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Trail & fell running weekend 2024
Weekend course running in the fells of Lake District National Park
Course overview

Trail running is seeing a huge growth of people getting into this amazing sport. We have been offering Alpine trail running camps for several years in the summer months, and are now delighted to offer these UK based introductory fell running weekends too.
These weekends are based in the English Lake District in Cumbria, as there are hundreds of kilometers of trails to choose from, and a huge variety of terrain to run on. We offer a great balance of running, coaching, and trail running advice, preparation and top tips.
These weekends are open to anyone, but we suggest that you will get the most out of them if you are happy running up to 10km, or even a half marathon. If you are in any doubt as to if they will suit, then get in touch to get advice from one of the coaches.
As well as enjoying a great weekend of fell and trail running, we aim to teach you the key safety skills for route planning and Alpine running, with a focus put on the selection of appropriate equipment and how to develop your training plans for trail running.
Don't worry if you have never run on mountain trails before, as you will pick up the skills quickly with expert coaching and guidance. All you need is to be fit for regular running, to have a sense of humour, and to love the outdoors. We will teach you all the skills you need.
On the weekends you are coached by a leader who is qualified a UIMLA International Mountain Leader or MTUK Mountain Leader. Many leaders are also Personal Trainers too. The mountain qualifications are only one aspect, as the leaders are all experienced ultra-trail and mountain runners.
During the weekend you will run on prepared trails, and also on untracked terrain, to experience the best of mountain fell running. Our aim is to introduce you to as wide a range of ground to run on, so that you build up your skills and confidence on all mountain terrain.
We also offer the possibility of joining just one of the days of the weekend, if you do not want to commit to the two days. These spaces are subject to availability, but for more details then please click here.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Lake District Course Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.

We’ve just returned from a weekend’s introduction to fell-running and can’t recommend it enough. Kingsley, our guide, took time at the beginning to establish our level of competence and what we wanted to get out of the weekend. He then tailored our runs accordingly. Even though the course was only two days long, we all improved enormously and Kingsley struck the perfect balance of tuition, encouragement, cajoling and just letting us get on with running and enjoying the amazing scenery. We were a bit apprehensive about doing it in December, but the weather just made it even more fun.

Robert T , Intro Fell Running
Trip photo galleries
One of the delights of fell running is that it can be done 365 days a year! Obviously this means that you are going to encounter the full range of weather that the mountains can throw at you, but for some that is the reason that they book on a course, so that they can get the experience of all weather running. The gallery on the left is of fell running in the summer months, and the gallery on the right is of fell running during the winter. We offer dates all around the year, and as you'll see, our expert guiding team are more than capable of looking after you in all conditions.
Kit for mountain running
When you book on this trip you'll be set a detailed equipment list. Have a good read through it, as despite the relatively low altitude of the Lake District fells, the weather and conditions can sometimes be challenging. The best investment you'll make will be a decent pair of fell running shoes (e.g. Inov8 Mudclaw / Salomon Fellraiser), for good grip and to keep you low to the ground to reduce the risks of turning an ankle. The fells generally provide good cushioning for your feet, so the priority is traction and stability. Always take a waterproof running jacket, as even on the good days, it can be useful against any wind, and as a warm layer. Taking any running poles is completely optional, but if you do take some, the instructor will teach you how to use them efficiently. We've produced a whole page specifically about mountain running kit, so to view it click here.

Brief Course Itinerary
The Lake District is blessed with hundreds of kilometers of trails over all types of terrain, from forest tracks to high fells and mountain passes, and so the itinerary can be flexed on any day to take account of weather conditions, to ensure that you sample the best on offer. The itinerary below is to provide you with a taster of what you could achieve, and isn't fixed in stone. After each day in the itinerary is an outline of the key teaching focus points for every day, so you get a real idea of what you can learn about.
Saturday
Meet in the Icicle office at 09:00, and get a short equipment, weather and safety briefing, before setting off on your fell run. Locations and objectives may include running the Fairfield horseshoe, the Coniston fells, or a circuit of Langdale. You are coached on pacing techniques for fell running, techniques for moving on different terrain, descent skills, and running navigation. Typically you descend around mid afternoon, after a good day in the hills, and have a debrief and discuss options for the following day, so you get the maximum out of your weekend. Accommodation isn't included in the course price, to give you a choice of budgets and styles of where to stay, but upon booking we will send you a list of several recommended B&B's and hotels. In the evening the group often goes out for a meal together.
Sunday
After breakfast in your accommodation, you meet again in the office at 09:00, then after checking the weather and conditions, you set off for your second day of fell running. We normally aim to focus on a shorter but more technical route, so that you can finish running by 15:00 on the Sunday, to give you a bit more time to travel home before it gets too late. Your running coach will again teach you as many fell running skills as possible, and give you lots of tips to improve your style, speed and efficiency in moving fast and smoothly over rough mountain terrain.

ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. Please use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt.
Course Prices
Standard course
2 full days running guiding, 1:8 max ratio
2 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday
£99
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Inclusions: 1) Qualified guide for two days running, 2) Lake District course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Road transport in Lake District to running venues each day, 6) Provision of group safety equipment by the leader.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to & from the national park for the weekend, 2) Equipment hire such as poles or waterproofs, 3) Bar / food bills & tips, laundry, telephone calls, 4) Accommodation.
Notes: The scheduled course requires a minimum number of 3 people, and there are a maximum of 8 people per guide. If you would like a private trip on a date of your choice, please get in contact to pick a date.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Intro Fell Running
  • No Dates Available
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Price: £99 Book online

Preparatory trips
Personal trainer session

Alternatives
Alps summer trail week
1st time Ultra weekend

Gran Canaria trail run

Next trips
Alps winter trail running
Alpine Skyrunning
As featured in the Independent...
click here to view
Client feedback

What a weekend! In all the good ways of course. I really was amazed how much I learned during the weekend, and I never imagined how much fun it would be too

Tim O , Intro Fell Running

Thanks to you all for this weekend. We had a great time, and our legs are still tired two days later, so you clearly gave us exactly what we were after

Sally N , Intro Fell Running

This weekend was a confidence boost for me to expand my running into venturing off road and even into the hills on my own in the very near future

Steve R , Intro Fell Running
Testimonials
Press & media
Films & videos
Photo gallery
Video of this trip
Travel to this trip by train
Minimise the impact of cars in the Lake District National Park, and travel by train. Our office is just 300m from Windermere train station, which is on a branch line from the West Coast main line.
Location data for this trip
The meeting point for these courses is at our office in Windermere in the Lake District National Park. There is easy access by car, and the train station is just 150m from the office door. From here there are a huge variety of trails to run on and mountain terrain to opt for, so we can cater for all weather and conditions. We genuinely believe that the Lake District is second to none with the quality and quantity of amazing fell and trail running opportunities. The UK hills are famed for often providing four seasons in one day, and that is what makes the fell running such a unique and rewarding challenge. Don't forget that it helps to have a great selection of pubs in the Lake Dictrict to enjoy a beer and natter in after the run!
Free resources


FREE Podcast
Getting into trail running...

Trail running is a fastgrowing sport, and this podcast explains what it involves, how to get into it, and also goes through all of the equipment that is required
.
Download podcast (3.76 MB)
See all the Icicle podcasts


FREE Resource - Fell &
Trail running kit list...

If you are planning on attending one of our trail running courses, you can see a kit check list of the clothing and equipment that we recommend you take.
Trail running kit advice page
Download the kit list here
Suggested reading and kit
Why choose our trips?
The photo above sums it up. All of these finisher jackets of the UTMB race series belong to our head running leader. We genuinely think that there is no other operator out there who is more credible!
There are several other operators who also offer trail running camps, and we aren't afraid to advertise that fact. Please look at their itineraries to see how they differ from ours.
We don't offer talks from 'celebrity' runners, or go in for the chardonnay in a hot tub 'lifestyle', or quasi-scientific courses. Ours are run by people who do it, not talk the talk.
The effect on our prices is that we can offer you great value. We genuinely believe that you'll spend more time actually running and in the mountains on our courses, than with anyone else.
Many of those leading you will be a finisher of one of the world's iconic trail races, such as the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, Tor du Geants or Leadville or WS100.


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