Finding hidden trails near you

It’s easy to forget how lucky we are in the UK to have such a diverse landscape on our doorstep and how much we take our parks, rivers and coasts for granted. 

Mixing things up and finding a new trail or route can help to ease the fatigue of constant training. I find running somewhere new a great distraction, as I’m concentrating more on the new sights, sounds and smells than overthinking my breathing or the niggle in my knee.

Recently I’ve found Instagram, All Trails and Strava to be great tools for finding new hidden spots in the surrounding areas. I’ll often search hashtags or check out where my favourite photographers and athletes have been posting about.

So the next time you might be feeling a little uninspired to run that same park loop for the tenth time, consider doing a bit of local research and you might surprised at the wonderful places available on your doorstep. 

Gem.