Part 2 of this spectacular Trail takes in 43 Miles of beautiful scenery. Starting in the heart of Wales's slate mining industry and right beneath the Moelwyn Mountains, it feels wild and remote quickly, and the views from the off will take your breath away!
The day is split into 5 sections, with 4 checkpoints where we shall provide you with your drop bag, and a chance to replenish and change clothing/.footwear if required. Fully guided, you'll have no worries about getting lost - just focus on the challenge and enjoy the surroundings.
Due to the early start in Croesor, you may wish to stay locally the night before. Absolutely ideally located are Bwythyn Llywnog and Croesor Bach only a few metres from the day's start - but there are also lots of camping and hotel options in the Beddglelert and Aberglaslyn areas, where we can provide transport from to Croesor, if required.
The Route
72km/2280
Leg 1 - Croesor to Llan Ffestiniog 16km/720m
A real toughie to start your day..expect to be walking quite a bit of this leg...it does allow time to take in some amazing scenery! The surroundings get wilder, and things generally more strenuous from Croesor... a good track up to Croesor Quarry, after that the remote Rhosydd quarry is visited and then we drop down to Cwmorthin Lake. Then we are on the road for the descent to Tanygrisiau, and beyond one final climb up to Llan Ffestiniog, is our first stop of the day.
Leg 2 - Llan Ffestiniog to Penmachno 21.3km/880m
The toughest leg of the entire weekend now...initially a climb up through the little visited Cwm Cynfal, then we are crossing the wild, open moorlands of the Migneint...you’ll be grateful for your guides as the navigation can be tricky, as well as the going tough! A descent through quarry workings to Cwm Penmachno, before a final climb and subsequent descent through forest, to the village of Penmachno and checkpoint 3.
Leg 3 - Penmachno to Betws-y-coed 8.6km/150m
A doddle compared to the last leg! See it as a bit of ‘active rest’ ....descending on broad forestry tracks and minor road to the Conwy Falls cafe, at the A5. Then some undulating woodland sections has you at Betws-y-coed.
Leg 4 - Betws-y-coed to Capel Curig 9.5km/420m
An excellent section. Quite a hilly one, which your legs won’t appreciate at this stage of proceedings, but a pretty one nonetheless. A great riverside route passes the famous swallow falls and reaches the road at the ‘ugly house.’ Now, up steeply into the Gwydyr Forest, and on good woodland tracks, the views are fantastic, including the Snowdon Range and Moel Siabod, soon we’ll be droppin* down to Capel Curig for the final checkpoint of the day, and the challenge as a whole!
Leg 5 - Capel Curig to Bethesda 17.6km/110m
A long-ish leg to finish, but it’s really flat. We take the miners path into the Ogwen valley and the head of the Nantlle Francon Pass. A minor road descent beneath some of Snowdonia’s highest Mountains, then a section along the Ogwen cycleway will take you to the end of the challenge at Bethesda.
Location