We couldn’t resist the novelty of Severn Bridge parkrun which basically involves running from Wales to England and back again across the Severn Bridge. The event takes place at 9 am on Saturdays, starting and finishing on the Welsh side of the Severn Bridge, on a path adjacent to the M48 Motorway.

Getting There

The start is close to Thornwell Football Club. The location is obviously very close to the M48 so easy to reach by car. It’s around 3 miles to Chepstow, so rather fiddly to reach by public transport. According to the website, there is a bus (C1, C2, C3) from Chepstow town centre to Thornwell, although Chepstow Station isn’t particularly close to the Chepstow town centre. I live 92 miles from the start and Google Maps tells me it would take 9 hours 52 mins to reach by public transport! Not surprisingly, we opted to drive.

Parking

There is plenty of free parking at nearby Thornwell Football Club. From here it’s a short walk to the start of the race.

Toilets

When we went, runners had the use of the football club facilities, including toilets and café. There’s also a great view of the bridge from the football club.

Note that these toilets are not currently available, and the organisers recommend using the service station in Aust (on the English side of the bridge, just before the crossing) or else in Chepstow. Both these options are around 3 miles from the start. So if, like me, nerves kick in at the start and you need a wee regardless of if you went 10 minutes ago (I know, TMI) this is not ideal.

Course

Another novelty about Severn Bridge parkrun is that it finishes in (and starts near) a tunnel. When we visited, it rained, so this was particularly appreciated, as you could keep dry prior to the start and leave warm clothing there so as not to contract hypothermia on the way home. There’s also some interesting art on the tunnel walls. From the start, there is a short footpath leading to the bridge itself. You basically then run for 2.5 km, opt to turn at either the English or Welsh flag, and retrace your footsteps.

Terrain

The route is all tarmac. Due to the camber of the bridge, the first half is uphill, then you turn and run downhill for the second half. The exposed nature of the bridge means that it can be a bit rather windy, with a strong cross wind. On the plus side, however, the views are pretty special.

Shoes

It’s a trainer no brainier.

Difficulty

Run Britain rankings for UK parkruns places Severn Bridge as 31st fastest out of 706. It has a total elevation of 32 metres.

Fun Factor

The combination of the camber and wind (and probably rain, it is Wales after all) can make the first half feel like a bit of a struggle. But then it’s all downhill. And in the views and the novelty of running on a bridge spanning two countries. A run I would thoroughly recommend.

Where We Stayed

We spent the night at the Premier Inn Bristol (Alveston) on the English side of the bridge, then drove the last 7 miles in the morning.

Nearby Attractions

The event takes place just outside Chepstow, which has a castle and race course as well as the picturesque River Wye.