Bath has two free, weekly 5k parkruns, both on Saturdays at 9am: Bath Skyline parkrun at Claverton Down and Brickfields Park parkrun in Twerton. Both are open to walkers, joggers and runners of any pace, both need free registration in advance, and neither charges to take part.
What parkrun actually is
parkrun is a UK-wide network of free, volunteer-run 5k events that happen every Saturday morning at 9am, whatever the weather, alongside separate 2k junior parkruns on Sundays for 4 to 14 year olds. You don't need to be fast, or even run at all. Walking the whole course is completely normal, and plenty of people do. The only thing you need is a one-off, free registration with parkrun itself and a printed or saved barcode to get timed, since without it you take part but don't get a result.
Register once at parkrun.org.uk (not separately for each event) and bring your barcode along, ideally as a phone screenshot or a printed copy, since without it there's no way to log your time.
Bath's two parkruns compared
| Bath Skyline parkrun | Brickfields Park parkrun | |
|---|---|---|
| Start time | Saturday, 9am | Saturday, 9am |
| Location | Claverton Down, top field next to Claverton Down Community Hall | Brickfields Park, Twerton (BA2 1LX) |
| Terrain | Gravel, stone paths, compacted earth and grass; a figure-of-eight course with a flight of 37 steps on the first loop | Grass laps plus a tarmac stretch along Linear Park, gradually uphill |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Toilets | None on site | Yes, 20p (5-10 minute walk) |
| Buggy-friendly | Yes, but not with a dog at the same time | Yes, but double buggies aren't allowed |
| Nearest station | Bath Spa, then bus U1 | Oldfield Park (5-minute walk) |
| Post-run coffee | Combe Grove Manor hotel | Bright Field Community Cafe or Velo Lounge |
Bath Skyline parkrun
This one runs through woodland and open fields on Claverton Down, with genuinely good views over the city on a clear morning, which is where the name comes from. It's the more physically demanding of the two: the course is a figure of eight, and the first, smaller loop includes an uphill flight of 37 steps. The second, larger loop through Fairy Woods is mostly flat. Expect mud and puddles after rain, since much of the surface is compacted earth and grass rather than tarmac.
There's no toilet on site, and parking is limited, so most regulars either walk, cycle or take the U1 bus from the bus station on Dorchester Street. If you do drive, there's free but limited parking at the BMI Bath Clinic visitor car park, from where it's about a 10 to 15 minute walk in.
The route sits within the same area covered by the National Trust's longer Bath Skyline walking route, so if the parkrun whets your appetite for the views, the full circular walk is worth doing on a day when you're not racing the clock.
Brickfields Park parkrun
Based in Twerton, west of the city centre, this course is flatter and more sheltered than the Skyline route. It runs two laps of Brickfields Park on grass, then heads out along the tarmac Linear Park path towards the Devonshire Tunnel before doubling back. It's the better choice if you want a course with paid public toilets nearby and a station within easy walking distance: Oldfield Park is five minutes from the start.
Double buggies aren't allowed on this course because of how busy the shared paths get, but single buggies are fine. The Linear Park section connects towards the wider Two Tunnels Greenway, so if you enjoy the route, our guide to the Two Tunnels Greenway covers the longer cycling and walking trail it feeds into.
Getting your first time
First-timers sometimes assume they need to be reasonably fit before showing up, but that's not really how it works. Walking the whole course, pushing a buggy, or running the entire way and finishing near the front are all equally normal outcomes at a parkrun, and results get published afterwards with an age-graded comparison rather than a strict ranking that matters to anyone but you. Turning up as a volunteer instead, marshalling or helping with timing, is also a completely valid way to take part if you'd rather not run that particular week.
Bring your barcode, wear something comfortable for the terrain (trail shoes help more at Skyline than at Brickfields), and arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to find the start and hear the run briefing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for parkrun in Bath?
No. Both Bath Skyline parkrun and Brickfields Park parkrun are completely free every week. You do need a free, one-off registration with parkrun itself before your first run.
What time do Bath's parkruns start?
Both start at 9am on Saturdays.
Which one is easier for beginners?
Brickfields Park is flatter and has paid public toilets nearby, which makes it a slightly gentler introduction. Bath Skyline has better views but includes a flight of 37 steps and more uneven terrain.
Can I bring a buggy?
Yes to both, though double buggies aren't allowed at Brickfields Park, and at Bath Skyline you can't run with a buggy and a dog at the same time.
Do I need to be able to run the whole 5k?
No. Walking is completely welcome at both events, and plenty of participants walk some or all of the course.
Is there a junior parkrun in Bath too?
Yes, separate 2k junior parkruns for 4 to 14 year olds run on Sunday mornings. Check the parkrun website for the current local junior event, since scheduling can vary.