Starting where we’re based, there are lots of options for a run out in nature in Bristol.

If you’re looking to find some company to enjoy heading off-road and hitting the trails – see Town and Country Harriers for an inclusive group that organise local races, run scenic routes in the country within a thirty-minute drive of the centre of Bristol (and often finish at a pub). For the more adventurous, hit up Bristol Trail Runners.

Find it hard to commit without a little treat? Bristol run club’s beginner friendly and comes with the added benefit of coffee and croissants for motivation. Circle the downs, weave the streets in search of a park or two – jog in the dappled light of the trees. On a similar vein, Alpha Run Club often does laps of Victoria Park, so you can get your green space fix, all the while looking forward to a finish at Alpha Bottle Shop Tap.

The golden stone and historic buildings of bath are a sight in themselves, but there’s no straight line that can best the curve of a branch or the bend of the river. If you’re living in this ancient city, you’ve got a few options for an hour or two out in the fresh air.

Making the bold claim of ‘Bath’s most adventurous running club’, Bath trail runners cater to all abilities, organise at least four runs a week – some local, some further afield – all out in nature, and even get discounts on running gear. No Regrets Running is also a great option to go off road in the summer months.

Sometimes running can be a little intimidating, especially alone. Girls that run have a club just for women. Hit the narrow streets, find where the River Avon winds through it, and see Green Park, Brickfields or Henrietta Park as you explore.

Dating back to the Roman era, people have been running here since the Panathenaic games. Just be glad running shoes are a little more cushy these days.

If you know Exeter, you probably know Topsham Brewery. What you might not know, is that they host a run club. Welcoming all abilities, you start (and thankfully finish) at the brewery, wind the streets, spot the River Exe, and watch as green spaces whip past. Top it all off with a pint to finish.

If you’re looking for a running group for women, run by women, see Women on the run – who have multiple clubs in the southwest, and often get out into the great outdoors to get a healthy red glow amongst the green.

If you’re headed out to avoid the blues, and fancy meeting a few other people in the same position, you can always go to Run Talk Run, where mental health is the driving force behind this speedy bunch.

Whilst Plymouth is typically known for its maritime history and unique geography on the coast, green spaces surround the city and are woven through it. Getting your nature fix here is as easy as a quick stroll – or a light jog.

The Plymouth Musketeers welcome runners of all abilities and levels of experience and have over 150 members. Whilst winter might see them mostly hitting the roads, or doing track – in the summer they run off-road runs on Tuesdays, usually by Plymbridge – where the city melts into woodland.

Free, fun and friendly, the Tamar Trails Parkrun is a weekly 5k event – you can even just walk it if you’re not quite at the pace you want yet. Every Saturday at 9:00am, these volunteers head up to the Tamar Valley AONB for a jog amongst the soaring trees.

Towards the end of the country, Falmouth sits at the opening of the Carrick Roads, the estuary of the River Fal – and like Plymouth, has both coastline and country to explore. There to join you, is Shakeout Run Club – built by two friends, Callum and Luke, they’re “tackling rugged coastal trails, winding through woodlands, or exploring the vibrant streets of Falmouth and Penryn”. They welcome first timers as much as marathoners, and – it’s not just running. They do yoga and social events too.

If you’re looking for something a little more on the competitive side, then Falmouth Running club regularly enters competitions, but still manages to get out into green spaces, and work up a sweat out where the grass is growing.

The Welsh capital is no stranger to a good time – it's known for good night life and being a picturesque city to explore. What you might not know, is all the run clubs that criss cross its streets all week.

Hard lines might be running laps around other roasters in the UK, but as it happens, they’re also running laps of Cardiff. Starting in the pandemic, they’ve been creating a safe space for people of all abilities to meet up, socialise, and as it happens, run. They run every Thursday “at 6:30pm from our Cafe in Cardiff for a social easy-paced 5km-8km run around the greenest spaces Cardiff has to offer.”   

If you like the laid-back theme, there’s also the Sunday Run club for runs on… well you get it. And there’s the CDF Runners – who manage to get out a few times a week, including a run on Thursdays at 6.30pm, for a trail run out where it’s wild.

As it happens, London’s pretty big – and frankly, ain’t no one got time for travelling 40 minutes to the other side for a jog. So, we’ve separated it into rough sections.

In the north, you’ve got Trent Park Running club, “who enjoy trail, road and cross country running as well as more gentle jogging for those just starting out.” There’s also the Queen’s Park Harriers who welcome runners of all abilities and age, and offer training sessions – and in the summer get out for a spot of cross country for your nature fix.

