Everything you need to know about fastpacking in the UK
Run far. Sleep wild. Carry light.
There’s a moment on every fastpacking trip — usually somewhere remote and windswept, legs aching, light fading — when the trail starts to feel like home. When you’ve run or hiked all day with everything you need on your back, and now you’re watching the sun dip behind the hills with dinner bubbling on the stove and a bivvy or tent waiting for you nearby. No crowds. No curfews. Just open sky, quiet ground, and the steady satisfaction of having got yourself there under your own steam.
This is fastpacking. It’s not just running with a rucksack. It’s not just backpacking, but lighter. It’s a fast and light way of travelling through wild terrain — covering more ground by day, then sleeping wild by night. It’s a test of legs and logistics, of weatherproof layers and smart packing. And once you’ve tried it, there’s no going back. Whether it’s a solo overnighter in the Brecon Beacons or a multi-day push across the Cairngorms, fastpacking is one of the most rewarding, exhilarating ways to explore the British outdoors.
But it’s not without its challenges. Fastpacking in the UK means planning your route carefully, packing for unpredictable conditions, and knowing where you can — and can’t — pitch up for the night. It means carrying a first aid kit you hopefully won’t use, choosing trail shoes that won’t shred your feet, and finding water sources that don’t taste like sheep. It’s part endurance sport, part navigation exercise, part wild camping — and every bit an adventure.
This hub is your starting point. We’ve built it to help you get out there safely, responsibly, and confidently. Inside, you’ll find gear reviews, route guides, practical advice, fastpacking kit lists, and tips from people who’ve tried, tested, and refined their setups across every kind of terrain. Because if you ask us, there’s no better way to fall in love with the British landscape than to run through it all day — and sleep right in the middle of it.
Want to try fastpacking for the first time?
Join one of our guided fastpacking adventures across the UK — the perfect way to try your first overnighter, build confidence on the trail, and put lightweight gear to the test (we’ll supply the good stuff). Ready to move fast and sleep wild?
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Your essential solo wild camping kit list for your first night outdoors
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Come on an adventure with us
Join one of our guided Great British adventures — the perfect way to try your first wild camp, fastpack for the first time — or simply try some of the best gear out there. Ready for your next big adventure?