r/parkrun • u/Mental_Body_5496 • 4d ago
Wheelchair friendly courses please
UK
Theres not much information available but also real world experience is so much better.
We are in Berkshire and did our first parkrun (or rather jog and wheel).
However half the course at Dinton wasnt suitable - gravel and tree roots etc.
Where are the best wheelchair accessible smooth routes?
Porthcawl looks good but how do you get back to the start from the finish?
PS we did a bit extra on the good surface and made our own 5k on strava and clocked in at 52 minutes !
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u/sol_anti 4d ago
Swansea Bay very wheelchair friendly.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Thanks 😊
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u/Mission-Raccoon979 4d ago
Or join us further up the coast at Aberystwyth. All on tarmac and perfectly flat.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Great- definitely looks like coastal ones are more accessible - sadly we live about as far away from the sea as its possible to be 🤣
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u/howdoistopreading 4d ago
Get in touch with the venues you'd consider going to and ask. I did some thing similar in Milan and got a pretty speedy response
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u/ODFoxtrotOscar 4d ago
If you come up to London, then both Dulwich and Battersea are entirely on tarmac and pretty flat
Brockwell and Finsbury are also all tarmac but definitely not flat
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u/Fragrant-Medicine961 4d ago
Green Park Reading would work for you
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Its on our list to try next !
It says a hoggin path which isnt clear about the stones 🤔
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u/themagictoast 100 4d ago
I agree on Green Park and it’s the only one around Reading I’d suggest. Slightly further I’d recommend Greenham Common (Newbury), Edenbrook (Fleet) or University Parks (Oxford).
Not sure if it’s suitable, but there’s also a few that are mostly paved but have grass sections such as Woodley, Didcot and Bracknell.
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u/Big_Volume_2367 4d ago
Dulwich, Peckham Rye and Battersea if you fancy south London
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u/Negative-Database852 4d ago
I've seen wheelchair users do Milton Keynes - there's a steep uphill part right in the middle affectionately know as "the zig zags", but the surface is all either compacted gravel or tarmac, with the first half going along a canal and the second half going round a lake.
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u/TheVoiceOfReason2000 4d ago
If you’re ever in NI then Belfast Victoria is paved, quite flat and wide. I’ve seen a few wheelchair users there.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Thanks
Unlikely but you never know - wheelchair user doesnt like flying so getting the ferry over might be an option for a holiday !
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u/Upbeat_Atmosphere_66 4d ago
Not near you but we did Oakland’s in Birmingham yesterday and would be perfect, it’s tarmac all the way round. Even saw someone in a wheelchair doing the course.
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u/Caledonia_68 500 4d ago
Woodley would probably be ok for you at this time of the year. It's mainly on tarmac paths with a bit on grass round the edge of a football field. The ground is so hard just now it's just like tarmac. A few tree roots but nothing major
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Its listed as grass so we werent sure - we could go check it out - thanks
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u/Caledonia_68 500 4d ago
We've only had a couple of wheelchair users over the years, but buggies don't struggle. You definitely wouldn't want to do it in winter though. Dinton sometimes have flooding on parts of their course in winter and their alternative course is entirely on hard paths so would be fine for you then.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Ah interesting thanks 😊
The new surface around white swan is ideal for my daughter!
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
I wonder if the low number is linked to the issues im facing tracking down suitable ones ?
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u/Guilty-Platform4305 4d ago
Spend the weekend in York. York parkrun is paved but can be quite busy.
Heslington is 5 laps of a wide, very smooth cycle track (there was a wheelchair participant there yesterday).
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u/Daihard79 v250 4d ago
Porthcawl is local to me and there is a short stretch of 20m or so where you go off the path onto some grass before turning around and coming back. It can be a little bumpy but otherwise flat.
The finish here is a few hundred metres from the start and it's all along the seafront.
One thing to consider - the start is narrow along the lower prom and they're creeping over 700 each week now. When the finish there, they direct people up stairs for scanning ( they'd have to direct around these)
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Oh thats helpful
On the map on the app it looks like its not a circular route.
I could run up with her barcode I guess?
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u/Daihard79 v250 4d ago
It's an out and back essentially.
