Bevendean Down parkrun

Last parkrunday, I came to Sussex once again and visited Bevendean Down parkrun for the first time. Since weather is slowly deteriorating, I wanted to come to this location while it’s not too wet or cold. It is often mentioned as one parkrun that shines for unique views, but also one that can get quite painful when muddy. I also saw there were several mentions to its hills, but I’ve run many a parkrun with big hills, so why be concerned? Or so I thought.

When I arrived, it was immediately clear this is a special event. Tucked away on the back of a residential area, it you very quickly feel in the middle of the countryside and forget you are in the outskirts of a large town. Green fields and hills are pretty much the only thing you see. It is beautiful, but maybe stunning enough to be propelled among the most scenic events in the country as some argue. Subjective call, though.

Then there is the field size: this is a very small event, which makes it more intimate and as a tourist you are pretty much guaranteed to chat with volunteers. Finally, there is the hill: you see it. It is scary. It is imposing. It will be just as painful as you fear it might be before starting. Having run more than 130 events, I have collected a lot of data, so I checked how Bevendean Down parkrun stacked against the other hilly events I have visited. Currently, it is the fifth hilliest I have ran, after Church Mead parkrun, Queen Elizabeth parkrun, Lullingstone parkrun and Hadleigh parkrun. I am sure terrain and my fitness have to do with my subjecting effort, but only I remember only Church Mead felt harder. And even on data, Bevendean Down parkrun beats Wendover Woods parkrun, Mole Valley parkrun and Sunny Hill parkrun, all events memorable for how painfully hilly they are.

This visit also continues progressing my coverage of East Sussex further, after recent my recent visit to Abbot’s Wood parkrun. I am now at 6/12, so it will still be a while before this county can join the Regionnaire Hub. One step at a time.

Anyway, enough with my rumblings. It’s time to dive into some more info about Bevendean Down parkrun.

Trip to Bevendean Down parkrun and parking

Bevendean Down parkrun is located in the North-Eastern suburbs of Brighton, not far from the city limits where the rural hills start.

According to the official event site, the closest station is Moulsecoomb station. Glancing at the website, it looks like this is a local station offering coastal connections between Brighton and Eastbourne. So if you are coming from North, you will need to change in Brighton. Once you reach the station, you will be a bit more than 1K walk away from Bevendean Down parkrun meeting point. That’s a walkable distance, but bear in mind it will be uphill. And the official site warns about it, so it is probably noticeable.

Unsurprisingly, I drove to Bevendean Down parkrun. Getting to the general area is very easy, head for Brighton and then, just before getting into town, exit heading towards Lewes. You will soon reach your exit and navigate a few local roads in Bevendean. I was heading for The Bevy pub, which is also the area where the team recommends to park. Local roads are steep and narrow, so pay attention to traffic when you get here.

There is no dedicated car park. While the team recommends to park by the pub, I did not see any obvious area with more than the occasional roadside empty spot. This is still about 10 minutes walk away from the meeting point, so I tried going up using the ‘directions’ feature on the parkrun app. As I got closer, I did see several empty roadside spots and managed to leave my car about 200m away from the pedestrian path leading to the green area. Signs suggest this is a resident permit area only on ‘event days’, but I am not sure what events it refers to.

Bevendean Down parkrun: start and briefings

From where I parked, I only had to walk through a residential street for about 100m, then turn right into a narrow footpath, or ‘twitten’ as it is called locally apparently. At the end of it, get through a couple of cattle gates and you will reach the downs. Surroundings immediately open up onto a large, spacious green hill.

Walk about 100m to reach the point where volunteers meet. You are very much at the bottom of the hill and the green monster stands, imposing, over you. You will not need to hear the briefing to know that this parkrun will be a challenge.

A small and intimate event, First Timers and Main Briefing merge into one, with the local community welcoming new parkrunners and tourists. And then, explaining the course. A very easy layout, a glaring warning about elevation. After the briefing, everybody walks together along the bottom of the hill towards the corner of the area opposite the gate you came from. That’s where the bunch of parkrunners turns around 180 degrees, facing the way the came from. It is time to stop fearing the hill and see how you will far on it.

Here it was. 3, 2, 1.

Time to go!

Bevendean Down parkrun parkrun course review – star ratings

Bevendean Down parkrun course review – route highlights

There were 50 parkrunners braving the hill at Bevendean Down parkrun on the day I decided to visit it. This is a small event and it seems to always hosts fields between 30 and 60 people, so my visit fell on a fairly median day. Competition from easier to reach and easier to run events in Brighton is clearly keeping numbers down at the tougher local event and some seasonality is also visible. The route is 100% on grass, so during winter I am sure mud will add to the fun. The event could support much larger fields, but I think this level of attendance actually adds to its charm.

There are no bottlenecks along the route. You are running along the sides of a large field, even if the evil hill makes it less than obvious. The only potential hazard worth mentioning is towards the end of the descent. Here, the path crosses a cart path which has left deep cuts into the ground. Just be careful as you crosses diagonally not to fall, especially since this is one of the few bits of the course where you will be enjoying some ‘easy’ speed.

