Bournemouth Half Marathon

The Bournemouth Half Marathon starts near Hengistbury Head and finishes at Bournemouth Pier Approach, running along the Dorset coastline as the headline event of the Run Bournemouth weekend. The first five miles follow the clifftops above Poole Bay, giving panoramic sea views, before the course descends to the seafront and continues along the promenade towards Boscombe Pier. A short climb at the eight-mile mark is the main test on an otherwise flat and fast route, after which the course returns to the clifftops for views of Bournemouth Pier before finishing back on the seafront. The surface is entirely road and promenade, and the course takes in both Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers along the way. Its flat, seaside profile and October timing make it a popular choice for both first-time half marathoners and experienced runners chasing a personal best, finishing amid a lively crowd near the pier.