In a nutshell:
Running up and down hills in the gorgeous British countryside

Tell me more!
Trail and fell running (also known as skyrunning) is all about getting off the beaten track and exploring the hills and mountains of Britain. Fitness is a key part of enjoying this hobby as you are running up and down hills on uneven ground and may need to leap the odd rock or two standing in your way! There is no doubt that it will open up a whole new world of great scenery but it will probably bring you out of your fitness comfort zone and a walk/run approach might be the best way to build up your stamina over time.  

The stuff you need
Specialist shoes are a must as they give good grip on different types of surfaces but are also robust enough to cope with mud and rain. As the weather can be changeable, it is important to think ahead and have several layers to hand. Water and/or wind proof jacket and trousers, lightweight hat and gloves are sensible additions to your usual running kit. As you will be running in fairly remote areas that may not be heavily signposted, a compass and map will be useful as well as a basic first aid kit, water bottle, whistle and emergency rations. Running with a friend or a group is a good idea if your sense of direction is not the best and having a mobile phone on hand is useful for emergencies if you can get a signal! 

Cool things you can do
Once you have settled into this style of running, you can push your own boundaries with bigger hills and mountains. Add on a bit of wilderness camping and you can extend your runs to last a few days, covering more of the beautiful countryside. Join a fell running club and explore new trails locally with a group of enthusiasts who can stop you getting lost first time out! Enter competitions to pit your fitness against other amateurs around the country or spread your net abroad and experience different climates and specialist trails such as running on dormant volcanoes. For the hardcore runner, why not try an ultramarathon with dramatic landscapes and huge descents – this is definitely not for the faint hearted!

People in the know!
runningforfun.co.uk
fellrunner.org.uk
mudsweatandtears.co.uk

Interested in this? Why not try adventure travel, caving, geocaching, orienteering, slacklining, walking and hiking

Age is no barrier to fell running and a bit of family rivalry always helps!