Mountain Running in Scotland – Built for the Obsessed, Not the Occasional

There’s something about Scotland’s mountains that rewires your system. The Highlands strip everything back—no distractions, no shortcuts, just silence, effort, and terrain that demands full commitment. This isn’t podcast-friendly pavement. This is where every footstrike matters, every summit is earned, and every mistake teaches you something real.

At Trail Running Tours, we don’t sell scenery or run holidays. We deliver mountain work. Ridge by ridge, climb by climb. If that gets your pulse going—you’re in the right place.

Built for the Climb: What We Deliver on the Ground

Forget polished pitches. These aren’t services—they’re sessions forged in altitude, soaked in sweat, and backed by results. This is what we do, and how we do it:

Performance Trail Camps (3–7 Days)

Engineered for volume, grit, and adaptation. Camps are run across elevation-heavy routes that test and grow you, day by double day.

You’ll gain between 1,000 to 3,500 meters of elevation throughout the camp, building serious climbing resilience.
Most days include double training sessions, mimicking race-day fatigue and helping your body adapt to repeated stress.
Several runs go above 900 meters in altitude, forcing both physical and mental adaptation to thinner air.
We incorporate anaerobic hill intervals on quiet, challenging ascents to develop explosive climbing power.
Each evening, we break down the day’s efforts with pacing and fuelling debriefs, helping you learn from your performance and improve the next day.

Race Prep Runs & Recon

For those chasing race day confidence. We simulate real event conditions with tailored recon sessions.

Get familiar with technical sections like sharp descents and narrow trail bottlenecks.
Practice nutrition and hydration strategies while running at your expected race pace.
Receive coaching on effort management for climbs and smooth flow on descents.
Build route memory, manage energy output, and improve split consistency

Race Preparation Coaching (Remote + On Trail)

Dial in for the big days—whether you’re chasing a Glen Lyon sunrise or plotting a Cape Wrath finish. We fuse data with dirt.

We create race-specific training plans designed for Scotland’s iconic ultra-distance events.
You’ll be taken through on-trail reconnaissance sessions and vertical pacing drills to mentally and physically prepare for your course.
Our team conducts thorough kit checks, ensuring your gear performs under real race conditions.
We run nutrition and fuel trials during training runs to see what works under load and over long distances.
For remote athletes, we provide video analysis and feedback, making sure technique and pacing stay sharp from anywhere in the world.

Guided Training Days (Private + Group)

Zero fluff, max output. Tailored sessions for individuals or teams focused on improving where it counts—technique, efficiency, and endurance.

You’ll work on technical trail adaptation drills, learning how to move efficiently over steep, rocky, or uneven ground.
We simulate real conditions with fat and carbohydrate fuelling protocols, helping you fine-tune energy use for long efforts.
Heart rate zone mapping is built in, using tempo and recovery pairings to help you train smarter and avoid burnout.
Group sessions are split by ability level, so no one’s held back—or left behind.
After training, we provide access to your Strava and heart rate monitor data, offering structured feedback to track your gains.

Mountain Skills Sessions

Because you can’t outpace a white-out or ankle snap. We make sure you’re ready when things turn.

You’ll learn how to use a map and compass in white-out conditions, training without the crutch of GPS.
Our sessions teach emergency bivy setup and rapid shelter deployment, so you’re prepared for unexpected overnights or stops.
We walk you through injury handling protocols, including how to lock down blisters, wrap sprains, and monitor for hypothermia.
You’ll practice group movement in poor visibility, learning how to communicate, pace, and navigate as a team.
We also run rescue-prep walkthroughs, covering the worst-case scenarios so you’re not caught off guard when things go sideways.

Club & Corporate Bookings

Tailored blocks for groups who want more than a jog in the hills. We split by ability, stack expertise, and provide performance tracking.

Groups are split by ability level, with multiple guides to ensure coverage across all paces.
We run diverse session formats, including endurance runs, tempo workouts, and hill reps to build well-rounded trail strength.
Post-session, we provide performance summaries for club coaches or team leads to assess and improve group training plans.
Our days close with an open Q&A session and gear breakdown, helping runners ask questions and refine their setups.
These sessions work well for team-building, cross-discipline training, or setting ambitious running goals.

Why Choose Us

Because we train here. We live here. We’ve guided over 170 runners through Scotland’s hardest terrain—50% training for specific events, 41% hit PBs, and 28% placed top 10 in category.

Based in Fort William and Aviemore, we’re out year-round—often in conditions worse than the races. That’s why our prep works.

Mountain Legs Ready?

If the words bog, climb, sweat, wind, and gain get you lacing up—this is your place. We’re not for everyone. We’re for the ones who keep pushing when the ridge gets rough.

[Book Your Highlands Run Block Now]
Limited slots. Small groups. Zero fluff.

FAQ – What You Should Know

Never done a fell or mountain race?

Fine—if you’ve got a sub-55min 10K and can handle rough ground, we’ll build the rest.

Shoe recs?

Wet grass/rock: Inov-8 Mudclaw, La Sportiva Bushido II
Mixed terrain: Salomon S/LAB Ultra
No road shoes. Period.

Do you offer lactate testing?

Yes—field-based, built into incline segments

Do I carry my own kit?

Yes. 3–6kg packs depending on route. Includes safety gear, water, food, waterproofs.

How do you handle bad weather?

All guides are qualified. We use MWIS forecasts and pre-built evacuation routes