Information

This 30 Miler combines two fine waymarked routes - The Dee Valley Way and The North Berwyn Way. A mixture of dramatic valley trails and high moorland terrain gives participants a varied, challenging day out in and above the Dee Valley - with just over 6000ft of ascent along the way. The route is circular, and starts and finishes in the popular town of Llangollen on the Rriver Dee.

Upon completion, you'll take away with you some wonderful memories, some new friends, and a certificate to mark your achievement. 

We are offering a limited number of spaces for this challenge, and will be providing the following, over the course of the day, to make your journey along the trail, as safe, stress free and enjoyable as possible:

Fully Qualified Guides – will be looking after you. Leading you every step of the way, providing medical cover and helping with transportation – you’ll have no worries about getting lost, just relax and enjoy your surroundings and the challenge!

Checkpoint support – The day is split into 5 sections – approximately 5.5-7 miles in length, and at the end of each one we’ll meet you with your spare gear should you wish to change clothing, first aid provision and lots of food and drink to keep you going!

Replenishment – Whilst it’s recommended that you carry some snacks and water on sections yourself, we’ll both provide and transport suitable foodstuffs and water/energy drinks and will have them waiting for you at the end of each section throughout the day.

Transport – If the worst happens and you can’t continue, through injury or fatigue – we’ll take care of getting you back to where you need to be. We’ll also carry any spare clothing/footwear or anything else (within reason!) that you may want at some point during the day.

We will be averaging around 3.7mph – a brisk walking pace for most, and this includes stops at the end of each section, so the emphasis is on keeping going, not speed! Think of walking briskly the climbs, jogging the flat sections and running the descents and you’ll end up with this average pace, or thereabouts. The pace will be dictated by the Run Leaders.

THE ROUTE

TOTAL DISTANCE: 48.1km
TOTAL ASCENT: 5750m

START POINT: Llangollen. We shall meet at Llangollen Leisure Centre, Dinbren Rd, Llangollen LL20 8TG.
You can leave your car here until the end of the day, at your own risk. 

MEET 6.45am prompt, for a 7am start. 

Leg 1 - Llangollen to Bwlch y Groes. 10.8km

A nice easy start alongside the canal, before the trail gets a bit more bumpy beyond the beautiful horseshoe falls, as the path climbs up on the flanks of Moel Morfydd to the road junction just below Bwlch y Groes. Checkpoint 1 is located here and the views are stunning all around! 

Leg 2 - Bwlch y Groes to Corwen.
10km
From the open moorland setting of CP1, we contour the hillside and there are views straight ahead of the upper Dee Valley and the hills beyond, which you’ll be enjoying in a few hours time! Soon we are descending via field, then delightful woodland to the 17th century stone bridge at the pretty village of Carrog. Beyond, it’s easy going to Corwen Leisure Centre and Checkpoint 2! 

Leg 3 - Corwen to Cynwyd Forest.
8.2km

A gentle climb up towards the Hillfort of Caer Drewyn before looping back on ourselves to pass CP 2 again(!) and through the town of Corwen. A disused railway line provides flat running right beside the River Dee. We are soon at the village of Cynwyd, and the short climb up to CP 3 in the forest. 

Leg 4 - Cynwyd Forest to Ceiriog Forest. 10.4km

A difficult but spectacular high level leg - which sees you climb gradually up through Cynwyd Forest up onto the wild open moorland of the Northern Berwyns. You reach the highest point of the day on Moel Fferna....then descend slightly to visit the Berwyn Slate quarry. Regaining the ridge further to the east, we reach the minor road and the last checkpoint of the day at the Ceiriog Forest. 

Leg 5 - Ceiriog Forest to Llangollen.
8.7km
A really pretty leg to finish. The climbing isn’t done yet, and Vivod mountain needs to be climbed before we can think about descending towards the end of the day! Luckily, it’s a lovely route up and over this, and even with very tired legs you’ll enjoy the varied and incredibly scenic last 5k which takes us down into Llangollen and the end of our day!

Location