The Fells Marathon is a demanding and rewarding two-day hiking challenge for Scouts and Explorer Scouts, designed to test teamwork, resilience and outdoor skills. Over the course of the weekend, teams carry all the kit they need to be fully self-sufficient, including their clothing, food, sleeping equipment and other essentials. Scout teams will usually cover around 20 miles, while Explorer Scout teams take on a longer route of approximately 26 miles, making it a real adventure that pushes both their physical endurance and their ability to work together under pressure.
Teams camp overnight on a remote site and are fully responsible for cooking and looking after themselves, under the supervision of event staff. Leaders and supporters are not permitted on site, making the event a real test of navigation, self-sufficiency, camping skills and endurance.
The event is usually held in or near one of the northern National Parks, such as the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales or Peak District, although it occasionally visits other outstanding countryside areas, such as the Forest of Bowland. To keep the challenge fresh and fair, we normally leave at least three years before returning to the same centre.
