The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. The course is in Bramhall park, and run on tarmac (40%) and 60% off-road. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be 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 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 may be 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.
  • Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm's reach) throughout the run by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice.
  • 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 visit 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, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Please ensure that you are fit enough to walk, jog, run 5k (3.1 miles) with us. Health advice about running can be found at the excellent Runners' Medical Resource website (although this external website focuses on preparation for a race and does not describe parkrun events).
  • 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.
  • It is not permitted to run with a pushchair and a dog at the same time.
    Bramhall parkrun currently attracts a large number of runners and the course includes narrow paths over rough surfaces with tight turns. For this reason we do NOT allow running with dogs or buggies to ensure the safety of all runners. Other parkruns in the local area are more suitable for dogs and most welcome buggies - please refer to their Course page.

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 race distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see our Support page.

Course Map


View Bramhall parkrun in a larger map

Course Description

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.


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.



Due to some aspects of the course, for the safety of participants and other park users we do NOT allow dogs or buggies at Bramhall parkrun.

Facilities

Toilets are located in the café near the hall. The toilets are open by 8.30am - if the black gate is closed push hard to open - cross the yard and the toilet entrance is just to the left of the café entrance doors.

Getting There

Location of start

The start area is on the park road next to the lodge by the pedestrian gate near the Bridge Lane roundabout.

Getting there by 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).

Getting there on foot

The start area is on the park road next to the lodge by the pedestrian gate near the Bridge Lane 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.

Getting there by road

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 below.

Bike Parking: Bikes can be locked (at your own risk) to a fence near the start.

Car Parking: There is plenty of parking in the car parks - follow the brown signs Bramall Hall SK7 3NX. Otherwise park politely on the wide residential roads nearby e.g. Carrwood Ave, St. Michaels Ave, Broadway, Linney Rd. Please do not park on the main roads, near the roundabout or on the roads surrounding the park. There is no parking close to the start so allow at least 10 minutes walk

Post Run Coffee

Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee in the Stables Café - this is up near the hall, a great new café serving hot drinks and breakfasts with plenty of inside and outside tables - please come and join us!