For one long weekend, the Gower Peninsula swapped its usual quiet cliff paths and surf breaks for something altogether more electric. From Thursday through Sunday, around 5,000 people descended on one of Wales’ most spectacular coastal landscapes for the 2025 edition of Love Trails Festival—an outdoor celebration where trail running, wild swimming and dance music collide.
Described by organisers as the world’s first running and music festival, Love Trails delivered a mix of dawn trail runs, talks from endurance athletes, and late-night DJ sets that carried through until the small hours. What began as a niche experiment has evolved into one of the summer’s most anticipated multi-day gatherings for the UK’s growing outdoor culture.
(Image: Giulia Spadafora)
This year, golden hour performances from Ibibio Sound Machine, Hak Baker, Jersey, The Nextmen, Duskus, SHEE, Dr Meaker and Natty Lou provided the evening pulse, soundtracking everything from beachside cooldowns to post-run elation. But if the music was the backdrop, the landscape itself was the stage—and Gower wore it well.
Daytimes unfolded across cliff trails, estuary paths and country lanes, with guided runs catering to every ability. First-timers and ultra-distance athletes alike found their rhythm, many joining pace groups led by collectives like The Outrunners, Mafia Moves, Alpine Run Project and Midnight Runners—who brought big energy and bigger smiles to each trail.
In between, festivalgoers plunged into wild swims, stretched through sunset yoga, coasteered around rocky edges and swapped race stories over coffees and seaweed wraps. There was breathwork. There was estuary spa time. And, for those who preferred to spectate, there was no shortage of action to take in.
Among the standout moments was a talk from Russ Cook—aka The Hardest Geezer—who ran the entire length of Africa and drew a huge crowd with tales of perseverance and impossible odds. He joined fellow speakers Deo Kato and Elsey Whyman-Davies for sessions that left audiences inspired and wide-eyed.
What makes Love Trails tick, though, is its atmosphere. It’s not a race, and it’s not a rave—it’s something in between. There’s no pressure to perform or post split times, and just as much applause goes to someone finishing their first 5km as to those taking on ultra distances. The point isn’t pace—it’s presence.
This year, the sense of community was unmistakable. Strangers swapped electrolytes and trail snacks. Local volunteers directed runners with tambourines and high-fives. Dancefloors blurred into trailheads. And despite the physical demands, more than a few people left saying they felt better rested than when they arrived.
Love Trails Festival is confirmed to return in 2026, with early bird tickets on sale this Tuesday. A sister event, Love Trails Croatia, will offer the same format later this year but with Adriatic sunshine and Dalmatian trail views. For updates, visit lovetrailsfestival.com or follow @lovetrailsfestival on social media.
