The Trial is an annual event held at different venues in the Lake District in mid-September. It is considered to be one of the major events in the fell-runner's calendar. The Men's and Women's courses will be severe tests of route choice, navigational skill and stamina in difficult mountain country. The men's route will cover a maximum of 20 miles and the ascent and descent of about 8000 ft. The women's route will be shorter (about two-thirds of the men's distance). Owing to the severity of these courses, applicants are vetted for fell-running experience and there is a minimum age of 21(exceptionally 18 for proven ability).
The Short Trial caters principally for novices over 18 years old and veterans over 50. The course is about 10 miles in length with about 3500 ft of ascent and descent.

For competitors on all courses there is a limit on the total running time and the time to an intermediate checkpoint to ensure that everyone finishes well before dark. Because of mountain safety requirements, no substitution of entries can be allowed after the start list is finalised.

Competitors will start in groups at one minute intervals from 8.45 am and at that time will have no knowledge of the route. After following a flagged route for a few minutes they receive a pre-marked map and details of the checkpoints, which must be visited in the order given. The competitors' fitness and map-reading skill then decide how long it is before they reappear at the finish, or whether they reappear in a different valley!


The National Trust
The Lake District Mountain Trial Association would like to thank the National Trust who, as trustees of large areas of the Lake District, have always been most helpful in allowing free access for the purpose of fell running. The continuation of this traditional sport depends on the help and co-operation received from local landowners and farmers. This help is much appreciated. The cost of restoring, protecting and maintaining the land is high and by supporting the National Trust Lake District Appeal, Freepost, Grasmere, Cumbria you can help this work.