Are My Running Retreats Suited to You?

• Are you a keen runner looking to progress and get faster?
• Are you a competitive person who takes part in organised races (or wants to enter some soon)?
• Do you clock up anywhere between 20-80 kilometers (12-50 miles) of running per week?
• Do you want to experience rugged trail running in challenging conditions (windy, dark, wet)?
• Do you want to spend time in rural tranquility while recovering from the trails—reading a book or strolling along the coastal promenade?

Does that sound like you? Great—read on!

How Do My Retreats Work (in a Nutshell)?

• Travel to Penzance, Cornwall on a Friday.
• Check into a charming B&B (I can recommend options).
• Run your pre-selected Cornish trail routes with Ollie across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Head back home on Sunday afternoon/evening.

Still interested? Let’s dig into the details below...

Travel

Flights

Some of my London (and surrounding area) clients fly into Newquay (from either Gatwick or Stansted), hire a car, and drive to Penzance (~50 min drive). I also provide airport transfers if preferred.

• Flight time from London = ~1h 20m
• You can check the Skyscanner website for desired dates.

Train

Direct trains to Penzance run from:

• London Paddington
• Reading
• Cardiff Central
• Bristol Temple Meads
• Taunton
• Exeter St Davids
• Plymouth

Train travel times and prices vary. You can check the Great Western Railway website for your desired dates.

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Accommodation

There are several great B&Bs located on Alexandra Road in Penzance. I’m happy to book on your behalf, which includes a 20% discount.
Alternatively, there is a Premier Inn conveniently located next to the station.

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Choosing Your Trail Running Routes

You’ll run a total of 50km across three days (Fri, Sat, Sun). It’s up to you how you split the distance.
Choose from a variety of trail running routes below.
Most clients opt for:

• ~10km route on Friday
• ~20km route on Saturday
• ~10km route on Sunday

I provide car transfers to all runs.

Route 1 - Penrose Estate

• Distance: 10-15km
• Difficulty: 6/10
• Terrain: Mostly trail

Route Details:

Located about 20 minutes from Penzance, Penrose Estate (National Trust) offers a circular trail run featuring a bit of everything—undulating hard paths, woodland sections lined with tree roots, and a challenging stretch of beach called Loe Bar. It’s relatively flat, fast, and a whole lot of fun.

Route 2 - Porthleven Towards Poldhu (Out and Back)

• Distance: 10-20km (all the way out to Poldhu and back = 20km)
• Difficulty: 7/10
• Terrain: Trail

Route Details:

Starting in the beautiful Porthleven Harbour, we head west along the Cornish coastal path. This undulating route includes a beach stretch (Loe Bar) and winds through Gunwalloe and Church Cove before reaching Poldhu. Expect breathtaking views, challenging climbs, and a route that is generally not too technical—allowing for a fast-paced run.

Route 3 - Porthleven Towards Prussia Cove (Out and Back)

• Distance: 10-20km (all the way out to Prussia Cove = 20km)
• Difficulty: 8/10
• Terrain: Trail

Route Details:

Starting in Porthleven, we head east along the Cornish coastal path. The first 5km of this route is my favorite stretch of coastal path in Cornwall—and it’s a tough one! Expect undulating terrain with steep climbs, including the notorious "Zigzag".

If the tide is out, we’ll run along Praa Sands Beach, covering ~1km of golden sand, which is tough underfoot. From there, we climb again before reaching Prussia Cove, where we’ll turn back.