Brueton Course Description

Firstly, I ought to say that there are people who would be better qualified than me to do a Brueton course description. Not least our selfless core volunteer team, without whom Bruton parkrun wouldn’t happen.

We are extremely well blessed to have the likes of Nick and Larry (top right pic) organising us, passionate runners themselves, but who still give up most of their Saturday mornings for our enjoyment.

We are a modest size parkrun, usually attracting between 100 and 150 runners. So Parkrun tourists are welcome at Brueton parkrun.

Hopefully this write up will help those coming from out of town, to find us in the first place, and perhaps to make the most of their visit to Solihull. You’ll find that much of this information is in any case present (and more professionally presented) on our web site at www.parkrun.org.uk/brueton

By car we are very easy to find, being less than a mile from Junction 5 of the M42.

From the motorway junction, head towards Solihull, bare left towards the town centre. Brueton park is signposted at the first island, and you’ll find the entrance to the free car park on the right hand side a few hundred meters further on. The postcode for your Satnav is B91 3HW.

Be aware that the small car park can fill up quickly on a parkrun morning. Parking along Warwick Rd is permissible though, so this is not too much of a problem.

By train, Solihull station is about a mile away. From there, you would walk through the town centre, along the pedestrian high street, and along New Rd, before entering the park at the northern end. 

You may be confused by the fact that the northern end of the park is called Malvern Park. Don’t worry. You’re in the right place. Just think of it as one park.

Does parkrun tourism extend to flying? Well B’ham airport is (co-incidentally) just 5 kilometres away!

At Brueton parkrun we have summer and winter season variations to our course. Either way, we assemble in front of the Parkridge Nature centre, in the middle of the park, about 400m from the car park. We have a bag drop here, subject to the usual disclaimers.

I always cycle to the park, and leave my bike locked to one of the trees at the assembly point, as do half a dozen others, but there is also bike parking next to the car park, and at the northern end of the park.

The course is entirely on tarmac paths, apart from the final 150m of the summer course only, which is across the grass, ideal for that sprint finish! The course is more or less flat, with I suppose a very slight ascent towards the Malvern Park end.

            A map of the park (very similar to the official one in fact )

We use the main spine path running through the park in both directions, so we always stay to the left hand side of the path to avoid running in to each other. There is a solid white line conveniently painted down the middle of this section of the path. You are allowed to overtake though!

At the southern end of the park we circle around a small wooded area and run alongside Brueton lake. There is one tight turn here just to throw you off your stride!

At the northern end, we make a wider circle of the tennis courts. Only the start and finish positions vary by season. Otherwise it is essentially the same 2 lap course. We have marker posts at each kilometre, and handily placed friendly smiling marshals, subject to availability. The Parkridge Centre is usually open for refreshments at the finish.

Should you be intending to make a day of it in Solihull, then Tudor Grange Leisure Centre is somewhere that you would be able to shower and change. The shops, bars and restaurants in Touchwood and Solihull town centre are as good as any in the region.

Touchwood, the town centre, Brueton Park itself, Tudor Grange Leisure Centre and Solihull Station, are all within a comfortable walking distance of each other.

If you want to know more, you can find us on the Parkrun web site of course, as well as on Facebook and Twitter…

www.parkrun.org.uk/brueton

http://www.facebook.com/bruetonparkrunsolihull
www.twitter.com/bruetonparkrun

Here’s 3 random things you probably didn’t know about Solihull...

1) Solihull derived its name from the position of St Alphege parish church – on a “Soily” hill.

2) The George Hotel in Solihull town centre has the oldest bowls green in the country, it has been in use since the 14th century.

3) Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was born and grew up here.

Well if you’re still reading this I’m shocked. But all that remains to say then is that we look forward to seeing you at a Brueton parkrun soon. Don’t forget your barcode!