UTS 165 Detailed Route Guide

UTS 165 DETAILED ROUTE GUIDE

After leaving the National Slate Museum, the 165 route begins with a leisurely ascent of Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa via its lengthy Llanberis Path, before descending to Pen-y-Pass via the Pyg Track, which possibly gets its name from where it heads to next: the first aid station at Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel (famous for being the base of Sir Edmund Hillary & Co. while training for their successful first ascent of Everest in 1953).

The rocky Pyg Track: enjoy it while still fresh! © No Limits Photography

From here, a prolonged section of grassy trail follows, on the way to Dolwyddelan Valley. The trail here can be slow going and fiddly to follow but boasts lovely views west to the Snowdon Horseshoe. We won’t lie though: it’s usually soggy underfoot and you will likely get your feet wet!

Challenging conditions underfoot after Pen-y-Gwryd! © Ian Corless

Upon approach to Dolwyddelan, keep an eye out for the old castle remains, thought to have been build by Llewelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd and Wales, in the late 13^th century. From the second aid station at the village pavilion, you follow fire roads out of the top of the local forest, to begin a technical ascent of Moel Siabod via its formidable (but unexposed) Daear Ddu ridge scramble. Once topped out, take a moment to enjoy the stunning 360° vista, which takes in most of the mountains of northern Snowdonia-Eryri.

Looking down Daear Ddu Ridge at the 2021 event (different routes). © Andy Milton

The next descent to Capel Curig is a corker: a steady gradient most of the way (don’t get too carried away!) along wonderful rocky singletrack through Bryn Engan forest, before arriving at the third aid station at the much loved Moel Siabod Café, owned by runner Paul, who has done much to raise funds for Action Nepal over the years. From here, a medley of rocky trails and forest singletrack delivers runners to Llyn Cowlyd reservoir, where a prolonged section of fun, runnable trail skirts its shores, before you run along its drainage leat, with views over to the iconic dinosaur-back silhouette of the indomitable Tryfan, before arriving at the remote Mountaineering Club of North Wales (MCNW) Hut aid station.

The view to Tryfan from the leat. © Evan Davies

From here, you’ll traverse the remote and wild mountain summits of the lower Carneddau range, including easy sections of scrambling along the Pen yr Helgi Du ridge – a real highlight of this route. If lucky, you may encounter the semi-feral Carneddau ponies too! A technical descent off Pen yr Ole Wen bookends this expansive leg, with superb views down into the Ogwen Valley, before arriving at the Glan Dena Hut aid station. Take some time to enjoy some rest here, as the next section is a testing 17km with 1500m+.

The engaging Pen yr Helgi Du ridge in 2019. © No Limits Photography

From Glan Dena, the trail flanks the eastern face of the imposing Tryfan, before traversing its southern Bwlch Tryfan saddle. The trails for much of this section can be very loose and rocky, and a challenge to run well, particularly in the dark! Slower runner will be fortunate enough to experience the following trail through Cwm Idwal as the sun rises on Saturday morning. A Site of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserve, most weekend it’s a highly frequented area and you’ll find it easy to see why!

Ethereal running in Cwm Idwal one morning in 2020. © Ian Corless

Another steep, sustained climb out of Cwm Idwal towards Y Garn follows, before the trail eases off and contours around the Peris valley towards Eilidir Fawr and the first glimpse of the halfway point down to Llanberis. Take care down the following steep, grassy descent! An interesting trail follows, exploring old slate quarries and disused inclines, before descending the ‘zig zags’ back to the halfway aid station at the Padarn Park expo area.

Looking back to Tryfan and Cwm Idwal in 2017. © John Shedwick

With 84kms & 5,100m+ in the legs by this point, most runners will find it a challenge to leave Llanberis for a second time, now knowing a bit more about what lies ahead: a further 84kms of very much the same challenge! Statistically, this aid station will see the most DNFs but if you’ve made it this far - well done!

The following 17kms to Waunfawr are relatively easy, starting with a gradual ascent of Maesgwm Valley, before pointing north to traverse the grassy, undulating slopes of Moel Eilio ‘ridge’. After a lengthy descent and a few kms of tarmac, you’ll soon arrive at the Snowdonia Inn aid station. This is also the first aid station of the 50/100 routes, so it could be busy depending on what time you arrive.

The grassy inclines of Moel Eilio ridge. © John Shedwick

Next up, steady running across moorland terrain towards the foot of Mynydd Mawr – known locally as ‘Elephant Mountain’ – can you spot it? A steady climb up to the summit follows, where you can see all 15 Welsh 3000ft Peaks to the north, before a wonderful descent towards Foel Rudd, where the terrain falls away from you to both sides and ahead: a real highlight of all the race routes. The next descent from here is very steep, so take care! Finally, a short section of beautiful forest singletrack delivers you to the valley floor, where the next aid station at Bron y Fedw Uchaf farm awaits.

