All Year Round Venue

Coombe Dingle is our training location on Mondays and Thursdays in the autumn/winter, and from 2009 will be used on Thursdays in the spring/summer. You can find us on these days at The Bristol University Playing Fields ("Coombe Dingle"), Coombe Lane, Stoke Bishop, Bristol.  We meet in the main pavilion here (on the left as you get to the car park).  The Bristol University Playing Fields ("Coombe Dingle") are clearly signposted from Coombe Lane, which runs between Parry's Lane and Canford Lane.  

Coombe Dingle venue map.  

There are changing rooms here, (warm) showers, and access to a bar for refreshments afterwards (and meals, given notice, which we will!).  Training times at Coombe Dingle:

• Meeting on  Mondays at 7pm (autumn/winter)
• Meeting on  Thursdays at 7pm (all year)

From here we can run into the grounds of Blaise Castle, if there is enough light, train around the (lit) grass pitches, or run around the quiet roads in the area.

Please Note - Runners and their parents training at Coombe Dingle are politely reminded that no dogs are to be brought onto the premises.  All playing fields are strictly out-of-bounds to dogs.

Spring/Summer Venue

After the AGM  in April/May our training venue on Mondays is at our Club House in Blaise Castle (next to cafe): see Directions Below or View a Map.   From here we can go on superb evening runs around the extensive grounds and beyond, or (for those so inclined) use the varied terrain for more intense sessions.

Training times at Blaise Castle:

Meeting on Mondays at 7pm

Directions to our Blaise Club House

Travel along the A4018, either out from Bristol (the Downs/Falcondale Road), or in from M5 junction 17 ("Cribbs Causeway").  At the Brentry Roundabout (the only one with turnings both left and right), turn left (if going out from Bristol Park)/right (if going into Bristol).  After half a mile, turn right at the T-junction, and follow the road - keep going straight on for half a mile (the road becomes a one way lane, then opens up again).  This is the B4057 (Kings Weston Road), and you will find a large car park on your left.  Park here, and walk down the path to the left towards the mansion.  You will see our club-house (which also double as a cricket pavilion) just by the new playground.  

Training Details

These sessions are genuinely all ages (9-99) and all abilities:  On Mondays we have a reception group for the youngest ages (9-11 or so); various groups through the teens; a seniors 'pack' (including 'serious terrain', and marathon runners); a broad and very friendly group of 'not so serious' runners; and an 'elite' group (who reputedly eat 4 shredded wheat for breakfast).  We are proud to offer a range of coaching from informal to international standard (at no extra charge!), and all of our coaches are (of course) fully qualified. 

Note - Young athletes who are new to the club can only be received on Monday evenings unless by prior appointment, due to availability of coaches.

Note - Newcomers are encouraged to come initially on the last Monday of the month, our 'new members night' (see top of page).

On Thursdays, although Coombe Dingle is the focus of training, different groups train at different locations - so either come along on a Monday and see what your group is up to, or get in touch.  

There is a small charge for training facilities of £1 for seniors, 50p for youngsters (this includes post-training drinks at our club house), and you are most welcome to come along for a few sessions without joining, if you want to just see what it's like. 

We do, in fact, we have various training groups on most  days of the week, all over Bristol (including Yate track, Coombe Dingle and Ashton Park), but these can change from week to week, and most are specific in age/ability, so you would be better off getting in touch with one of us to find out about these.

Training Venues/Details