What is the Fells Marathon?

The Fells Marathon is a two-day hiking competition for Scouts and Explorer Scouts. Carrying full kit for the two days, the Scout teams walk around 20 miles while the Explorer Scout teams walk about 26 miles.

Overnight the teams cater for themselves on a remote site monitored by event staff – no leaders or team supporters are permitted there. It is a test of navigation, camping skills and endurance.

Typically, the event is run in, or close to a northern National Park such as the North Yorkshire Moors, Yorkshire Dales or the Peak District; though it does sometimes visit other areas of outstanding natural beauty as it did in 2014 going to the Forest of Bowland. To avoid teams become familiar with a location we usually leave a gap of at least 3 years before re-using a centre.