Starlight strides – night running in the North Pennines

Running is usually thought of as a daytime activity – but what if you lace up your trainers after dark? How does this change the experience of moving through the countryside? Is it scary, exciting? Do you need to be super experienced or, perhaps, superhuman to give it a go?

Magical

Running along countryside trails after the sun has set is a magical experience. Even if you are familiar with your route in daylight, it will take on a new character in the dark. During the day your senses take in distant views of the hills but at night your attention inevitably shifts to the here and now – to the immediate trail beneath your feet. The tree roots trying to trip you up. The low-hanging branches which suddenly appear.

Look up

The dales, hills and moors of the North Pennines are distant from the lights in towns and cities. In fact, the North Pennines has some of the darkest night skies in the country. It is the darkest mainland National Landscape, only the Scilly Isles are darker.

Pause on a night run, turn your headtorch off, and look up. On a clear night you can see thousands of stars in the North Pennines. In the inky black darkness, it’s an immersive experience, difficult to replicate in urban environments. See if you can spot patterns in the heavens, maybe even a constellation or two. However, it doesn’t really matter if you can’t identify the patterns, this is all about experience. It’s visceral, emotional and instinctive – a tangible link to the night skies that our forebears would have taken for granted. It feels like stretching back through the generations, something that we’re at risk of losing, as levels of artificial light at night (ALAN) seemingly increase, inexorably.

You might even see the Milky Way, our home galaxy. With the naked eye, it will appear as a shimmering river of stars, a faint, milky-white, cloud stretching across the sky.

Heightened senses

At night your senses become more attuned, somehow you are more in the moment. It’s a mindful experience. Familiar landscapes and places become less familiar. The beam of your headtorch becomes your whole world, picking out rocks, puddles, steps and tree roots.

What was that rustle in the undergrowth? A hedgehog or a wood mouse going about its nightly wanderings, perhaps – safer from predators, under the cover of darkness. Barn owls have eyesight which is specially adapted for low light, whist mice have hearing which extends into the ultrasonic, so they can tell when predators are about. At the same time, owls have soft, serrated edges to their feathers to minimise in-flight noise. It’s an arms race, only the best adapted will prevail.

Night running opens up a new, exciting world. Exploring the nightscape of the North Pennines brings a new dimension to landscape discovery, shedding new light on the special places in the National Landscape.

Ten hardy souls joined the Dark skies run up to High Force, the biggest waterfall in England, following the High Force and Bowlees Geotrail. They felt the power and experienced the remarkable atmosphere of the waterfall at night. Stars came out and the curve of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, arced above the runners on the stretch to Bowlees Visitor Centre, ahead of tea and cake.

Proper weather

Somehow the way you experience weather seems more consequential at night. The wind blowing through trees, rain splattering on your face, splashing through puddles on the trail, hail smarting against cheeks. Snow spiralling down, deflected your headtorch beam. Particles of mist scattering light, creating a distraction. Stair rod rain, bouncing back up from the ground, caught as streaks in your torch. Night-time trail running is an opportunity to experience the outdoors in a new, different way.

Safety first

You don’t need to be super experienced to dip a toe into the world of after dark trail running. If you enjoy walking, running, being outdoors, or simply discovering the landscape from a new perspective, it could be for you.

Remember to take it at your own pace – don’t feel any pressure to run at a fast pace – it’s a different set of rules in the dark. You will enjoy it more (and it will be safer) if you slow it down and see it as an adventure, rather than as an all-out training run.

Five top tips for night trail running in the North Pennines

#1: Preparation is everything
Think about your intended route in advance. What hazards are you likely to encounter? Tree roots, rocks, low-hanging branches, stiles, gates, road crossings, rivers, streams… To start with it is probably best to run routes that you already are familiar with, until you get more confident.

Make sure you have more than one method to navigate your route – what if your primary source fails? Think about how you might cut the run short – if the weather deteriorates, for example.

#2: Seeing is believing
Probably your most important consideration is your light source. If it is not up to the job or it powers down mid-run, you are in a fix. So, invest in a reliable one, with enough battery power for your intended route. It’s a good idea to carry a spare light too, just in case.

#3: Kit up
Wear running shoes with enough grip for the conditions you are likely to encounter. Take enough layers and full waterproofs.

#4: Stick together
At least initially, it is best to go with friends – and don’t leave anyone behind. As you grow in confidence solo night running is extremely rewarding but be sure you are properly equipped and know where you are going.

#5: Whether to go
Check the weather forecast before you go. Are you experienced enough, well enough equipped (waterproofs, additional layers, survival bag/blanket, whistle) to cope with the conditions which you might encounter?

In any event make sure you have told someone where you are going, when you expect to return, and take a charged phone/power bank with you (in a waterproof bag). Don’t forget to tell them where you are parking and give them a description of your car, including registration number. If you get into trouble and need emergency assistance – call 999 and ask for mountain rescue.

Enjoy!
Night time trail running is all about the experience, it’s not about speed, pace and racing through a route as fast as you can. Take your time and enjoy a new experience and a chance to reconnect with the North Pennines landscape and wildlife after dark.
So, lace up, switch on your headtorch, and get exploring…