Run247 columnist Robert Britton, member of the Great Britain 24hr Running Squad, Team inov-8 and Team Centurion shares his love for the trails of La Palma
La Palma, probably the best island that you've never heard of. Especially if you like running up mountains.
A volcanic island to the far west of The Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, but on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert. La Palma has such an array of environments and micro-climates that if you're not happy you can just keep going around the island until you are.
La Palma is home to epic races such as the TransVulcania Ultra and Reventon 23k, two Grand Randonee, GR 130 & 131, that go around and along the spine of the island and some of the most beautiful, and well marked, trails that this planet has to offer.
After spending two months there last year and going back for a week's holiday this year, the steepest wee island on earth, which tops out at 2423m, has a magical feel to it that gets you feeling of leaving the city behind and spending your days running through dense forest, volcanic ridges and on black sand beaches.
Here is a short video about the week the missus and I spent there this year which can't really do it justice, but I'll definitely be back around the same time next year, maybe setting up a training camp for those interested, running along the crater at 2000m and practicing my Español.
Now Norwegian Air are flying direct from Gatwick to the La Palma it's only 3 and a half hours to get there, so there is no excuses. If you love trail running and mountains, yet haven't been then you need to go.
Robbie is a 100 mile runner who is a member of the Great Britain 24hr Running Squad and Team Centurion and likes to run ridiculous distances as quickly as possible.
To provide enough food to feed a monster running habit, Robbie coaches other ultra marathon runners through www.robbiebritton.co.uk and is also a member of the coaching team at Centurion Running. He likes to dabble with a bit of writing so that others can learn from his mistakes and enjoy the sport as much as he does.
Robert Britton 
