North Devon and Dartmoor’s Best Parkruns: The perfect winter fitness challenge

From flat-and-fast PB courses to brutal dunes and beautiful moorland trails, there is a parkrun for every level of runner

If the summer has left you feeling fitter, or perhaps guilty about a few too many barbecues, September is an ideal time to make a simple commitment: keep moving through the winter.

And one of the easiest ways to do it is parkrun.

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people across the country turn up for a free, timed 5km. You can run, jog or walk it, and there is no requirement to be particularly fit before you start. That makes parkrun an ideal winter goal — and North Devon and Dartmoor have some particularly good options.

Here are my picks for the best local courses, depending on what you are looking for.

1. Bideford – best for getting quicker

Bideford parkrun

If your winter objective is to improve your 5km time, Bideford is an obvious place to start.

Based around Victoria Park and the surrounding playing fields, it is a relatively flat course, with previous course guides recording only around 17 feet of elevation gain. That makes it potentially very quick when conditions are favourable.

It is also a good choice for someone building confidence. You can start by walking, progress to walk-jog intervals and eventually see what you can do over the full 5km.

Winter verdict: 9/10 – flat, friendly and excellent for measuring progress.

2. Barnstaple – best all-rounder

Barnstaple parkrun

Rock Park provides another excellent option for North Devon runners.

The course is relatively flat, with only around 55 feet of elevation gain according to one course guide, although its mixture of paths and grass means wet winter weather can make things rather more interesting.

The beauty of Barnstaple is its versatility. It works for beginners, regular runners and those chasing a PB, while the atmosphere makes it a good place to establish a Saturday morning habit.

Winter verdict: 9/10 – probably the best starting point if you are new to parkrun.

3. Woolacombe Dunes – best for getting seriously fit

Woolacombe Dunes parkrun

Now we get serious.

Woolacombe Dunes is spectacular, but it is emphatically not the place to start if your idea of winter fitness is a gentle jog.

The 5km course takes runners over sand dunes and challenging terrain, and has gained a reputation as one of the hardest parkruns in the country. It is also one of Devon's most spectacular, with the coast providing a magnificent backdrop.

The difficulty is precisely what makes it such a good winter training target. If you can build your fitness through the autumn and then tackle Woolacombe in the depths of winter, you will know your legs are getting stronger.

Winter verdict: 10/10 for the brave – but don't underestimate it.

4. Simmons Park, Okehampton – best Dartmoor option

Simmons Park parkrun

For those coming from the Dartmoor side of the region, Simmons Park in Okehampton is an excellent addition to the winter running calendar.

The park provides a very different experience from the exposed coastal courses, with a setting that feels particularly appropriate once autumn arrives and the leaves begin to turn.

A recent runner's account highlighted the variety of loops and turns and the helpful facilities around the park, while the event itself provides another accessible 5km option for runners of varying abilities.

Winter verdict: 8.5/10 – a great choice for combining fitness with a change of scenery.

5. Tamar Lakes – best for a road trip

If you fancy making your Saturday run into an occasional adventure, Tamar Lakes is well worth considering. It is listed among the regular North Devon-area parkrun options and provides a change from the more familiar Barnstaple and Bideford courses.

It is particularly appealing if you want to turn parkrun tourism into part of your winter motivation: rather than running the same course every week, pick a different destination every few Saturdays.

Winter verdict: 8/10 – ideal for keeping things interesting.

The secret to getting fit this winter

The biggest mistake is treating parkrun as a race every Saturday.

If you are starting from scratch, make your first target simply to complete 5km. Walk when necessary. Nobody cares about your finishing time.

Then build gradually. Perhaps walk one week, jog the next, and eventually aim to run the whole distance. Once you're comfortable, alternate between a steady Saturday and a harder effort.

And don't forget that parkrun is about much more than running. It is a community event, and that social element can be enormously useful when the mornings are dark, cold and wet and staying in bed suddenly seems like a much better idea.

North Devon is particularly fortunate to have a choice ranging from the fast courses at Bideford parkrun and Barnstaple parkrun to the spectacular challenge of Woolacombe Dunes parkrun.

So, rather than viewing the end of summer as the end of your fitness, make it the beginning.

Pick a course, turn up on a Saturday morning and give yourself one simple target: be fitter when spring arrives than you are today.

Always check the individual event's current arrangements before travelling, particularly during periods of severe weather.