Dunstable Downs parkrun

Updated: Nov 6, 2022

Different venue number 21 took me to a visitor centre high up on the Dunstable Downs with fantastic views of the local area. It is a complicated one lap course almost entirely on grass and mud, with a short bark/mud trail section through the woods, most of the course is run around field boundaries while dealing with a number of undulations while you traverse the Downs. Speaking to the staff at the visitor centre the Downs are always Windy, which adds another element of difficulty to this spectacular course. Dunstable Downs are the highest point in Bedfordshire and are close to Whipsnade Zoo which is well worth a visit if you're in the area. The Downs are also home to a giant Chalk drawing of a Lion cut into the side of the downs which is best viewed from the B489 (Aylesbury to Dunstable road). The briefing is held (out of the wind), in the front patio area of the visitor centre, toilets are also available which is good if you've had a long drive. [I visited this parkrun on 9th March 2019]

Difficulty

Yep controversial I know, but I'm giving this a 6 out of 5, on the day I visited at least. The combination of muddy fields, undulations and high wind plus a very slippery section though the woods, made this really hard work. I've completed Tring and Wendover both of which are very hilly, but I found this course to be harder on the day I visited.

Massive thanks to the Marshals hanging out in the wind and rain!

The Course

The course starts behind the visitor centre and is a short walk from the briefing area at the front of the visitor centre. From the start you are heading north and downhill for approx 300m before taking a sweeping left turn to head south for another 300m and back up the hill, past the start finish area near the visitor centre, once you've passed the start finish area you take a left turn, and then a right turn to head south west following a field boundary for approx 500m downhill towards some woods. Still heading roughly south west, you'll be following a woodland trail now for 200m, watch out for trip hazards such as tree routes, hope you brought your trail shoes as you'll need them here if it's been raining (like it was on the day I visited).

Leaving the woods, you are now following another field boundary, slight uphill as you leave the woods, but generally downhill as you follow the field boundary still heading roughly south west. 600m after you leave the woods, you'll be directed right, across a field boundary into another smaller field which you'll be doing a circuit of. It takes approx 800m to do one anti-clockwise lap of the smaller field (with good views of the people in front and behind you), the field has two downhill sections and two climbs. Once you've completed this lap, you'll be directed right to head back into the larger field and this time you'll turn right heading down and south east towards the edge of the field, you'll be directed left and you'll be heading roughly north, but following the field boundary mostly uphill for 800m until you get back to the woods. You'll take a different and slightly longer (400m or so) uphill route back through the woods before emerging back into fields. You are now 600m from the finish which is slight uphill and straight in a North East direction.

The above map points South, It's not the same route, but the parkrun course roughly follows the blue dotted line

Elevation and Terrain

A Moderate amount of Elevation on this course, undulating and Muddy (at least in Winter), oh and almost guaranteed to be Windy, I measured the total elevation as 62m or 203ft, which is similar to Rushmere or Jersey Farm. Rushmere has less undulations but with steeper sections, and Jersey Farm has slightly easier terrain. Out of the three I prefer Rushmere as it is more enclosed and the terrain is easier to run on. However in the summer I suspect the scenery will be a big draw here!

Parking, Facilities and Coffee

Great on all three scores, parking is free for parkrun if you display a copy of your barcode, National trust members are also encouraged to scan their membership cards. There are toilets signposted in the front patio of the Visitor Centre, these are clean and well maintained. Coffee can be found in the visitor centre, and although they didn't have a flat white, they were able to add an extra shot to a latte, and it was a very good cup of coffee. Great views from the visitor centre over the downs. There is also a National Trust gift shop in the Visitor Centre.

Visitor Centre, they make good coffee here!

Summary

A fantastic venue for parkrun, complete with convenient parking and a Visitor Centre. It has fantastic views, and it is a challenging course. I suspect that it will be a very popular summer parkrun, as it can be a bit unwelcoming on a wet and windy day. But don't be put off, you can always warm up afterwards in the Visitor Centre. You might even bump into some parkrun tourists like I did...