Severn Bridge Trails

These are two 5km trails, one going from the West end of the bridges, so including the Wye bridge, and one from the East end. They are simple out and back courses, with just one checkpoint at the turn point for each course. They are designed for runners who enjoy running the bridge, but who may be a little less familiar with maprun technology. In due course we may add further versions, with splits to allow you to record and improve your Km splits, and also an out and back course crossing the full length of both bridges, out on one side, back on the other. If you enjoy running these trails with maprun, have a look at the Maprun Gloucestershire website for other trails that you can try.

If you are new to maprunning, it would pay to look at the Getting Started page for hints and tips on making sure your phone is working correctly with the GPS service. You should also note that these courses only have one checkpoint - at the turn for home. If you do not get a beep there, and turn anyway, you will not get a finishing beep either; because the start and finish are co-located, maprun requires you to vist one checkpoint before it will assess that you have finished.

Parking for the West course is around the area of the Bulwark B&M store, where there is ample street parking. For the East course, parking is in the Services public parking area.

The West Start and Finish are at the traffic gate on the downstream cycle/pathway. Go under the motorway via the tunnel from parking, and turn left up the path towards the bridge. The start is just beyond the big sign, at the gate. Click here for a blow up picture of the start.

The East Start and Finish are next to the main motorway roundabout where traffic turns into the Services, or down towards Avonmouth. There is a small spur path right at the start, but you will approach it from the car park via the path that runs alongside the entry road into the Services area. Click here for a blow up picture of the start.

The Turn for the West trail is at the further main bridge support, about three quarters of the way across the two bridges. Click here for a blow up picture of the turning point. Your phone/watch should beep at this point. If it doesn't, you need to turn there anyway.

The Turn for the East trail is just beyond the SARA boat station, on the edge of the Severn just as you arrive over dry land again. On your right you will see a clump of fir trees just after the boat station, and that is your turn point. Click here for a blow up picture of the turning point. Your phone/watch should beep at this point. If it doesn't, you need to turn there anyway.

All other maprun courses have a map which you can download and print. These do not, as the map is pointless; you can only run on the respective bridge footway, and have no need of a map; you just have to remember where the turn is, and listen for the turn signal when you get there.