Approaching Mynydd Mawr summit, the town of Caernarfon in the distance. © Evan Davies

From here, you follow a 4x4 track across private land to join up with the Snowdon Ranger Path. Do NOT recce this section, head down the road to the Snowdon YHA instead, where the Ranger Path starts. Almost Alpine in character, the Ranger Path is predominantly loose and rocky, featuring several switchbacks in one part, up its steeper gradients. Closer to the summit, this incline backs off, as you cross the train line and join the (usually very) busy Llanberis Path to Snowdon summit, where there is a café and toilets.

A moment to enjoy the views from the Ranger Path in 2018. © John Shedwick

If you don’t like crowds, you’ll want to get gone from here ASAP and begin the Rhyd-Ddu Path descent to the village of the same name. This is RD Mike’s favourite descent in the area, so do take your time to enjoy the flowing, runnable (if feeling strong) nature of this trail and views on offer! At its end, find your way to Rhyd-Ddu Outdoor Centre, where the next well stocked and sheltered aid station awaits, where your support crew can also meet you.

A fun start to the technical Rhyd-Ddu Path. © Evan Davies

Fondly known as ‘that section’ by those who have completed past editions of UTS, the next 14.5km & 1,100m+ leg to Beddgelert is one you should prepare to take your time with. Another special section of the 100/165 routes, this leg takes in a much quieter area of the National Park. Starting with a mercilessly steep and sustained ascent of Y Garn, the trail eventually levels out before traversing the notorious Mynydd Drws-y-Coed section of easy scrambling - take care here and keep left to avoid any exposed drops to your right.

The precipitous scramble of Mynydd Drws-y-Coed (Nantlle Ridge). © No Limits Photography

Grassy running follows, and round halfway through this leg, below Y Gyrn, there will be a basic manned water point, should you need to restock. One more steep and unusually stable ascent follows, this time to the lone peak of Moel Hebog (Welsh for ‘bare hill of the hawk’, which is incorporated into the logo of local running club Rhedwyr Hebog). From here, a technical descent to the usually bustling, picture postcard village of Beddgelert awaits, with aid station nine based at the village hall. It’s tucked away from the main road, so do slow down on approach to the village or you’ll risk missing it! Here, there will also be an area with camp beds if you need to catch a few Z’s.

Upon leaving the village, you’ll pass nearby Gelert’s Grave, if you fancy a quick detour to take in some local legend. The following rocky trail to Aberglaslyn Pass, alongside the Glaslyn River is simply sublime - you could be easily forgiven for thinking you were anywhere other than Wales! You then head northbound passing several disused mining lifts - relics from the nearby Sygun Copper Mines. Easy, fun running follows along the shores of Llyn Dinas, to the National Trust-owned Hafod-y-Llan farm aid station, nestled away in Nant Gwynant.

Upon leaving here, you’ll follow the wonderful, well-established Watkin Path (one of Snowdon’s quieter trails), to the saddle of Bwlch Ciliau, before hanging a right to take in the highly underrated and much quieter peak of Y Lliwedd. The trail here is technical and may involve use of hands to negotiate easy sections of scrambling. Take a moment here to take in the views below to Llyn Llydaw and appreciate the journey encountered so far: you’re nearly there!

Fun running across a brief plateau follows, then a steep plunge down technical, rocky singletrack to join Snowdon’s Miner’s Track for a brief couple of kms of vehicle track, before arriving at the final aid station of Pen-y-Pass YHA, which is managed by avid mountain runner and UTS alumni Jon (gazebo will be based in the garden to the west of the building – take care when crossing the road to get there!).

Well, that’s nearly the end of this epic adventure! With the finish now a tantalising 12km & 650m+ away, one last ascent of the Snowdon massif via its rocky Pyg Track awaits. You’ll hopefully recall this trail from the start on Friday morning! Take your time and savour the views and sense of accomplishment – you’ve certainly earned this one. Once topped out at the ‘finger stone’, make sure you don’t get confused (easily done, especially if visibility is poor) and ensure you take the correct Llanberis Path to the finish. Yes, it’ll seem like it goes on forever and will make you wince at times on trashed quads, but bear with it!

Next up, after a short section of tarmac, don’t miss the turnoff just after Pen Ceunant Isaf café, where a short trail detour through the lovely Coed Victoria mixed woodland leads you to the A4086 road crossing - take care here. Finally, a short section of wooded trail, past the remains of Dolbadarn Castle follows, before crossing Padarn Parc back to the National Slate Museum finish, where cheers and beers await!

What an adventure, with memories sure to last a lifetime!

This route really is: Beautiful beyond belief. Savage beyond reason.