Why 12 – 3 – 30?
Why spend hours of your week walking or running on a treadmill in a crowded gym when you can hit the trails and enjoy the beauty of nature? Not only will you get an excellent workout, but you’ll also experience the added health benefits that come with exercising outdoors.
If you’re not a natural born gym bunny and you’re not sure what 12-3-30 means it’s simply setting the treadmill to a 12% incline, putting the speed to 3 and running up hill for 30 minutes. We’ve picked out a great selection of trail runs created by La Sportiva. You can run or walk these hilly routes which all include varied terrain to really engage your muscles.
Our Pick of the Best UK Trail Running Routes in the UK
Trail Running Inspiration
Read More Inspiring Advice for Winter Wellness…
Great Wood – Keswick
Park in Great Wood National Trust carpark before taking a short section of single track out of the car park leading to a forest track which then continues to climb through the wood. Follow the path alongside a field then up the path beside the river, over a bridge which pops you out on a lane to a farm. Crossing another bridge back onto trail and continuing to climb before soon being on open grassy fell to the summit of Walla Crag with fine views over Keswick (on a clear day). The route then descends on technical trail towards Ashness Bridge and then back towards Great Wood along a narrow single track trail.
Helm Hill – Kendal
40% on trail, rest on the road. Some steep sections included amazing views from the top of the Helm! Run starts from Asda car park.
Up to the Pimple – Tavistock
From the Run Venture Running Hub in the centre of town, Turn right and right again to head to the main square. Follow the road over the bridge over the River Tavy and turn right at the roundabout. After the carpark on the left take the first turning left and follow straight on up the road and through the pathway. Turn left uphill at the main road and follow up to the top, turning right before the cattle grid. Continue up to the small hut at the top of the hill known as the Pimple. Follow down the other side and once across the road go straight on to find a footpath at the bottom of the hill. Go through the gate by a house and continue up the bridleway. Turn left at the top, across some fields and left at the road. Follow the road and at the crossroads turn left again across the open moorland and golf course heading to the Pimple again in the distance. Return the same way to the shop for coffee.
Bonaly Trail – Edinburgh
Start at upper Bonaly car park and head through the woods to the bottom of Capelaw Hill. The trail up to the bottom gate can get muddy so stick to the rockier bits if it’s wet! This route follows the lower track to Bonaly reservoir; for a longer and hillier option detour up the hill and follow the track round to the gate by the reservoir. A fast, fun descent known as the Scalectrix brings you to Torduff reservoir and back round to the car park. For a post-run coffee retrace your steps past Torduff and continue round to Clubiddean reservoir and grab a takeaway from the cafe (open Fridays and weekends during the day).
Redmires – Sheffield
Park at Redmires Reservoir and start by following the road back towards Sheffield for around 0.5km then take the good path to the left. Follow the conduit all the way to the haunted house! From here take the trail to the left of the pond, climb towards the woods taking care in the boggy sections. Follow the broken wall and good trail firstly to the shelter, then up onto Stannage Edge. Briefly head right on the edge path to bag High Neb trig point and check out the views across the Peaks then head back on yourself, sticking to the edge path until you reach the left fork. Follow what becomes a good path to Stannage Pole, this marks the boundary as you cross from Derbyshire back into Sheffield. Continue down the stoney trail back to Redmires Reservoir.
Caen Hills Locks – Devisez
Park in the layby on March Lane (B2101). Head up the Kennet & Avon Canal Path towards Devizes alongside the incredible Caen Hill Locks system. The 29 x locks have a rise of 237 feet in 2 miles and were completed in 1810. Enjoy a break on the way up or down (or both!) at the Caen Locks Hill Café. Follow the trail up towards Devizes Millennium Horse on Bank Field. Return through the fields to the canal and back along the canal. This running route traces part of the 100-mile White Horse Trail which visits the eight chalk white figures in Wiltshire. Anna-Marie Watson set the Fastest Known Time in May 2021 and captured her epic adventure in the film ‘Eight White Horses’.
Sundowner – Axminster
This route starts in Hurtwood carpark 6 radar site. From here you head east along the greensand way for a short while before taking a long gradual decent down through woodland. Before making the climb back up to the view point of pitch hill. Views all across the South Downs and even the sea of a clear day. Heading back on the greensand for a short time you see the Ewhurst wind mill. Before crossing a road to take a right hand turn and another decent down a rocky path. This takes you on a small loop back up to the greensand way again for the short section you started on back to the car park. The route takes in around 1000 feet of elevation all on trail.
