Skyline Wales

Skyline

I sighted the distant horizon,
Where the haze touched the blue,
In my heart, a dream,
To chase that endless view.

Info Page here Entry Link here

• Saturday 26th June 2027
• £55 + voluntary donation to mountain rescue
• Classic – 102km/63mile 4680m/15340ft AL SER NS – 18 hour
• Hardline – 75km/47mile 3260m/10700ft AL SER NS – 14.75 hour
• Rhaeadr – 57km/35milr 2180m/7150ft BL SER NS – 12.5 hour

Start times: Classic – Barmouth 4am. Hardline – Pont Buarth-glas 7.15am. Rhaeadr – Rhiwargor 9.30am.

Finish – Llandegla OPA 10pm cut-off all courses.

Limited entries for all course options.

Linear course. GPS tracked. WFRA rules throughout (no navigation aids). All mandatory safety kit must be carried/worn at all times. There will be kit checks. There is a time limit of 10pm at OPA & strict cut-off times will be enforced.

The course traverses the continuous band of high mountain & moorland seen as the South Eastern skyline when viewed from almost all high ground in North Wales (see skyline pdf below). It follows Leverton’s Line (Mercia’s Charlie Leverton) in the main – though running in the opposite direction and carrying on a bit further… (but with the prevailing wind and the ‘easier’ running towards the end). I knew nothing about Charlie’s exploits 35 years earlier as I sat on Foel Fenlli one evening and schemed with my RO’s brain at the skyline I have looked at for over 20 years but never truly seen before.

The course provides some glorious running in places, though in others your movement will more resemble wading in a deep (heather) river and even following a prolonged dry spell some of the terrain will be wet underfoot. Always high, crossing some of the remotest moorland landscape in Wales, the race is a true test of physical & mental stamina and mountain-craft.

The 75k Hardline course starts just south of CP2 and climbs up under the mountain biking Redbull Hardline Wales courses on forest tracks then a good trod onto the Glasgwm summit joining the Classic course. The 57k Rhaeadr course heads up the Pistyll Rhyd-y-meinciau waterfall chain up onto the slopes of Foel y Geifr, some hard going likely with soggy shoes – joining a heather “fun” section just before CP4).

Entrants will be vetted for experience, capability & attitude. Limited entries – due to safety restrictions.

Entrants must have a transport crew capable to retrieve them from one of the road crossing checkpoints (in a sensible timeframe) if the runner retires or misses a cut-off. One transport crew can support two runners maximum. The transport crew are not needed to shadow you throughout but need to be on hand to pick you up if you retire i.e. the marshals & safety team are not there to provide transport.

Due to the length & nature of the full 100k & 75k courses, a support runner is allowed but not compulsory from CP5 Milltir Gerrig. No support runners allowed for the 57k option. A support runner is recommended to those runners who have not previously run such a distance/terrain. The support runner is only there for moral support and safety purposes – no muling is allowed (carrying provisions, etc). The support runner must be suitably equipped and experienced to support the required final legs (up to 40km, 1350m). There will be a charge for the support runner purely to cover an additional GPS tracking module.

Basic ‘fell running’ provisions will be available at road checkpoints i.e. water & snacks. Support crews can be utilised to service runners at certain road crossing checkpoints – see course schedule. Drop-bags can be utilised for intermediate checkpoints if runners require.

The time limits and strict cut-offs on the courses will exclude some runners from the event. Extending beyond the current time limits brings darkness into play, which is beyond my current safety margin for the race. The shorter courses on offer in 2027 open the race experience up to more runners.

Why not offer your support to help make it a success either as marshal or as a support runner? Previous years entrants, Marshals and Support runners have ‘Heather Ticket’ reserve places allocated and get a discount against entry in future years.

Price wise I will only aim to cover costs as per WFRA guidelines. GPS tracking widgets are not cheap plus I will aim to cover fuel expenses for marshalling & safety crews. That said, I will be asking for voluntary donations to Mountain Rescue on top – hopefully they will not be needed.

There will be likely be a facility to shuttle overnight bags from Barmouth on the morning of race to the finish at Llandegla OPA (though ask beforehand). Camping is available at Llandegla Fisheries close to the finish.

Tyddyndu campsite on the A496 just east of Barmouth offers basic camping (cash only) for those wanting to stay near Barmouth on the Friday evening.

Shout up if you have a query skylinewales100@gmail.com