Cycling & running events in Eastbourne, 2026

Eastbourne Coastal Base Miles

Running: Locals run the seafront when they want steady coastal rhythm, then cut inland to Hampden Park, Gildredge Park, Manor Gardens, Princes Park, Upperton Gardens, Carpet Gardens, Western Lawns, and Shinewater Park for easy laps. Shinewater Park keeps parkrun honest, with an approximately 80% path and 20% grass course that is flat self-propulsion all the way. Willingdon starts the Eastbourne Ridge Run, and the route climbs until it reaches around 195 m before the subsequent exhilarating descent towards Eastbourne rewards your efforts. Beachy Head Marathon anchors the calendar, with Eastbourne 10K, Beachy Head 10K, Beachy Head Half Marathon, Beachy Head Ultra, and Eastbourne Mile Night close by.

Cycling: Locals ride the Cuckoo Trail to Polegate, cross town to the seafront, then head right up to Seven Sisters when the legs want proper work. Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club gives riders social rides, racing, touring, Time Trial, Road, Track, Mountain Bike, and Cyclo-Cross, and the club runs summer evening time trials on local courses. The 60-mile route from London to Eastbourne uses Forest Way and The Cuckoo Trail for a traffic-free ride. The gravel route runs 3 km and stacks up 869 m of elevation gain.

Season: May, June, July, August, and October give Eastbourne the best training blocks, with warm coastal days, long light, and enough South Downs bite for intervals or Z2 base miles. Eastbourne recorded 9 hours of sunshine in July 1911. Summer brings Eastbourne Rovers evening time trials, seafront riding, and dry grass or path running through the parks and Downs. Winter keeps things mild by local standards, but Shinewater Park gets its squelching mud and grass, the Downs feel more exposed, and UK Ultra Winter on the Downs gives December runners a proper anchor event.