🤣 although I wouldn't be allowed to use that music for free! 😩

[@taffman1]

@@NicolaRuns Always a catch.

[@Tonyr2]

That aqueduct, 😯 seen it featured on a documentary a few months ago and it looked scary then but even more so on your video Nicola 😱. If I vomit it will be due to giving the beans at parkrun rather than vertigo from that aqueduct 🙃🤮

[@NicolaRuns]

I literally couldn't believe how wobbly my legs felt! It was nuts! Lol I wasn't giving it any beans up vomit hill, not even one bean 🤣

[@mattmiller8139]

Another great video. I also visited the breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct after doing a parkrun. I left Croydon at 6.15am, did my parkrun at Leamington Spa in Warwickshire over 120 miles away and then drove another 100 miles to the viaduct where I had lunch before heading onto Llandudno. I was surprised Erddig parkrun was allowed to go ahead with ice freezing on the paths but it raises an interesting question do parkruns further North try & go ahead if they are not snow covered to keep cancellations to a minimum ? I’m wondering if the test for whether a parkrun should go ahead is different up North.

[@NicolaRuns]

No I don't think so... It was a case of conditions changing so quickly that the course check had been done and everything was fine at that point. I've never seen rain ice up that quickly before and I don't think the team had either. I think the National Trust closed the grounds afterwards. The team did their due diligence but conditions changed during parkrun. In the same way the National Trust would never have let people into the property with paths that slippy and dangerous. It's all part of being outside. Things can change because that's just how nature is 🙃

[@NicolaRuns]

I've not been to Llandudno, should I add it to the list? 😃

[@mattmiller8139]

Yes, Llandudno is a beautiful beach resort & there is a tram which takes you from the centre of town up onto the Great Ormes Head which gives you breathtaking views of both the town & the North Wales coast. It is very close to the scenic parkrun at Conwy Castle which I would love to do.

[@NicolaRuns]

@@mattmiller8139 ooh I'll definitely add it to the list! 😍😃

[@thebuttonmushroom]

Ahh so glad you did beautiful Erddig. Can’t believe I didn’t know about the aqueduct at Trevor, as I’d love to have seen that… oh well, an excuse to go back!!

[@NicolaRuns]

To be fair it was only after chatting to the team at Erddig that we went to Llangollen and then chatting to locals in Llangollen that we discovered the aqueduct which is 4 miles away! Tapping into local knowledge is one of the things I love about parkrun tourism... Because otherwise we'd had missed it for sure! And as you say - it's a great excuse to go back 😃

[@katiepillar]

I did not like that aqueduct AT ALL, made me feel proper weird! 😂

[@NicolaRuns]

I know right?! Something very leg wobbly about it! Imagine being in a boat?! 😱😱😱

[@katiepillar]

@@NicolaRuns I simply refuse to imagine that

[@NicolaRuns]

@@katiepillar 😂😂😂

[@richsullivan1950]

What a start to 2023! I expected Nicola Runs, but got a bonus helping of Nicola Aqueducts (surely a companion channel waiting to happen? )

[@NicolaRuns]

🤣 I would love that! Although the other 5 wonders of the waterways aren't all aqueducts so it might have to be Nicola's Adventures 😜🤣

[@nollys8523]

I kept rewinding at “..the sheep crossing is like a Welsh version of the Masai Mara” 😂😂😂 Happy New Year to you and Poppy.

[@NicolaRuns]

Happy New Year! 🎇 Ha ha I laughed so much when Michael said that 🤣🤣🤣

[@Rubix78]

Glad you got to run, I missed both over Christmas due to being ill 😢

[@NicolaRuns]

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that! I hope you're feeling better now. We felt very thankful to make it to a parkrun that was on 😊

[@michealblackgoldcoasteryou3117]

One of the other youtube videos I follow the guy was recently at that tall bridge and he had swam in it on a floating blow up surfboard 🤣

[@NicolaRuns]

Absolutely NO WAY would I do that 🤣🤣🤣 I was so surprised just how wobbly my legs felt, I think I'd have felt safer in a kayak tbh!

[@michealblackgoldcoasteryou3117]

@@NicolaRuns 🤣🤣🤣

[@MB-qk5it]

We had 570 on our local Christmas Day park run. Thanks for the great vlogs and HNY.🏃

[@NicolaRuns]

Christmas Day parkrun is my absolute favourite! 😃 Best start to Christmas ⛄ Happy New Year 🎇

[@dannynorman4717]

Lan Gollen.

[@NicolaRuns]

Hmmm... 🤔🤦🏻‍♀️🤣 If you ask Michael then yes 😂

[@audgester]

I saw the title and thought, "OH NO!" so I am glad you had another run you were able to do and took it all in stride! The sheep were really fun and the aqueduct was so cool! That Christmas display was beautiful! I am glad everyone was safe and really admire those marshals. They make all the difference!

[@NicolaRuns]

The marshals were so wonderful! They were put in a really hard predicament when the rain started at 8:55! Just 5 minutes to go until the run and it started getting really icy! It was crazy! Christmas at National Trust properties is always a bit magical I think ⛄

[@audgester]

@@NicolaRuns Much respect to the runners and marshals! Thank you!

[@bren70ssss94]

Yay , thanks for a New year's upload Nicola , I'm so sorry for dumping my sad story on you the other day , just had a bit of a moment.Normal service has been resumed , hope Poppy didn't hurt herself and poor blue had a limp too Al said 🤕 hope he's ok . Happy new year to you all 😁

[@NicolaRuns]

Happy New Year! Awww Poppy was fine, kids bounce 😜 and Blue is fine too 😃 It's always better to share than to keep things bottled up so please don't apologise 🙃

[@bren70ssss94]

@@NicolaRuns ☺️