Enduro Format
Means you are only timed on specific sections of the route. You obviously have to run the entire course but can allow yourself to go easier & chat with your mates between the timed stages then go full-on for each stage. Think 14 mini-races with a lush warm-up on each.
For the stages think Strava ‘Segment’ – none are too long and they are sized to even out the time spread i.e. shorter uphill stages, longer downhill stages.
Course Preview
Transfer 1: Warm-up jog up and around fire track.
Stage 1: Full Gas – Straight up from end of fire track on steep path. 434m @ 18% average. KOM 2:45 (Alex Kearney 2024), QOM 3:30 (Jo Henderson 2022).
https://www.strava.com/segments/36685497
Transfer 2: Up main summit (Scouse Road) for just under 1km.
Stage 2: Gods & Gain – Glorious trod through the heather traversing the south west bowl of Moel Famau before plunging down path, grass tufts, bog and finally the fast grassy trod of the Nant Gain – DON’T turn right at the bottom to the plank bridge – the trod heads straight on. 1.93km @ -9% average. KOM – Me!
https://www.strava.com/segments/37278988
Transfer 3: Climb the path up to Pen Line Gate and right up first steep rise to:
Stage 3: Needles – Mixed descent – tufts, bracken, gorse to stream crossing. Route choice important to avoid the gorse traps! 500m @ -20% average. KOM – Me!
https://www.strava.com/segments/37278998
Transfer 4: Follow obvious trod up steep bank then up the (descending) track to:
Stage 4: Sheeptrack Traverse Singletrack descending traverse. End is where trod opens out and becomes less distinct. 960m @ -5% average. KOM – 3:13 (Andrew Thomas 2017). QOM – 3:46 (Zoe Roberts 2020)
https://www.strava.com/segments/37280701
Transfer 5: Short slog up the steps up onto main ridge.
Stage 5: Mark’s Magic Minute – follow trod down through bomb-hole and then wall line to main track (Mountain Road). 790m @ -12.5% average. KOM – 2:58 (Michael Corrales 2020). QOM – 3:25 (Amber Yorke 2023)
https://www.strava.com/segments/37280708
Transfer 6: Very short hop to the track to:
Stage 6: Cut Thro – grassy trod across stream then down traversing under main track through bracken & gorse. From obvious wall corner head straight on and pick best trod to get you to main path and wall junction. 770m @ -2.5%. KOM – 3:13 (Tony Wood 2018). QOM – 8:04 (Oonagh Jaquest 2024)
https://www.strava.com/segments/37278953
Transfer 7: Short plod up the field and onto Moel Dywyll traverse:
Stage 7: MD Traverse (north) – from first wall line follow rising traverse past crags and finishing at top of obvious short kicker. 400m @ 7% average. KOM – 1:54 (Chris Holdsworth 2017). QOM – 2:22 (Pamela Teager 2018)
https://www.strava.com/segments/37278963
Transfer 8: Continue along trod until top of short stony section:
Stage 8: MD Traverse (south) – mostly descending traverse to path junction. 540m @ -2% average. KOM – 2:03 (Karl Sneinegger 2016). QOM – 2:30 (Pamela Teager 2018).
https://www.strava.com/segments/37278972
Transfer 9: Cross the spur and descend into the Nant y Ne to bottom of:
Stage 9: The Gully – full on short steep scramble up Stony Gully. 270m @ 36% average. KOM 3:27 (Tom Wood 2019), QOM 4:52 (Ceri Belshaw 2017).
https://www.strava.com/segments/36649645
Transfer 6: Back down the main track for few hundred meters.
Stage 10: Moel y Gaer – (The Queen Stage) – Start 5-10m right of bench on track. Almost hidden start but then obvious trod develops. Superb singletrack leads down to the old hill fort – fast, narrow with technical sections throughout – up to the summit cairn. From the cairn you head off southwards and plunge straight down the nose – steep, tight trod through gorse and bracken. 1.6km @ -16%. KOM 7:16 (Simon Edwards 2019), QOM 8:24 (Katy Baugh 2023).
https://www.strava.com/segments/36034348
Transfer 8: Slog back up the grassy spur towards Bwlch Penbarras
Stage 11: Buteo Buteo – Start from large boulder in bracken. head over the spur onto a descending traverse. Narrow, technical in places. Straight down the steep bank (Little House on the Praire style) and finish at the metalled gate along the track.
https://www.strava.com/segments/37284580
Transfer 9: Hack up the ridge line of Foel Fenlli to the first earthwork ditch path.
Stage 12: Spring Trod – Narrow trod from earthwork via spring to summit. 390m @ 21%. Now follows trod from south west spur as original trod is too difficult to follow due to strip cutting. Intermeadiate point added to prevent taking main path round side.
https://www.strava.com/segments/37284588
Transfer 14: Short traverse round the ridgeline from summit
Stage 13: Ridgeline – Follow narrow trod around earthwork then down main path to finish by the small pond.
Strava segment – TBC