Great Langdale – Ambleside
From the bunkhouse door turn left, pass two houses and take the left through a little wooden gate onto the Cumbrian Way. Cross the small field to the next wooden gate and go straight on. Follow the tricky, rocky trail uphill with a stone wall on the left. Continue for 2.5km keeping the stone wall on the left then turn left following the wall round taking in the beautiful views of Bowfell now to your right. Follow the grassy track to cross the river at the bridge and then turn sharp left keeping the river on your left and continue following the wall around until you reach a wooden gate that you go through. Continue on the path to Stool End Farm with Side Pike now in view ahead. Pass through the farm yard and continue on the tarmacked track (views of Pike of Stickle and Loft Crag to the left) over the cattle grid and once at the main road turn left through a wooden gate, over a bridge then through another wooden gate. Admire the Lingmoor Fell ridge to the right. Cross into the next field through a gate and then continue through the series of fields following the yellow arrows demarking the footpath, then turn right over a bridge into a field and follow the footpath left returning to the bunkhouse via the Stickle Barn pub where you can enjoy a well earned pint.
Castle Coombe Beach
This route starts and finishes at the heart of this classic picturesque Cotswolds village outside The Castle Inn and The White Hart pub. Head south along ‘The St’, the path climbs through Becker’s Wood then through Danks Down Cottage Wood before reaching Ford. Join the MacMillan Trail which traces By Brook through Long Dean and through Grains Quarry Plantation back into Castle Coombe. Afterwards refuel with cake at Ellen’s Cottage (honesty box) or The Old Stables Coffee Shop. Park on ‘The St’ or Castle Combe Free Visitor Car Park off the B4039. Public toilets available in Castle Combe.
Capel Run – Capel Curig
From the Joe Brown Shop cross the A5 and head up the trail by the war memorial. At the end of the field look for a trail on the left. This can be followed fairly easily but does climb gradually to a sharp left turn to the summit of Crimpiau (475m). Descend from the summit in an easterly/ north easterly direction to meet an obvious footpath and follow this roughly south back to the footpaths above the A5. There are plenty of options here but we head east and then south. The path through the field just before the woods is not obvious on the ground but is signposted. Exit the field on the left just as you hit the trees and follow this down buy some huts to the Bryn-Glo carpark on the A5. From here head right down the A5 to Pont Cyfyng and cross the Afon Llugwy. Follow the footpath alongside the river all the way back to Plas-Y-Brenin the national outdoor centre. From here there is a final loop along the old road and back down to the start by Joe Brown Shops Warehouse or you can follow the road right back to the Joe Brown Shop and the junction with the A5.
Cotswolds Way – Lansdown
Head north-west along Lansdown Road keeping to the verge, turn left past the Charlcombe Inn where the footpath passes between Bath Racecourse and Lansdown Golf Course. Join the Cotswolds Way and head towards Bath. Make sure to admire the view from Prospect Stile! It’s mainly downhill into the historic City of Bath; past the Royal Crescent to finish next to Bath Abbey and Roman Baths. Chill out in Mjolk, the Nordic cafe or explore the numerous options available – I’d recommend Cascara or Nook. There is free parking at the Park and Ride on Lansdown Road and toilets are available.
Chew Magna – Wiltshire
Great view of the lake and much of the surrounding valley. Stanton Drew Stone Circles are an easy diversion about 3 km total out and back. Start in the village of Chew Magna and head along the Three Peaks Walk up to Knowle Hill for a commanding view of the lake and the surrounding Chew Valley before returning to the village down Pitt’s Lane.
Maes Knoll – Whitchurch
Two of the best views in the Chew Valley. The route is a figure 8 so it’s easy to do either half by itself. Start by heading up Maes Knoll, an Iron Age hill fort overlooking the Chew Valley towards the Mendip Hills to the south, and central Bristol to the north. After circling back to the start, descend Settle Hill with a view of the Pensford Viaduct. Alternatively, start and finish in Pensford where there’s a good pub and coffee shop.
Park and 10101 – Kettering
Start at myRaceKit North, S11 8ZL. Head out along past Endcliffe park and into Bingham park. Turn left straight up the Sheffield 101010 hill, along the trails and follow the 10101 route back to Endcliffe park. Deer, bats, foxes and herons can be seen along here. You can take a few different routes back through Endcliffe park, light trails or the main park path. Then back to myRaceKit North to finish.
Great Chalfield Loop – Bradford Upon Avon
Holt is the start and finish point for this route near the National Trust Courts Gardens or Glove Factory which are both worth checking out. The run is predominantly on trails through fields, past Lady’s Coppice, then Great Chalfield Manor; before heading along a quiet country lane from Blackacre Farm to Mirkens Farm. The final section returns back through fields to Holt.