Birchall Playing Fields

The honest version

Birchall Playing Fields parkrun in Leek is one of those courses that has a distinctive character. You start and finish on the gravel running track, which gives the whole thing an athletic feel that most park-based events do not have. The course itself is a series of loops around the outer perimeter of the playing fields, predominantly on good quality tarmac paths with a small grass section each lap as you pass in front of the pavilion.

It is flat, well-organised, and one of the better PB courses in Staffordshire. The field is small enough to find clear running from early on and the surface is reliable in all conditions.

The start

You begin on the gravel running track, which gives a slightly different feel underfoot for the first few hundred metres. The gravel is compact and well-maintained. The course then moves onto the outer tarmac paths for the main loops. The field here is typically 150 to 250 runners which means there is rarely significant congestion, even at the start.

Got a target time? Get your splits for Birchall Playing Fields.

The course lap by lap

• Lap 1
  Short opening loop on the gravel running track

  Starts on gravel, which is compact and fast. This is the shortest section and gets you settled before the main loops begin. You pass the pavilion here where the toilets and gym classes are based.

• Laps 2, 3, 4
  Three large tarmac loops of the outer playing fields

  The main bulk of the course. Tarmac paths around the perimeter of the playing fields, almost entirely flat. There is a short grass section each lap as you pass in front of the pavilion. The tarmac path around the field is fairly narrow in places but there is usually room to pass on the grass if needed. You can see other runners almost the entire way round, which makes it a sociable and easy course to navigate.

• Lap 5
  Final shorter loop back onto the running track to finish

  The finish is back on the running track, which makes for a satisfying end to the run. The track surface is noticeably different from the tarmac loops and the finish line feels genuinely athletic. A good way to end a fast flat course.

Course statistics

What to wear on your feet

This is a tarmac course. Road shoes are the right choice in almost every condition.

Getting there and parking

Birchall Playing Fields are on the A520 Leek Road, approximately one mile from Leek town centre towards Cheddleton. Parking on site is free and plentiful, very close to the start area, typically within 200 metres.

There is no café on site but Leek town centre is a short drive away and has plenty of coffee options for a post-run catch up.

Practicalities

Toilets are available in the pavilion building before and after the run. The pavilion is also used for gym classes so there is usually activity around the building on a Saturday morning.

The event starts at 9:00am. Arrive with 10 to 15 minutes to spare to find parking and get to the start. The site is compact and easy to navigate.

Barry the Birchall Badger is the unofficial mascot of the event. Worth knowing if you want to impress the locals.

Visiting Birchall Playing Fields parkrun for the weekend

Leek has no railway station. The nearest are Stoke-on-Trent and Macclesfield, both around 30 minutes away by car or bus.

If you're travelling in, here's what else is worth your time nearby:

• The Roaches and Tittesworth Reservoir, on the edge of the Peak District, are a few miles north of town.
• The Churnet Valley Railway, a heritage steam line, runs from Cheddleton just outside Leek. Check its running days first.
• Leek itself is an old market town with independent shops and a busy market.

Is it a good PB course?

Yes, very good. This is one of the flatter parkruns in Staffordshire with only around 20 metres of total elevation gain across the whole 5k. The surface is reliable, the loops are straightforward to navigate and the small field size means you can find clean running without the congestion of bigger events.

The multi-loop nature of the course means you will pass the same landmarks repeatedly, which some runners find helpful for pacing. You can see other runners almost the entire way round so it is easy to use people ahead of you as targets.

Guide written from personal experience at Birchall Playing Fields parkrun. Last updated June 2026.