PARKRUN REVIEW – EDEN PROJECT

parkrun venue review

My runner’s eye view of some of the parkruns I’ve visited, with some general information and event overview for any prospective first time visitors. All information correct at time of writing and is subject to local change.

Eden Project parkrun

Eden Project, Bodelva, Par, Cornwall

Postcode: PL24 2SG

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One of the great things about parkrun is how the simple nature of the event means it takes place in all manner of locations. From it’s leafy Royal Park origins at Bushy, to all manner of suburban town parks big and small, nature reserves, castles and beaches.

And this carries to one of the nation’s most famous and iconic visitor attractions, the Eden Project.

Now entering its 25^th year, the venue is formed within one of Cornwall’s many china clay pit mines. In operation for well over a century, the mine was closed in the mid-1990s and in its place an ambitious botanical garden was created along the banks of the open-cast mine, with the focal point being two huge biomes nestled in the crater.

The spectacular result is something resembling a cross between a palm house and an extra-terrestrial landing. The biomes feature both Mediterranean and tropical climates, with exotic plants and fauna not typically seen within the UK.

It’s a true voyage of discovery for those who visit, and in the tourist hotspot of Cornwall is cited as arguably the area’s most prominent visitor attraction. For parkrunners though, it’s also the setting for an iconic and spectacular 5k.

The parkrun is a very popular one for two reasons. Firstly it’s one of the most unique settings for a parkrun there is, with the course sweeping up and down through the botanical gardens and alongside the iconic biomes. Secondly, it’s also got the fringe benefit that parkrunners and volunteers at the event can stay on at the Eden Project for free! Given that adult entrance tickets are approaching £40 on the door this can offer quite a saving.

Before we talk about the parkrun itself… a few pointers to bear in mind. Firstly, the free entry is only applicable to parkrun participants and volunteers, as the course starts near the main entrance at the ‘Banana’ coach park and crosses the boundary into the venue shortly after the start.  

For clarification, any non-participating members of your group, family members or friends will have to pay to enter the site.   

The start and finish are at separate locations, with the finish some distance away just outside the biomes. Organisers cannot bring any coats / belongings down to the finish; however lockers are available near the start (£1 coin required).  Alternatively, participants do have a short period to return to the lockers or their vehicle to fetch any belongings and return free of charge. This should be done no later than 10:30am. Quite honestly though, I wouldn’t bother. It’s quite an uphill trek from outside the biomes back to the car parks. If you’re planning to visit the biomes, they are quite warm and the tropical one in particular is very humid, so comfortable trainers and sweaty running gear is not too uncomfortable. But the option is there for you!

If you’re driving to the venue, it’s in a rural setting. If necessary, ignore your sat nav and just follow the brown tourist roadsigns as you approach the venue, as some of the local roads are very rural and Cornish! You should access the Eden Project from the main A391 road and there is a dedicated link road for Eden Project visitors.

Finally… and this is an important one; make sure you arrive in good time. There are a couple of reasons behind this. With most participants arriving via car, they will be directed by Eden Project site staff to a nearby visitor car park (parking is free). It is however a few minutes’ walk down to the coach park muster point.

Secondly, the parkrun course moves from the car park to the venue grounds very quickly after the start. Just a couple of hundred yards from the start line, participants go through an open gate onto a service road and once the tail walker has passed by the gate is closed. Given the close distance of this gate to the start, it means all participants have crossed into the venue shortly after the start, and with the gate then closed it means there is no possibility of joining the back of the pack if you’re a late arrival.

And so, onto the parkrun itself. As you pass the main entrance gates to the Eden Project, you wind slowly past the empty car parks (remember this is well before opening time!). Eventually you drop downhill where a site marshal will direct you to the parking area. A few minutes’ walk down to the ‘Banana’ coach park and you’ll encounter the muster point, and likely a big crowd as this is a popular venue, especially in the summer tourist season! Keep any warmups away from the access road.

The first timers’ briefing usually has a big crowd, before participants assemble on the access road for the pre-event welcome. It’s a short uphill stretch to the access gate, before the first few hundred metres of the course take you into a steep downhill as you descend into the Eden Project. It’s very quick and if you’re hunting a fast time this is a great opportunity to bank some speed as the hill is fairly steep. As you start to reach the bottom of the hill, the Eden Project gardens and biomes start to peek into view from behind the hedges. For some, this is a photo opportunity, and it’s worth having a quick glance to notice this viewpoint, it looks fantastic and because you’re on a site access road closed to the public, is a viewpoint not many people see.

