This new and fully waymarked route takes in the 14 Welsh 3000ft peaks, in an epic North-South traverse. Including the Carneddau, Glyderau and Yr Wyddfa massifs, this 52km & 3,900m+ race will have two aid stations.
The Inaugural 14 Peaks Ultra is a modern take on a classic hiking route. Eustace Thomas led a Rucksack Club group for the earliest known traverse of all fourteen peaks back in 1919. In 1988 Colin Donnelly ran the 14 peaks in 4hrs 19minutes. Will his record stand the test of time in June?
Starting from the small village of Abergwyngergyn on the North Wales coast, the opening 23 kilometres of this route ventures through much of the unique Carneddau mountain range. Wild, rugged and expansive, this area is unlike any other in the Eryri National Park; unique in its sometimes barren and featureless rocky or grassy terrain.
You’ll be spending much of your time high up in the mountains; only dropping down twice to the valley floors to refuel at the Ogwen and Nant Peris aid stations before climbing again to 750m above sea level.
If you are looking for a race to get your teeth stuck into, this race is a step up from UTS in terms of technicality and elevation gain and is pure Skyrunning. Your journey south will get you bagging 3,900m+ of vert and culminates in an extended traverse of Crib Goch’s Grade 1 scramble.
Along this route’s epic traverse of the classic Welsh 3000s, runners will bag both Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr, which stand at 994/1001m elevation respectively and make up summit eight & nine for the day.
Upon arrival at the summit of Glyder Fach, keep your eyes peeled for the cantilever stone (perfect group photo op location) before wondering at the jagged crown of the rocky outcrop of nearby Castell y Gwynt.
On a clear day, the panoramic views from this segment are quite something — the ice-age bowls of Cwm Idwal & Bochlwyd to the right and a full view of the Yr Wyddfa horseshoe to the left.
Mike Jones, race director said:
“This route has been on my mind for several years now, so I’m thrilled to be hosting it this year alongside three other races at SkyRun Eryri! It’s a classic route with a new twist, running south-bound, with a real sting in the tail at the end on the form of a west-bound traverse of Crib Goch. Go steady in the opening miles and save yourself for this!”
There’s now less than 40 entries left – enter soon before prices rise!
Find out more and enter here before the entry fee rises at the end of this month!
All photos Apex Running/Evan Davies
This article was sponsored by Apex Running