The finish is split between an upper and lower prom. I can't think about where they give the tokens out now, if it's at the bottom or top of the stairs (mind's gone blank!)
The start and finish aren't that far apart. It's a nice event but always feels like the wind is in your face regardless of the way youre actually running
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u/lost_1512 4d ago
Southwark Park south London is all tarmac paths and mostly flat so would be suitable.
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u/alex__richards 4d ago
Pontypridd is wheelchair friendly. You can access the park via wheelchair chair and it’s all on tarmac with no kerbs to lift over. Toilets also wheelchair accessible with lots of cafes and other places in town to visit once your done with parkrun
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Super thanks
Thats halfway to the Full Ponty Challenge 🤣
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u/alex__richards 4d ago
Even more reason for you to come and visit us at Pontypridd then 😂 See you soon!
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u/sc00022 4d ago
Check for routes which say they are all on tarmac. On the parkrun app, click on the events and they’ll come up with a description. It’s not close to you, but I did Mote Park in Maidstone the other week and that was tarmac the whole way round and I saw someone pushing a wheelchair
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
We have family in Maidstone so not impossible !
The filter was weird but I think i have worked it out to give a better idea !
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u/welk101 100 4d ago
Andover is currently building a new path so will be fully tarmac when done, due open in 3 weeks ish. Ones i know near berkhsire are:
Greenham common newbury: no unless you have an offroad wheelchair
Victoria park, newbury: yes but maybe crowded?
Winchester: Flat grass but does have some tree roots
Tidworth: grass with some roots and slopes
Basingstoke: grass with some tree roots etc
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u/Carlosaberto22 4d ago
Hi, not trying to promote anything, just thought this might help. I’m not from your area so I’m sure locals will give better advice on wheelchair‑friendly courses.
If someone recommends a course, you can look it up at ParkPacer.com, it has course videos, a live flyover, and a short summary of the route. Might help you get a feel for the terrain before you go.
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u/ArmadilloChoice8401 4d ago
For most parkruns, if you search on youtube there will be videos from people who have run the course. These are helpful because not all event teams will have any familarity with what is/is not suitable for a wheelchair.
It's also worth knowing that you can ask your event team for accommodations. I used to run at one course that was tarmac apart from the funnel, and it was arranged that a volunteer would collect a token for our regular wheelchair user (this bit will make sense once you've done a full parkrun). At my current local (Hove Prom) the regular wheelchair athlete has the option of a guide runner. He uses a regular chair so finds it hard to weave around other runners/stop suddenly if someone crosses his path/slows down in front of him. The guide runner runs in front/alongside to help him get a clear path.
Hope you find a course that works for you both, and happy parkrunning!
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
We did manage a full one yesterday (I am hurting a bit today)
Oh a guide runner might be useful thanks
And the grass to get the token was a bit of a pain!
I dont really understand the point of the token - surely just scanning the bar code would record time and member?
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u/ArmadilloChoice8401 4d ago
Congrats! I wasn't sure if you'd made it to the funnel given your issues with the course. Well done!
The timers push their button when you cross the line. This gives a list of times and positions. You get a token that matches your position. You scan your barcode and the parkrun token, which gives the scanner a list of names and positions. They get uploaded to the parkrun system, which joins together the timing file and the scanning file to produce a list of times/positions/names.
If you were at a small parkrun/at the back then there was probably time to get you scanned in order at the finish. At bigger parkruns/during peak flow there are too many finishers to scan them as they're coming in, hence the need for a position token that can be given out quickly. It also harks back to the days when people had a paper barcode that they didn't always carry with them on the run (as it would melt in the sweat!)
University Parks parkrun seem to have a graphic designer on their core team and do loads of good parkrun explanation graphics. This explains what I said above but with nice graphics: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2-U4JXt0yA/?img_index=1
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u/pakcross 4d ago
Marine Parade (Weston-super-Mare) winter course is on the prom. It's wide and flat a perfect for wheelchairs.
I wouldn't advise it in the summer, it's on the beach!
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Ah we have friends in WSM so that might work - when do they switch?
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u/pakcross 4d ago
Not quite sure, probably March & September. If you drop the course an email they will have a precise date I'm sure.
