Pints & Parkruns: Blackhill, Consett

Perched on a Pennine ridge, Consett is a singular place. Its exposed location makes it prone to wilder weather than near neighbours on the Durham plain, while its rugged industrial history still leaves a tangible mark almost half a century after the town’s steel works closed.

That heritage lingers in unlikely places: fans of the local football team fly a banner proclaiming “Once we made steel, now we make ready meals”. The same kind of mordant wit informs a chant about having two Tesco’s. Local pride endures, but not without irony.

Blackhill Park, home of the local parkrun, is another cast-iron legacy. Opened in 1891 on land donated by the Consett Iron Company as a gesture to its staff, the idea was to create a clean, green open space for healthy recreation. Given Consett’s reputation as a windblasted spot covered in rust-red foundry dust, this may have been a public health sticking plaster over a gaping industrial wound. Nonetheless, the park has outlived heavy industry and today sits at the heart of a conservation area, criss-crossed by cycle paths and art installations.

So far, so good. From the traditional band stand to a sculpture reflecting how Consett steel shaped the industrial world, via a “Steel trail” of metal plates set into the paths describing different elements of the process, it works well as a monument to past labours.

However, it’s also on a hillside. Quite a steep one. And, for the unsuspecting parkrunner, that means huge elevation. There’s brief respite at the start and a mercifully downhill finish. However, Strava comes in at 98m of climbing on a course that climbs paved paths through the park itself, then nips out around a football field and even incorporates a handful of steps along the way. My first visit in 2021 was my first encounter with steps at a parkrun, and that wasn’t something I much relished.

So far, it’s the third biggest parkrun climb I’ve tackled (Queen’s Park, Glasgow at 113m and Marshall Drive, Brotton at 104m are that bit steeper). It even outstrips the forest runs at nearby Chopwell or Hamsterley. Each time has me thinking ‘never again’. Yet, somehow, I’m always tempted back once more.

Partly, it’s the sense of a challenge: this is a genuinely tough course, and getting round gives a real sense of personal achievement. In addition, it feels very different from many other routes thanks to its mix of 19th-century park and 21st-century playing fields. And, with a solid core of regular runners, many from the local Blackhill Strollers club, there’s usually somebody on hand to help you set a sensible pace (or inspire you to make a rash dash to beat a rival, depending on your mood). So, while I wouldn’t run Blackhill every week, I’m very glad that it’s close enough for me to tackle from time to time.

Practicalities: road shoes are fine here. There’s ample free parking next to the park, just follow the signs off the main A691 into Dixon Street. Toilets are open in the bowling club, which also does teas and coffees after the run. Runners in search of a fry-up might look at Knitsley Farm shop, on the Durham side of town.

The pint

The Steelworks are long gone, but the Consett Ale Works are thriving. Based in the Grey Horse pub (a regular CAMRA award winner), this is one of the best-loved and longest established independent breweries in the region. Since 2005, it’s been turning out high quality brews across a range of styles. There’s a thematic nod to the town’s steel heritage, from Molten Ale to White Hot, and it’s always worth snapping up a pint if you see it on draft. The bottled range is not quite as extensive as the cask-conditioned selection, but happily my personal favourite, the Red Dust ruby ale is available in both.

First visit: Sep. 2021; PB 25:30.

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