LOCATION

The race venue is Leverhulme Park, Long Lane, Bolton, BL2 6EB. This is due east from Bolton town centre, off the A579 (Bury Road) which turns into the A58.

 

View Bolton 10K Location in a larger map

 

A traditional map version with road names can be obtained by clicking the ‘Map’ tab in the top right corner of the embedded satellite image above. Satnav users may wish to use BL2 6EX – bizarrely, a more accurate location for the Athletics track car park than its own postcode!

 

DIRECTIONS

Directions to the venue are provided below. If you are further than 5 miles from Leverhulme Park, please follow the second set.

 

Directions if close to Bolton (c. 5miles):

From the North: Take the A666 from Blackburn until it connects with the A58 (Moss Bank Way/Crompton Way). At the T-junction with the A579 (Bury Road), turn left. Continue for 450m past the Hare & Hounds pub. Turn right at the traffic lights into Long Lane and continue straight ahead to Leverhulme Park.

From the South: From the M60, join the M61 and then A666 (St Peter’s Way). Beware this is a 50mph zone! Pass under the B6536 Raikes Lane (Recycling/Waste area) and take the slip-road exit at Toys ‘R’ Us. Turn right onto the A579 (Bradford Street), passing the Esso petrol station on the right. Bare right onto Bury Road past Lexus (on left) continuing till the A58 joins from the left. Then as above.

From the West: Take the A673 (Chorley New Road) into Bolton. After the B6226 (Chorley Old Road) merges, turn left onto Topp Way; keep going straight ahead past the Ford garage and with PC World opposite, turn right onto the A666 at the next set of lights. Avoid the first immediate exit, but take the next up a slip road (signposted Town Centre South). Turn left onto the A579 (Bradford Street), then as above.

From the East: Take the A58 (Bolton Road/Bury New Road/Bury Road) westwards from Bury. After the A665 from Little Lever joins, continue west passing Mecca Bingo and Netto (both on the right). Continue through the traffic lights and 400m later at the second set of lights, turn left into Long Lane. Continue 1km ahead to the stadium.

 

Directions from further afield:

From the North: Approach Bolton on the M6 and take the M61, signposted Manchester/Bolton. Leave the M61 at junction 3 (signposted A666). You cannot join the A666 directly from the M61 exit. The exit will take you up to a roundabout. Leave the roundabout at the second exit and re-join the A666 heading for Bolton. Now follow directions given below under “From the A666”.

From the South, East or West: From whichever direction you are coming, get on to the M62. Direct access to the M62 can be gained from junction 21a on the M6 if coming from the South, but be careful to follow signs for Bolton/Manchester. There are two junction 21a’s; you should take the second. DO NOT follow signs for Liverpool. Once on the M62, as you approach Manchester the motorway changes to become the M60. Whether approaching from the East or West, you should leave the M60 to join the A666 – signposted Bolton. As you leave the M60, you will quickly approach the M61. DO NOT follow signs for the M61 (Preston). Stay to the right and follow the A666 towards Bolton. Now follow directions given below under “From the A666”.

From the A666: Beware it is a 50mph zone! Follow the dual carriageway for about 2 miles until you pass under an old railway bridge. There will be a retail park with Toys-R-Us to your left. Leave the A666 here and turn right at the lights onto the A579, towards Bury. Continue through three sets of lights, passing an Esso garage on your right then Lexus dealer on your left after about a mile. Go through one more set of lights (where the A58 joins from left) and then at the next set turn right into Long Lane. Proceed along Long Lane and Leverhulme Park is to your right. After about 1km, you will see the stadium to your right. The entrance to the car park is first on the right, immediately after the track.

 

Getting here by Public Transport:

Bus: The 536 bus passes Leverhulme Park on Long Lane. You can also take the 471, 510, 561 and 562 which run between Bolton and Bury and pass Long Lane. You MUST GET OFF at the stops near Lancashire Wildlife Trust building and Hare & Hounds on Bury Road (A58) and walk down to the park. Please check with GMPTE, FirstGroup, Maytree Travel and Arriva for the latest travel information and planners.

Train: The nearest rail station is Bolton Train Station on Trinity Street (BL2 1BE). Leverhulme Park is a then a nice pre-race warm-up 2.1 mile walk away – head due east along the A579/A58.

 

 

CAR-PARKING

Car parking is available (approximately 200 spaces) at the venue and at the Powerleague Astroturf football pitches 100m away. Due to the race course, NO parking will be allowed on the access road (see the red shaded areas on the Venue Map).

 

Please be aware that the race route crosses the exit of all three car parks. Access to and from the onsite parking is therefore expected to be severely restricted till at least 11am. Parking is available on the various side streets in the locality, but please be courteous and do not block any of the residents’ driveways.

 

The car parks are marshalled by volunteers that have given up their valuable time to support this event. Please treat them with the respect they deserve and follow their instructions. If the car park is full, it’s full – what may appear to be available space is probably car-free for a reason!

 

 

FACILITIES

Male and female toilets, showers and changing rooms are available at Leverhulme Sports Centre. Further facilities are available within the Powerleague building, which is open from 9am and overlooks the athletics track.

 

There are a limited number of lockers for bag storage during the race. A returnable £1 coin is required to operate them. Space is provided for baggage drops (a gazebo at the Start/Finish Area) and although there will be passing surveillance, please note that items are left at your own risk and the organisers cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage.

 

A variety of snacks and drinks are available from vending machines within the sports centre. Warm beverages are also available for a nominal fee after the run (and during it for spectators). Alternative ‘refuelling’ is available at the Powerleague bar, which will be showing the London Marathon and will be where the prize ceremony is held around noon.

 

 

 

A pre- and post-race sports massage is provided by staff and students from University of Bolton’s Sports and Spinal Injuries Clinic (see photos above, courtesy of SSIC). Whilst this is available ‘free of charge’, a small donation towards their chosen charity (Cancer Research UK and the Calvert Trust [Lake District]) is appreciated.

 

Professional and amateur sports photographers will be at the race. Most images will be available for purchase from their website or will be made viewable here. Some photos from previous years’ events can be viewed by clicking the links in the RESULTS section. The Bolton News is also covering the event. You may even feature in it, so “smile for the cameras”!