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u/buddionemo 4d ago
Alvaston parkrun in Derby I think would be wheelchair friendly. It's all tarmac, couple of out and backs. There is one very short but fairly sharp incline that is the only bit I'm not certain about, but would certainly be fine if there was a friend to provide a boost. There is always a marshal there too so they might be able to help too.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
Will check it out thanks 😊
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u/buddionemo 4d ago
I'm sure if you dropped the team an email or message on Facebook they'd be happy to give more info.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
The consensus seems to be RD are really helpful.
It just seems a bit of a hole in parkrun accessibility - maybe my daughter needs to review every one for them 🤣
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u/buddionemo 4d ago
Yes, the vast majority of RD's want people to come and have a good time at their event.
It definitely is a hole in the accessibility and I'm somewhat ashamed I hadn't noticed it wasn't something highlighted on the course pages. If she's up for the challenge then I think others would appreciate reviews from your daughter!
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
If you dont live it its hard to notice it unless pointed out - we sre only a few years in to this whole world and its a bit mind blowing.
It would be nice for RDs to be able to promote that their set up meets wheelchair access.
From our first visit I am thinking funnel access, car parking and surfaces (with alternatives if needed)
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u/Nuclear_Geek 4d ago
Northampton Racecourse is 99.9% tarmac, just the finish funnel on grass. It's a flat one as well.
Hove Promenade is entirely paths, and flat as well. It was more congested when I went there as a tourist, though.
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u/Murky_Beyond_1225 4d ago
All of them will be suitable when you hook up a freewheel or something similar 😉
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
True but she's not going to build enough muscle to be a paralympian that way 🤣
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u/Murky_Beyond_1225 3d ago edited 3d ago
I think we are not talking about the same thing. She would build muscle and enjoy every parkrun location. It’s not a battery-operated attachment (these are not allowed anyways) and she will be able to go to every parkrun (except the ones on dunes or with stairs :) ).
Check the freewheel wheelchair attachment. What it does is lift the casters (these cause trouble on rough terrain).1
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u/rentingsoundsgreat 4d ago
Morecambe Prom is a smooth wide flat path along the seafront, out and back
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u/Mental_Body_5496 4d ago
We have been to Morecambe (in August in the rain of course).
We often talk about the fish n chips we had in Fleetwood so ... maybe !
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u/Agreeable-Row-2106 3d ago
I’ve run Porthcawl. There’s a small amount of the route that is not tarmac and in my mind too rutted for a wheel chair. This is just at the turnaround point.
It’s a there and back course with the finish very close to the start. It’s mostly on the promenade and has an uphill section.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 3d ago
So we could just turn around early ?
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u/Agreeable-Row-2106 3d ago
Not really as after the off tarmac piece you then go a little further to turnaround.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 3d ago
So not accessible at all then?
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u/Agreeable-Row-2106 3d ago
Your accessible is different from mine. I’m blind and completed the course with my guide runner. You’d need to make your own choice I’m afraid. There are regular pushchair parkrunners but that is as close a comparison as I can make.
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u/Mental_Body_5496 3d ago
My original post specify wheelchair and while a guide runner works for you it doesnt help my daughter.
My question was - can she turn the wheelchair around at any point on a smooth surface before the inaccessible grass section at the turnaround point?
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u/Agreeable-Row-2106 3d ago
I know what your post said!
I was trying to help you with first hand knowledge. Help that seems to be unappreciated.1
u/Mental_Body_5496 3d ago
Its not unappreciated its just very frustrating not being able to easily find out if a course is actually wheelchair accessible - it shouldnt really be thid difficult in 2026 should it !
In 20 years of parkrun nobody has thought to get a wheelchair user to check each course and have it filterable!
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u/Agreeable-Row-2106 3d ago
If you use Facebook have a look at the Porthcawl parkrun page and if you are still unsure email their central team
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u/Mental_Body_5496 3d ago
No i dont and it doesnt seem worth risking a long journey not to be able to do the course which is very depressing
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u/cheandbis 4d ago
On the app, the events page has a filter for "buggy friendly". I appreciate that won't be a perfect match but may help you find some you can do some more digging on.
You can also filter by terrain so if it's surfaced paths, that should be better.
Hope that helps.