Pennine Way Stadium

The Pennine Way Stadium sits just outside Hemel Hempstead, and if you're expecting some grand athletics complex, you'll be pleasantly surprised by how understated it actually is. This is proper grassroots territory - a straightforward sports facility with a genuine track and field setup that's used by local clubs and serious runners training for distance events.

What you get here depends entirely on what's happening when you visit. On match days or training sessions, there's real energy - you'll see athletes putting in genuine work on the track, which is more interesting than it sounds if you're into running or field sports at all. It's the sort of place where local champions get made, not where tourists typically flock.

Unless you're a runner yourself or have kids keen on track and field, half an hour is probably your limit. There's no café, no visitor centre, no razz and dazzle. But that's partly why it works - it's a working facility, not a theme park attraction.

If you're staying at Fuzzy's Farm or Highridge Farm just down the road, and you've got sporty teenagers itching to run or throw, it's worth ringing ahead to see what's on. Otherwise, save your energy for the better-known parks in the area. Hemel Hempstead itself has genuine attractions that'll fill your day far more easily than this will.