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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 in Heaton Park, Manchetser, and entirely on mainly on wide tarmac paths and a small section of gravel around the lake, 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

Heaton 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 Heaton 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 Heaton parkrun in a larger map

Course Description

New Course (November 2011)

The run starts in the front of Heaton Hall, just before the lions. We set off heading in the direction of the golf course taking a left turn (T1) at the end of the Orangery, and follow the path that loops around the back of Heaton Hall. The path doglegs slightly to the right and then left as we carry straight on down keeping the stables to our right and run down the hill for 0.5km carrying on past the old paddling pool area, past the 1km mark and then shortly after take a left turn (T2) which is opposite the fairground.

After turning left we run straight past the café on our left and then through the old finish line and then start line, across the tram lines and follow the winding path around to the bottom of ‘Angina’ Hill and take a left turn (T3) up the hill. We run up the hill for about 100metres and then take a left turn (T4) onto the small. We follow the path straight through the 2km mark at the crossroads at the centre of the wooded copse and run straight down to take a left turn (T5) onto to the starting straight again, opposite the old paddling pool.

Running on we bear right at the lake corner instead of going straight on, and now on a new part of the course we run for about 100m before taking a fairly acute left turn at (T5) onto a path which takes us to the edge of the school railings and along a short stretch of rough track through the 3km mark, this path joins our old course again just before the gate post which has the orange cone on top! And we follow the winding path right around the back of the lake.

We exit the path at the open gate crossing the tram tracks and take a right turn (T7). Now we follow the path around to the bottom of Angina Hill and take a left turn again (T8) and run all the way up the hill through the 4km mark. When we arrive at the top of the hill we carry straight on to the left of Heaton Hall and then take a right turn (T9) which takes us onto the path which passes the toilet block on our right and then winds around the Bell Tower, with the golf course on our left.

We follow this path which rises up to pass the Orangery now on our right and onto the finishing straight in front of Heaton Hall, we finish the 5km run at inbetween the lions again, approx where we started.

Getting There

Location of Start

We start in front of Heaton Hall, by the lions.

Getting There by Public Transport

By Bus

You can take the number 135 from Manchester City Centre, which stops at the tram station on Bury Old Road. Many buses travel to Heaton Park, including 56, 59, 64, 64A, 135, 137, 138, 150, 151, 484, 495. Please check with GMPTE for the latest travel information and an interactive journey planner.

By Metrolink Tram

The nearest metrolink tram station is Heaton Park. Trams run regularly from the City Centre and other destinations. There is a gate into the park directly opposite the station, and once in the park you should keep walking straight ahead, following signs to Heaton Hall.

Please see Metrolink for tram times and service information.

Getting There by Bike

The park is easily accessible to cyclists.

Getting There by Road

Close to the M60 motorway, served by Metrolink which links to the national rail network and with Manchester Airport only 40 minutes away, Heaton Park is easily accessible.

Car Parking

Parking charges are made at weekends and during large events (£1.50 for cars). The nearest car park is the Hall car park, which can be accessed by using St Margret's gate entrance. The start and finish is a short walk down the hill to Heaton Hall. Alternatively you can use Sheepfoot Lane Lakeside car park and walk up through the park to Heaton Hall.

Disabled Car Parking

There are disabled parking bays in the Hall and Lake car parks. Parking is free for holders of disabled parking scheme permits provided these are displayed in the car.

Coach Parking

Please use the Hall car park, accessing the park through the St Margaret's Road entrance.