How to Choose the Right Trail Running Route

How to choose the right trail running route

Most bad days on the trail come from one thing: picking a route that didn't match the day. Too long, too technical, too exposed for the forecast. Choosing well is a skill, and it's mostly about reading a few honest numbers before you go. Here's how we think about it, and how to use the TRP Grade to pick a route you'll actually enjoy finishing.

Start with the TRP Grade

Every route on the site carries a TRP Grade: two scores plus a plain-English label. We use two scores because a flat 40km towpath and a technical 8km fell route are hard in completely different ways, and one number can't tell the truth about both.

• Effort (E1–E5) is how much work the route demands, from its distance and total climb combined.
• Terrain (T1–T5) is how technical the ground is, based on the hardest sustained terrain on the route.
• The label takes the higher of the two scores: 1 is Easy, 2 Moderate, 3 Hard, 4 Very Hard, 5 Expert.

So a route marked Hard · E3 T2 is a solid effort on straightforward ground, while Hard · E2 T3 is shorter but more technical. Read both scores, not just the label, and you'll know what you're really in for.

Then weigh these six things

Distance and time on feet. Be honest about how long you'll actually be out. Trail pace is slower than road pace, and climbs slow you right down. If you usually run 10km on the road in an hour, the same distance on a hilly trail might take you half as long again.

Climb. Total ascent matters as much as distance. A flat 20km and a 20km route with 1,000m of climb are different days. The route page lists total ascent, and the elevation profile shows where the climbing bites.

Terrain. This is what the terrain score is for. Good tracks and towpaths let you settle into a rhythm; bog, tussock and rock slow you down and tire you out. Match the ground to your experience and your shoes.

Weather. Grade the day, not just the route. A Moderate ridge becomes serious in high wind, and limestone gets slick in the wet. Always check the forecast for the height you're running, not the valley.

Navigation. Some routes follow waymarked National Trails the whole way; others cross open fell where you need to navigate. If you're not confident off-path, choose a route with clear navigation and carry the GPX offline.

Escape options. On a longer route, know where you can cut it short. The best long routes pass through a village or back near the start partway round, so a bad day doesn't become an epic.

Match the route to the day

A simple way to decide: pick the route to fit the worst of your time, your legs and the forecast — not the best. If you're tired, short on daylight, or the weather's turning, drop down a grade. There's no prize for finishing a route that stopped being fun at halfway, and the trail will still be there next week.

If you're new to trail running, start on Easy and Moderate routes with clear navigation — see our easy Lake District routes or the gentler picks in the Yorkshire Dales guide. Build up the distance and the terrain score separately, not both at once.

Use the GPX

Every route here has a free GPX download — no account, no email, no paywall. Load it onto a watch or phone before you go and you remove the navigation problem entirely, even on open fell. Downloading the file is also the simplest way to check a route's shape and climb before you commit.

FAQs

What does the TRP Grade mean?

It's two scores plus a label. Effort (E1–E5) covers distance and climb; Terrain (T1–T5) covers how technical the ground is. The label takes the higher of the two: Easy, Moderate, Hard, Very Hard or Expert.

How do I know if a route is too hard for me?

Check the effort and terrain scores separately. If the distance and climb are within reach but the terrain score is high, the challenge is technical ground, not fitness. When in doubt, drop a grade and build up.

How much longer does a trail route take than a road run?

It varies, but expect trail pace to be noticeably slower than road pace, and climbs to slow you further. Use the distance, total ascent and elevation profile together to estimate your time on feet.

Do I need to register to download GPX files?

No. Every GPX download on Trail Running Planet is free, with no account, no email gate and no paywall.

Find your next route

Browse all routes by grade and distance, or read more about how the TRP Grade works.