Head away from the hustle and bustle of city living for some muddy puddles, rocky ground and steep hills - the perfect natural challenge for trail runners!
Along the winding forest trails, with leaves and twigs crunching underfoot; up hills and down valleys, leaping logs and crossing burbling brooks; winding through trees and over rocky outcrops - the undulating landscape of the forest provides a naturally stimulating arena for trail runners in the UK.
What is trail running?
Statistics* show that over 2.2 million adults are running regularly for exercise, with more and more heading off-road and into the countryside for the calming effects of beautiful scenery and smog-free air.
Trail running offers plenty of health benefits and a different experience to running on the roads through towns. Besides the chance to run free from pollution and traffic noise, the softer ground is gentler on the body, giving joints a rest from hard pavements. The constantly changing terrain is great for improving body condition as well, providing a more comprehensive workout as you shift position and use different muscles to compensate for uneven ground.
The less obvious health benefits are arguably the most important - nature has been shown to have profound effects on mental health. Trail running provides a sense of serenity and a release from stress and inner tension. According to running experts SportsShoes, 88% of runners find that running through nature improves their sense of wellbeing.
Book a cabin with Forest Holidays, and explore new experiences and a different challenge in each of our nine locations throughout the UK, with plenty of changing environments to run and awe-inspiring views to discover.