Take a trip to the seaside

A trip to the seaside is always a fun day out for the whole family. You can build sandcastles, play on the amusements, or soak up the sun (sometimes) on the beach. And you can also walk, jog or run a parkrun!

 

From east to west and north to south, a number of seaside resorts are now home to parkrun events. We take a closer look at five parkruns that take place along the coast of the UK…

 

1. Aberdeen parkrun, Scotland

 

 

Among a number of attractions, the Scottish city of Aberdeen is famous for its coastline and its status as a world-renowned destination for golfers, with over 50 courses in the city and Shire. 

 

Aberdeen parkrun, on Scotland’s east coast, is a must for tourists and locals alike, with an out and back course starting and finishing near to the Donmouth local nature reserve, offering spectacular views of the beach, North Sea, harbour and seafront. 

 

 

Like most coastal destinations, the weather can be favourable or challenging! But with dramatic skies and seas, surfers, dolphins and the fleet of ships anchored in the bay there are plenty of points of interest for the 200+ parkrunners that have their barcodes scanned at Aberdeen every Saturday morning.

 

The course is run entirely on tarmac paths, and afterwards you can shellebrate your PB or milestone at the Tramsheds Coffee Shop, located in the nearby Satrosphere Science Centre.

 

You can find out more about Aberdeen parkrun here.

 

 

2. Gorleston Cliffs parkrun, Norfolk

 

 

In the county of Norfolk, close to the border with neighbouring Suffolk, the seaside resort of Gorleston on England’s east coast is home to one of the world’s oldest parkruns.

 

Gorleston Cliffs parkrun became only the 13th parkrun in the world when they joined the parkrun family in April 2009, and Saturday mornings have never been the same since!

 

 

The two-lap course runs along the scenic Gorleston Cliffs on paved paths, and the good news is the course starts at the top and finishes at the bottom, meaning you only have to climb the cliffs once!

 

More than 300 parkrunners take on the 5k each week, but just remember to arrive before 9:00am before the ship sets sail!

 

You can find out more about Gorleston Cliffs parkrun here.

 

 

3. Hove Promenade parkrun, Sussex

 

 

One of the flattest parkruns in the UK, Hove Promenade parkrun (known as Hove Prom) takes place on the south coast of England in the town of Hove, East Sussex – not to be mistaken with neighbours Brighton immediately to the west!

 

The two-lap out and back course is run completely on tarmac, with the sea views and idyllic beach huts making it an authentic seaside visit.

 

 

A hugely popular parkrun for tourists, the start and finish is located less than a mile from the world’s tallest moving observation tower, and under two miles from historic Brighton Pier, making it an ideal venue for a parkrun tourism weekend away.

 

With views like these, you’ll be walking, jogging and running with a porpoise!

 

You can find out more about Hove Prom parkrun here.

 

 

4. Porthcawl parkrun, South Wales

 

 

On the south coast of Wales, the town of Porthcawl has been home to a stunning seafront parkrun for almost five years, and is infamous for some Atlantic weather on Saturday mornings!

 

Porthcawl parkrun Co-Event Directors, Stu Davidson and Steve Brace, describe the course as “a scenic, exhilarating, rolling, highly memorable out and back route, which is an absolute must-do” for all parkrunners.

 

 

Every Saturday morning, between 300-400 men and women of all ages walk, jog and run the breathtaking 5k, and Porthcawl parkrun is always popular with tourists – and especially in September when the town stages one of Europe’s largest Elvis festivals.

 

With crashing waves, a fast course, and over a dozen post-parkrun cafés to choose from, it’s sure to leave you all shook up!

 

You can find out more about Porthcawl parkrun here.

 

 

5. Portrush parkrun, Northern Ireland

 

 

A warm whalecome awaits you from the amazing volunteers at Portrush parkrun in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland. When it launched in September 2012, Portrush parkrun became the first beach parkrun in the world to be run entirely on the sand.

 

As Portrush parkrun Event Director explains, everyone is welcome on a Saturday morning: “We can share our course with dog walkers, horse riders, surfers, paragliders, kite surfers –we have even had a baby seal one Saturday morning! But because we have the full width of the beach, there is ample room for everyone.”

 

 

Located just 8 miles from the world famous Giant’s Causeway, and an hour’s drive from the capital city of Belfast, Portrush parkrun is an amazing destination for parkrun tourists, and one to add to your parkrun bucket list!

 

You can find out more about Portrush parkrun parkrun here.

 

 

So next time you head to the seaside, instead of a postcard or a stick of rock, make your souvenir a shiny new parkrun PB!