A guide to hill running (also known as fell running)

If you’re a runner living in the UK, you’ve probably heard of hill running, or fell running, an ancient discipline that originated in the Lake District. It’s been rising in popularity over the past few years, with more and more runners ditching their urban runs in favour of the great outdoors. The fell running community is notoriously welcoming, and despite its intrepid reputation, it is surprisingly accessible.

If you love running in nature and you’re not adverse to climbing a few hills, you’ll probably love hill running - or fell running. We’ve put together a guide to tell you everything you need to get started.

What is hill running (or fell running)?

A “Fell” is a high and barren landscape feature, such as a mountain or moor-covered hill, and fell running involves running from point to point over a diverse, hilly terrain, often navigating along routes with no marked paths. You’ll cross bogs, heather, and boulder fields, climb steep, rocky mountains, and above all, discover some of the most stunning views and landscapes of the British Isles. 

What’s the difference between hill running and trail running?

Hill running (or felle running) and trail running seem similar at first glance, as both take place in nature over varied terrain and have minimal road sections. However, there are a few key differences:

• Trail running follows pre-existing paths and tracks, whereas fell running includes stretches in the wilderness, well away from known footpaths. 
• Hill running always involves changes in elevation.
• Trail running races are usually well signposted, with marshals and refreshment points along the route. During fell races, runners are usually expected to be self-sufficient and need to rely on their own navigation skills to move between checkpoints (without a GPS). 

Hill running races in the UK

Fell races are unpredictable, tough, and exhilarating. Success isn’t necessarily about speed but rather your resilience as you battle against both the elements and the terrain. Races are a chance to test both your physical and mental strength and immerse yourself in a vibrant community of like-minded runners. Events take place across the whole of the UK, with the majority concentrated in the upland areas of the north of England, Scotland, and Wales. Particular hotspots are the Lake District, the Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales, and the White and Dark Peaks. Amateur fell races are governed by the Fell Runners Association (FRA) in affiliation with British athletics.

Choosing your hill running race

With almost 500 events taking place annually throughout the British Isles and so many beautiful places to explore, it can be hard to choose your race. Before you sign up, you’ll need to make sure that the race distance, elevation, and navigation requirements are within your capabilities.

Under FRA rules, races fall into different categories. The distance thresholds are:

• Short – 10 kilometres or less
• Medium – between 10 kilometres and 20 kilometres
• Long – 20 kilometres or over

Races are also categorised by the amount of climbing per kilometre:

• A – Over 50 metres per kilometre
• B – Over 25 metres per kilometre
• C – Over 20 metres per kilometre

If you’re new to fell racing and want to start with a less challenging race, it would probably be a good idea to choose a “CS” race, which will be under 10 km long with between 20 and 25 m of elevation gain per kilometre.

You’ll also need to pay attention to the level of navigation skills required: 

• NS –  “Navigational Skills required”. You’ll need to study the route beforehand and evaluate whether you’ll be capable of navigating the course. You must know how to use a map and compass and what to do if you get lost. 
• ER –  “Experience Required”. You’ll need to provide evidence of previous experience and proof of participation in specific races.

If you’re unsure about navigating across unknown territory, it’s best to steer clear of these races while you’re still getting a feel for fell running.

Equipment you need for hill running

For some short fell races, you need nothing more than a pair of suitable shoes and basic running clothing. However, most races have a mandatory kit list, which usually includes full waterproofs (with taped seams), a hat and gloves, a map of the course, a compass, a whistle, and some food. For extreme races (especially in winter), you may also need to carry an emergency “bivvy bag” and an extra thermal top. The weather in the hills can change rapidly, and you need to be prepared for all eventualities. 

A good pair of trail shoes will suffice for shorter races, but if the weather conditions have been particularly bad or the race involves a lot of gnarly climbs and descents, you might want to go for something sturdier, with deeper, more aggressive lugs. 

These two models will have you flying across the fells:

La Sportiva Mutant is a stable and versatile mountain running shoe that performs well on different types of terrain.

The Inov-8 X-Talon Ultra 260 v2 is a great shoe designed for running long distances over diverse terrain and in extreme conditions. Inov-8 has a wide choice of different shoes specifically geared towards fell running. 

Hill races for beginners

Here are a few events to get you started:

• Mynydd Myfyr (CS) - 26 May 2024, Shropshire/Welsh Borders
• Bakewell Pudding Race (CM) - 30 June 2024, Peak District
• Beacon Hill (BM) - 11 July 2024, Northumberland/Durham
• Stoney Middleton (CS ) - 1 August 2024, Peak District
• Cringle Hill (CS) - 9 November 2024, Isle of Man
• Kirkby Moor (BM) - 30 November 2024, Lake District

Happy hill running

We hope that you’ve enjoyed finding out more about hill running or fell running and that you’re feeling inspired to get out onto the hills. It’s a discipline that any runner who likes a challenge can enjoy, and it will show you a whole new side to some of Britain’s most stunning landscapes. Time to lace up your shoes and head out onto the fells!

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