Surface is very consistent, pretty much 100% grass. It’s short, well tended grass on fairly hard and stable soil, so if it is dry, it is not too much of a problem. I am sure mud can turn this course into a literal ordeal similar to Lloyd parkrun or Church Mead parkrun. Even with dry terrain, I wore trail shoes as recommended and I think I did benefit from a bit more traction, given the elevation changes. I would confirm the recommendation and say that this is a course where trail shoes would be good in any season.

Elevation-wise, as written above, at 124m elevation gain over two laps, this course definitely hilly and quite painful at that. I’ve heard it is among the top 20 in the UK in terms of elevation gain and it might be true. However, climbs are not terribly steep here, but they are persistent and that’s what makes it painful. You start with about 300 flat, then you have 1K of consistent climb: mild to start and then fairly evil. The course design also makes you think you have reached the top a couple of times, then surprises you with a new climb. It was one of the hardest I’ve done, in terms of personal feeling… but my current fitness might have something to do with it.

In terms of scenic value, it’s a gorgeous, open area with views spanning from Brighton seaside to the downs. It is beautiful, but I don’t think it can compete with some other ‘stunning events’ with much more dramatic surroundings. Or even the relatively local Wakehurst parkrun with its unique winding route inside a botanic garden. Definitely one worth visiting though.

Very simple course design: essentially an elongated rectable around the area, run twice.

A quick Relive route plot is on my YouTube Channel, with longer video highlights embedded below.

As you start, you run the the path you had walked after the briefings, in the opposite direction. It’s about 300m, starting flat and then presenting a short little hill to get you back to the meeting point. An appetiser of sorts, just to make sure you don’t get used to long flat segments, because they are forbidden here! The start, and the whole course, is on grass, with a loose idea of a path going around, but not much more than that. So people can stray left and right in the unlikely case they are in a busy group.

Very very soon after you pass the meeting point turned funnel, you will reach the corner of the fields you used to come in. Here, turn 90-degrees right and it is time to start going uphill. The first segment is fairly long, running along the back of a line of terraced houses, but it is not dramatically steep. On top, turn half right for a small S-corner near a big tree and keep going on a mild uphill for another good while. As you pass another little corner, you will then see the opposite edge of the fields, with a marshal waiting for you.

Reach the corner, turn right and this time you will find…. more climbing. This time you are looking at a straight line segment that is both longer and steeper than the previous ones. It’s not fun, but the pain is mitigated by the views. Now you will see open rolling green hills on your right and taller South Downs hills on your left. It is quite nice. Keep going, run or walk, until you eventually you reach the top and the path flattens. At this point, you have been climbing for about 1k, from the bottom.

The Flat segment is not long, about 200m, and you will then reach the next corner, with marshals cheering you again. Turn right, run about 50m on flat and then turn right again to start heading back towards the start. And from here it is downhill! The way down leans slightly to the left, so it is not on a straight line. As you reach the first turn, next to a copse of trees, you can enjoy a nice view on Brighton and its coastline. Somewhere down there, people are running a completely flat parkrun on the seafront promenade.

Head left again and keep going down, enjoying gravity’s help, but eventually feeling the downhill on your legs and knees. Terrain is good, but not perfectly smooth, so you do need to apply some effort not to trip and to keep your direction right. Towards the bottom you will cross the dirt tracks I mentioned above diagonally and then, in a heartbeat, you will find yourself at the corner where you had started running. Turn right here and you are now on lap 2. Yes… you will reach the finish funnel, but beat the temptation and brave that monstrous hill once more.

The second time you reach it, you are allowed to go through it.

Congratulations on completing Bevendean Down parkrun!

Facilities at Bevendean Down parkrun

There are no facilities in the immediate area. During the briefing the team recommended a few cafes within reach, including The Bevy, if you fancy a pub. Also no toilets and not many trees to hide on the downs either.

Plan an early stop elsewhere if needed and, for after parkrun, either head into Brighton or expect you will have to stop somewhere on the way back home.

Bevendean Down parkrun: Video Highlights

As usual, I’ve taken a few video snippets during the run to give an idea of the course. If you like it, please subscribe, it’s a fun past time for me 🙂

The other parkrun videos on my YouTube channel are all linked on the course review and video highlights summary page.

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Achievements and performance

Conclusions

Bevendean Down confidently enters the shortlist of the hardest events I have visited. I think part of it is due to my currently abysmal fitness level, but the course has a shot at that shortlist by itself.

However, it is a beautiful location, with nice views and a rare familiarity. The calm, bucolic fields and the small, friendly and welcoming local group make up for the painful hills. Well worth a visit, ideally with good weather, because I do not want to imagine how painful it can get when muddy.

Finally, obviously, thank you, Bevendean Down parkrun team for your hospitality!