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The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by us with a professional measuring wheel. The course is on 60% tarmac and 40% off road footpath, although some sections of the course do accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or temporary signs in place.

Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to to enjoy the event.

Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users.  Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking is limited so try to arrive early.

Course Safety

The Bramhall parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the run as safe as possible, so runners, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
  • Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please vist the volunteer page for more information.
  • Take care near roads and car parks - some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the run, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
  • When running, take care on uneven surfaces - whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other runners, pedestrians, children, deer, dogs, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Runners with dogs are welcome, but please keep dogs on a short lead or harness and under control throughout the event.
  • Runners pushing buggies are also welcome, but please take extreme care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners.
  • Please make sure you’re fit enough to run 5k (3.1 miles) – if you’re in any doubt, please consult your doctor.
  • Remember to warm up before the run.
  • If you see a runner with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of runners on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • While rare, Lyme Disease is present in areas where deer live, and occasionally passed to human’s through infected ticks. See NHS Choices website for more about Lyme Disease, and how to deal with ticks.
  • This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Bramhall parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help athletes compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different run distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see the Running For Fitness website.

Course Map


View Bramhall parkrun in a larger map

Course Description

General

The start and finish is near the lodge entrance close to the Bridge Lane / Bramhall Lane South roundabout (see map). The route consists of 2 laps that wind through the park in an hourglass shape plus a start and finish straight. The course is scenic and undulating with wide sweeping curves and some tighter twists and turns. It is designed to be entertaining rather than pure PB speed. We're here every week so take it easy the first time and get to know the course. Beware of other park users at all times.

Bramhall attracts a large number of runners for the size of the park and paths. If you prefer more space to run then try nearby Woodbank parkrun. Please line up at the start in a position that matches your speed. If you're a faster runner please start near the front and be patient when passing slower runners on your 2nd lap. Slower runners please start further back and stay in single file on the narrower paths, allowing faster runners to overtake. We suggest that you don't use iPods etc. so that you stay aware of other runners and can hear marshals instructions.

The paths are 40% tarmac and 60% off road. The gravel surfaced and grass footpaths are hard when dry but slippery with some mud and puddles when wet. Regular running shoes or trail shoes are suitable but you will need some grip on wet paths. The route sticks to the paths: please don't cut corners as this damages the park and you won't have run 5k.

The 5k Route

From the lodge entrance run up the wide road through the trees towards the Hall. Go through the white gate turning right and run up towards the hall. Opposite the hall entrance turn left, keeping to the tarmac path. Go carefully around the low stone plinth, over the haha bridge and out onto the "Archery Field". Run straight across the field keeping to the worn central path. Join the gravel path turning left as you leave the field. At the path junction turn sharp right and follow the narrow tarmac path down the hill. Take care on this section as the path and corners are slippery especially when wet. Allow other runners plenty of room there will be space to overtake later on.

On the first lap follow the path straight down to Duck Poo Corner.

On the second lap only you will be directed sharp left to complete an additional loop of the "Fishing Pond". Beware the leaning tree and the bumpy path. Follow the path round keeping right to rejoin the same route at Duck Poo Corner.

From Duck Poo Corner run along with the big pond on your left and hall high above on the right. If you are in the lead, beware of the Canada Geese - they are part of the fun and may move if you clap or shout. Round the end of the pond by turning left just before the wooden bridge to run back along a rougher path with the river on your right. Take care: this path is narrow in places, next to the river and frequently muddy.

Back at the ponds turn right to cross the river over the metal bridge. Bear left up the hill on a wider stony path. At the top turn right onto a long straight path that undulates pleasantly through the woods. As you leave the woods the path descends sharply (and you can see the start area across the river ahead). Turn right and follow the path back towards the centre of the park through trees.

Cross over the long wooden bridge turning left down the ramp. This bridge is very slippery when wet slow down take care when turning at the end. Keep straight on over the stone bridge, and then fork right and run up the stony path towards the big oak tree. At the top of this path turn right to start your second lap. At this point on the second lap instead turn left with about 200m to the finish.

If you decide to run only 1 lap this is OK but in this case please veer off before the finish and don't cross the finish line.

The Finish

As you cross the finish line the timer will record your 5k time. Remain in finish sequence and walk down the funnel to receive a position token. Take your barcode and position token to one of the result scanners who are wearing orange hi-viz. They will scan your barcodes and your result will appear on this website later. Please ALWAYS hand back in the position token - they are expensive and we need them for next week.

Toilets

These are on the north side of the wall between the hall and the Archery Field and signposted from the carpark. There is only one toilet so you are advised to go before leaving home.

Getting There

Think green! If you are local please jog / walk / cycle to the park. It is also the best way to warm up and get in the mood. You can use one of the many pedestrian entry points to the park (marked with red blobs on the map). Cycling is not permitted in the park – please push.

Public Transport

Bramhall (1 km) and Cheadle Hulme (2km) railway stations are within jogging distance. Both have services from Manchester and Stockport (www.nationalrail.co.uk). There are bus stops (services 307, 308, 377, 378) by the roundabout adjacent to the race start (www.gmpte.com).

Parking

On site car parking is pay and display (£1 = 2 hours) and limited to about 50 spaces. The main car park is closed until 8am. Please don’t park on the narrow access road (Hall Rd) or the main roads surrounding the park – doing so will jeopardise the future of the event.

The other option is to park politely on one of the many wide residential roads (e.g. Carrwood Ave, St. Michaels Ave, Broadway, Linney Rd, North Park Road) in the area from where it is a 5-minute walk into the park using via one of the pedestrian entry points.

Finding The Start

The start area is on the park road next to the lodge by the pedestrian gate near the roundabout. From the car park go towards the hall then turn right down the park road past the white iron gate and continue down the hill directly to the start area.

If you are lost don’t panic it is a small park. First find the hall. Then look down at the ponds and find the river. The start area is down on the far right by the road, where the river flows into the park.

Driving From Further Afield

Bramall Hall is situated in Bramhall near Stockport (postcode SK7 3NX). From the south take the A34 then A555 to Bramhall then go through Bramhall towards Stockport on the A5102 (Bramhall Lane South). From Stockport take the A6 then A5102 (Bramhall Lane) through Davenport. From Manchester take the A34 then route through Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme.

Brown signposts direct you to the hall car parking although see Parking above.

Please consider the environment and don’t drive long distances for short races.