You’ve probably thought about it once or twice, but you still haven’t tried trail running, have you? Lots of you have gone road running before or, at the very least, had a go on the treadmill in the gym, but we can promise you – hitting the natural beauty of the trails is a whole other world.
Today we want to give you a little encouragement to get out there by showing you 5 of the most remarkable places to go trail running in Europe. If mountain running is already a life-affirming experience, why not do it while travelling around the world?
That said, if you’re starting from zero, take it easy. Start slowly, on short routes and, when you’re ready, you can take on longer distances. Whether it’s a short jog around a reserve or a mountainous ultra, just keep in mind that what makes it special is where you’re doing it, not how many KM you’ve got under your belt. Ready for a trip around Europe? Lace up and get reading!
BODMIN MOOR – ENGLAND
Let’s start with a fairly easy route that you can extend if you feel the need. In just 5k and 103m of climb, you’re going to get a really good feel for the marvellous sights of this English county. It’s one of the most attractive routes in the UK and can be found in the far south-east.
Leaving from the pretty town of Minions, the highest in Cornwall, and crossing The Hurlers, one of the most instantly recognisable megalithic monuments in the area, you’ll soon come to Cheesewring. This is a mysterious granite tor of unknown origin and will lead you into a section of typical – and relaxing – grassy meadows to finish up your run.
PRALOGNAN, ALPS – FRANCE
The French Alps are very popular in winter with skiers but become a much less-frequented, but even more impressive (if that’s possible) destination when the snow disappears.
We’d like to propose a beautiful 17km route with a climb of around 1000m in the Rhône-Alpes region. The route takes around 4 hours and should be approached conservatively so you can keep some juice in the tank for the high mountains that crop up along the trail.
LOUGH NESS – SCOTLAND
This exceptional spot is one of the most famous on the planet, thanks to the mysteries that surround it. We’ve heard about the legend of the Lough Ness monster since we were kids, but once you get there, you’ll see that rather than Nessie, it’s the beautiful landscape that’s the real star of the show.
Ness is the second-largest lake in Scotland and offers jaw-dropping routes through the verdant fields surrounding the water. Every year in November there’s a marathon around the lake, as well as a 10k for those of you who haven’t quite got the full 42 in you. Either is worth it – once you’ve run, the story of the race will be the only tale you tell about Lough Ness.
TATEV MONASTERY – ARMENIA
An old Soviet republic, Armenia isn’t very open to the west and remains relatively unknown to many people. The country is full of natural wonders and, as you might expect, is packed with remarkable trails that are perfect for running.
Specifically, we want to highlight a 13k trail that starts at the Tatev Monastery, a 9th-century architectural wonder located on the south-east border. From there, you’ll descend into the forest that lies at the end of the monastery’s winding paths. It’s a great route to tackle in winter and spring, which are the best times of year to visit.
LAUGAVEGUR – ICELAND
Iceland offers nature at its purest, with wild vegetation and volcanic earth combining to give us some of the most beautiful landscapes imaginable. That said, there are also places in the country that, as well as marvelling at the beauty, also give us a strong desire to get to know them by signing up for a race.
One of the most impressive is, without a doubt, Laugavegur, an ultramarathon considered to be the top trail running event in Iceland. The 55k-long race covers the southern highlands, reaching as far as the natural parks of Landamannalugar and Thorsmork. Logically, you can adapt the route to the distance that best suits you, but one thing that won’t change is the fact that you’ll be rapt every step of the way.
