Bryn Bach parkrun is the highest one in the UK. It is also a very nice course and somewhere we would definitely return to. We visited on the Saturday before Christmas.
Parc Bryn Bach, Merthyr Rd, Tredegar NP22 3AY
Facilities at Bryn Bach parkrun
Bryn Bach parkrun boasts easy parking, toilets, food, a play area. Additionally as we went just before Christmas there was a lovely free Christmas Grotto type area – with several rooms to explore.
Course at Bryn Bach parkrun
It is 2 and a bit laps around the lake. An easy to follow course to follow. Road shoes, as it is all on path. Although obviously the weather makes it a bit wet and muddy in places.
It is a nice down to start. However, watch for speed bumps. It is really easy to follow as it just goes around the lake. There is an Elevational gain of 32m. The up is gradual and deceptive.
My Experience of Bryn Bach parkrun
Heading to the Briefing/Start
The start is not near the car park/toilets/finish. However, it is where the sign is situated and if you want to leave anything at the finish then you will need to go there first. When we arrived it is where the volunteers were so we mistook this for where the briefing would take place.
The briefing/start is roughly one km away – in any direction around the lake. We went the opposite way of which the actual parkrun is. The delivery was very humorous. He even mentioned me when saying to make sure we returned our finish tokens!
Beautiful
It really was a beautiful parkrun. Another super friendly one. Although I wouldn’t expect anything less from South Wales to be honest! Only thing was I wasn’t sure where the finish actually was in terms of where the end was and the timer clicked. Most likely at the end of the cones.
After we had a yummy breakfast and a look around the grotto before heading home.
Bryn Bach parkrun Stats Saturday before Christmas
- 100 participants – 65 male, 33 female and 2 unknown
- 17:41 – a new PB for Sam Price to 57:31
- 8 other people also achieved a PB
- First lady is 20:46 Kimberley Price – who had the highest female age grading of 75.76% (VW40-44)
- Keith Brewer had the highest age grading (85.27%) in a time of 20:56 in the VM70-74 category
- Altogether 3 sub 19 and a further 2 sub 20
- 67 (%) sub 30.
- Everyone had previously taken part in at least 3 events beforehand. With 12 people visiting Bryn Bach parkrun from a different home location for the first time.
- I was the fastest in my age category, although there were only 3 of us!
- 11 hi-viz heroes
Other parkruns nearby we have completed
Pontypool parkrun (11.8m), Y Promenâd parkrun (13.0m), Cwmbran parkrun (14.8m)
Visit these other bloggers who cover parkrun: Sarah at Mum of Three World, Jackie at Never Imitate and Chrissy at It’s Me Chrissy J