As you leave the road, you pick up the main part of the course, about half way up the hill. Negotiating beautiful gardens as you slowly rise to the top of the hill, you begin a two-and-three-quarter lap course around the Eden Project. Once the hill is crested maybe a quick moment to catch your breath as you gradually zig-zag your way down to the bottom of the crater, utilising some nice gentle downhill gradients. At the bottom the course loops around some site buildings on a narrow garden path, here it’s important to keep left to keep a good freeflow.

The end of the lap is outside the biomes, and as you start the lap things get a little tougher as you zig-zag back up the hill! The hills are quite gentle but there’s a fair bit of climbing on this section. However that’s counteracted by the great views as you negotiate the gardens, a quick glance across and you’ll see participants of varying speeds make their way up the hills giving an idea of how unique this course is.

As you make your way towards the end of the third lap, there is a slight downhill as you approach the last few hundred yards, if legs are a bit heavy this will certainly help you on your way! The third lap is not completed in its entirety as you keep right, and make your well-deserved finish, the huge biomes towering in front of you!

Post-parkrun is a hub of activity, the biomes don’t open until after 10:15 so for many of the visitors this is a great opportunity to grab a post parkrun coffee and breakfast at the restaurant situated right next to the finish line. And if you’re planning to visit the biomes, it’s likely that amongst the early arrivals you’ll see a few familiar faces from the parkrun making their way round, with the giveaway parkrun milestone t-shirts and quite often running club shirts from locations both near and far.

If you’re holidaying in Cornwall this is a great opportunity to visit a parkrun located in arguable one of the nation’s most well-known tourist attractions. Particularly in the summer, the amount of people you’ll see at the entrance gate and making their way into the venue later in the morning give you an idea of how popular this venue is.

And quite aside of the fringe benefit of being able to visit for free, this is a fabulous course to visit in its own right, the botanical gardens are a wonderful setting for a parkrun, it’s a fun layout and feels quite an occasion with the variety of participants, be it runners or walkers, locals or well-travelled tourists.

The Eden Project is a popular year round venue, and during the summer holds the ‘Eden Sessions’ weekly live music concerts. With a line up of major international artists as the headliners, these are a highlight of the calendar and trace their origins almost to the beginning of the Eden Project. In recent years they have taken place in mid-June to mid-July, and due to their size, mean that the parkrun is cancelled on the weeks of the concerts. The cancellations will be known well in advance, so if planning to visit in the summer, it’s worth checking your proposed date does not clash.

VENUE INFO

Location: Eden Project, Bodelva, Cornwall PL24 2SG

Surface: Tarmac paths. Very small section of gravel at the top of the crater, but this can be bypassed easily. Undulating layout, steep downhill in the first 600m, rest of the lap has zig-zag climbs and descents, and gently undulating section at the bottom of the crater.

Shoes: Road

Dogs allowed: No dogs for participants for safety purposes. The venue itself allows dogs, and static volunteers are permitted to bring their dog.

Buggies allowed: Yes. Popular with buggy runners, course can accommodate both single and double buggies easily. One or two narrow sections, ensure you keep left if faster runners approach.

Parking: Free parking on site. Follow the main access road into the venue and site staff will direct you to the allocated car park.

Toilets: Available at the Banana coach park muster point. Please note that due to the popularity of this event, they can get busy close to the start time.

Public Transport: St Austell railway station 4 miles away. Par railway station 3 miles away. First Bus 101 runs from St.Austell railway station to the venue. Please note however, there are no Saturday public transport services (rail or bus) that would get you to the venue in time for parkrun.

Walk/Cycle: Located on National Cycle Routes 2,3 and 305. Cycle parking available near the start.

Food / Drink: Eden Kitchen restaurant and coffee shop is located at the biome entrance, right next to the finish. Rang of hot / cold food and drink available. Tap water is also widely available, cups provided (please return after use)

Accommodation: Premier Inn located at Carclaze Road, St.Austell (approx. 15 minute drive) and Travelodge at Pentewan Road St.Austell, (approx. 20 minute drive). Numerous independent hotels / B&Bs in St.Austell & Par. Carlyon Bay campsite is about 15 minutes drive away. Holidaymakers in Newquay / Perranporth can access Eden Project via the A391 and newly opened B3274 link road, approx. 35-40 minute drive.