If you’d prefer similar company, then there’s also the Finsbury Flyers, who are an all (those that identify) female running club. They run sessions in Finsbury Park – which is a Victorian park, flat, open, easy to see where you’re headed, but is dotted with beautiful trees of all varieties – a stunning setting.

To the east, unsurprisingly perhaps, you’ll find the East London Runners – a “friendly running club with runners of all abilities”, who run for a lighter 5k all the way to ultramarathons. They train in a few spaces, including Valentines Park, another stunner, which also has a river running through it.

Looking for something a touch… wilder? The Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC are for all abilities, and as well as road running, do a spot of cross-country. They do all sorts of training, including yoga, but train in various green spaces, like Victoria Park, Springfield Park and the Olympic Park.

If you’d like to run alongside the rest of the spectrum, there’s the Queer Run Club (whose site frankly wins the design awards, as far as we’re concerned). They provide a safe community to run amongst, and do varied training including things like: hill sprints, paced run, sprints, and conditioning. You can find them out in the fresh air at Hackney Downs Park, around Peckham Rye – and generally all about east London.

Heading south, towards the Surrey end of things, if you’re out in the countryside, you’ll spot, not a bird, not a plane, but a member of the Ranelagh Harriers whipping past you amongst the foliage. They meet twice weekly in the Richmond area, and welcome new runners. They participate in national meets, historic race fixtures, all sorts. They “enjoy direct access to a wide variety of beautiful terrain, including undulating trails, riverside towpaths and quieter roads” – and might just be the breath of fresh air you’re looking for.

If not, there’s the Dulwich Park Runners, based just southeast of Brixton, and they head out for a social run at 6.30 or 7.30pm on Tuesdays. Just don’t be afraid of a little mud, because these guys get on the cross country just as they do a little road running.

The Thames Hare & Hounds are the oldest adult cross-country club in the world, with a founding date of 1868. Since then, running has remained pretty much the same, except now you can fit a water bottle in your vest, and drink it like a sippy cup. A huge advancement. But with a history like this, you can be sure, if there’s a knack to running, they know it. With the option to compete in championship, league and open cross country, you’ll be out amongst the trees as often as you can make it.

Though they can’t claim such an illustrious founding date, the Ealing Eagles Running Club has over 700 members, so if you can’t find someone to hang out with here, we’re sorry to say – it might be you. They compete in summer League competitions, cross country leagues and local and national relay events, so you can get your fill of the great outdoors easily.

Right in the heart of the old smoke, there’s the City Running Club – Regent’s Park, where there’s actually a running track built in. A great spot for a run, as it’s nice and open, flat and populated with trees. You can look around, and other than the very tippy top of a few buildings, you’re looking at a nice green space.

There’s also the Midnight Runners, who have chapters all across the globe, including Tokyo, Amsterdam, Berlin, New York – even as far as Bogota. They’re 10,000+ members strong, and as well as doing their runs in great outdoor spaces like St James’s Park and Hyde Park, you’ve then got the option to meet up elsewhere in the world if you’re in need of a run, or a hangout.

Heading out the south of London, towards the coast – there’s no place like Brighton and Hove. This area’s stuffed full of social events and clubs, as well as run clubs, so it’s no struggle to find some community.

If you’re looking for some like-gendered running, there’s Brighton and Hove Women's Running Club, who have 100+ members, and welcome “women of all ages over 18; regardless of their ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, ability or disability, and provide a safe and inclusive space for women, including transwomen”.

Brighton Outdoor fitness really get out there, choosing a series of routes that take them across country, out in the sticks. These guys are a fantastic option to make sure you’re getting your daily dose of nature, whilst (perhaps breathlessly) getting a chat on. Also good for some varied routes are the Rogue Runners, who every weekend explore The South Downs and its surrounding areas – but have options for runs closer to home.

If you’re thinking of running something shorter, like 3km or 5km, The Brighton Run Club meets up Friday mornings, and manage to get an ocean dip in afterwards!

Deep in the southeast, Canterbury’s at the heart of a huge stretch of green space, with the Kent Downs National Landscape running adjacent to it. It’s an ideal city to be out and about, running in the sun, with a few friends, trotting in the long grass.

A great group to head out with would be the Canterbury Harriers, who meet every Tuesday and Thursday. They train in a variety of activities, from “hard hill sessions to leisurely long runs which in the summer are often in the picturesque countryside nearby.” So, if you’re looking for wild views, and a few people to do it with – they’ve got 140 odd members to meet and greet.

Another great option would be RunTogether Canterbury – who meet every Thursday night, and alternate between running around the city (boo) and trail running at Blean Woods (yaayy). If you’ve never been, Blean Woods is alive with nature and a great spot for a run. Keep an eye out for rare butterflies, and woodpecker knocks!