OUR STORY
We are a team of passionate trail runners.
Pure Trails has been forged together from love and desire to explore magnificent places whilst keeping fit and achieving something special along the way.
The idea was first dreamt up some 10 years ago as Charlie ran along a glacial stream in the Himalayas. Along the shoreline, he watched as locals washed their clothes in the mountain water. The smell of burning juniper from a nearby monastery, the ice-cold wisps of wind that blew up from the valleys below and the towering mountains that surrounded me made me feel alive in this most remarkable of places on earth…
The Ambition.
…and so the ambition of what is possible quickly captivated his imagination. Why not travel these amazing trails with a group of like-minded people, routes that are journeys rather than races, that combine with cultural gems that peel back the skin of a destination so that you can get to know it better.
Why we exist.
So, Pure Trails Adventure was born.
The aim: to arrange running adventures to unique and jaw-dropping destinations around the world.
We carefully craft the routes to give you unique travel experiences whilst running spectacular trails. All of our trips are fully supported, so there is nothing to worry about, we include flexible daily running distances so that we can cater for a range of running abilities and we always keep our groups super small to maximize the experience.
Join our growing community of adventure runners and share the experience with people just like you.
MEET THE TEAM
Founder | Charlie Knights
Charlie started running at a young age, doing his first ‘ultra’ at the age of 12 years old. He loves nothing more than exploring new places, wildernesses and new trails to run.
He’s been involved in the adventure travel industry for over ten years and has a vast experience of customising and delivering seamless travel experiences to the farthest corners of the world.
His addiction to endurance running has grown over the years and has just completed his 45th Ultra Marathon. He has run races of varying distances from 30 - 100 miles and recently finished the acclaimed Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Race (UTMB) in September 2023.
More so than anything he loves inspiring people to try a challenge they haven’t done before, the results are incredibly rewarding.
Charlie is also a qualified running coach, mountain leader and holds a Wilderness First Aid certificate.
Operations Director | Roxy Dukes
Roxy loves to squeeze as much out of her day as possible, an outdoor aficionado who revels in testing herself in harsh environments.
From horse riding at a top-level, Roxy has transitioned into endurance running having competed in ultra-marathons throughout the UK and Europe, climbing in the Himalayas and loves nothing more than pulling on a backpack.
She has vast experience in the travel industry having managed everything from private islands off the coast of Mozambique to expedition charters above the arctic circle.
Trail Running Guide & Marketing | Matt Rogers
Matt is a former professional cyclist who rode on the tour with the likes of Lance Armstrong and Bradley Wiggins. He saw sense though, trading the bike for the trails and is now a professional trail running guide with over a decade of experience traversing rugged terrains and exploring breathtaking landscapes.
With an infectious personality and spaniel-esque enthusiasm, Matt has a genuine passion for sharing the beauty of nature with others.
When he's not on adventures with Pure Trails, Matt spends his time running with his best friend Murphy (the dog!). He also holds a wilderness outdoor first aid qualification.
Trail Running Guide | Charlie Gay
Charlie Gay is no stranger to trail running or adventure. Aside from being an ultra addict his principal love is pouring over maps and creating extraordinary running routes. He has a knack for magicking up routes the rest of us haven’t spotted - it’s no surprise then that he’s spent the last five years being a route planner for some of the UK’s greatest running races.
When he’s not out leading trail adventures for Pure Trails you can almost guarantee you will see him running his favourite routes along the Cotswold Way.
Charlie is also a UESCA ultra running coach, mountain leader, and accomplished ski instructor.
Trail Running Guide | Eddy Prince
Eddy is the ultimate long-distance trail runner a finisher in Ironman’s & ultras races ranging distances from 30 to 100 miles, he lives and breathes the sport.
When not exploring rugged coastal paths or scenic mountain vistas you’ll find him on his yoga mat, wild camping, or practising his other passion in life, mindfulness.
He takes real joy in helping people to find their own path through his inspired, calm, and professional approach.
Eddy recently finished the acclaimed Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc Race (UTMB) in August 2022, accomplishing one of his life goals in the process.
Trail Running Guide | David Thorp
In 2017 Dave spontaneously quit his job in order to follow the dream of living and spending time running in the fells of the Lake District.
Dave finds running as the best form of exploration, taking him to some very special places; the highlight of which being the Swiss Alps where he raced the UTMR 65km coming in 3rd place.
He loves introducing people to new environments, sharing his enthusiasm and passion for movement, and helping people push themselves past what they thought was possible
Trail Running Guide | Baton Gashi
Baton is our man in Albania. He’s a huge personality and incredibly passionate about the great outdoors, nothing comes close to the feeling that he gets from trail running.
Seeking adventure is his way of life and he loves showcasing his local trails with like-minded groups who come to his country.
When he’s not guiding, he’s racing, having completed numerous ultra-marathons, including his most recent achievement of finishing the Swiss Alps 100 miler in August 2023.
Baton is also a certified mountain guide.
WORK WITH US
We are a small but growing team of inspired trail adventure runners. As Pure Trails Adventure expand our new and extraordinary range of trail running destinations across the world we are on the look out for like-minded, friendly and experienced individuals to join our team. We’d love to hear from you. Find out more about our latest openings and get in touch for details.
NEWS FROM BASECAMP
THE LATEST NEWS AND UPDATES FROM PURE TRAILS HQ
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