Two NEW races join Snowdon SkyRace® for 2024!
We’re delighted to announce there will be FOUR races in total at next year’s Rab Snowdon SkyRace®, with not one, but TWO new races joining the event on Saturday 22nd June: the inaugural Rab 14 Peaks Ultra™ & Rab Fairy Trail™. Read on to learn more.
Presenting the inaugural Rab 14 Peaks Ultra™!
First up is a brand-new and highly appealing race for those seeking a new Welsh mountain adventure along an established long distance hiking route. Created by the founder of UTS, this 52km & 3,900m+ point-to-point race looks set to quickly become a new iconic ultra for Eryri/Snowdonia.
After a brief coach transfer to the start on the North Wales coast (included in entry fee), the route begins by passing the beautiful Aber Falls, before traversing the classic Welsh 3000s route in a southbound direction. Runners experience the unique character of three Welsh mountain ranges by way of the Carneddau, Glyderau and Yr Wyddfa massifs, before the day's journey culminates — like the Snowdon SkyRace® — with an ascent of Snowdon via the infamous Crib Goch Grade 1 scramble, this time by its oft-overlooked north ridge.
Discover the route in full HERE.
Crib Goch during the inaugural Snowdon SkyRace. © Ian Corless
Run through time at the NEW Rab Fairy Trail™ 10 miler!
To further broaden the event’s appeal, we’re delighted to announce that next year also sees the inception of the inaugural Rab Fairy Trail™ race. This route is dead on 10 miles of easy, non-technical terrain, with 950m+ elevation gain and taking in Moel Eilio summit in the first half (be sure to take a moment to wonder at the substantial summit cairn; believed to be a burial site from the bronze age). From here the route drops down to a water point before returning home via Bwlch Maesgwm AKA ‘Telegraph Valley’.
Dance like a fairy up the grassy slopes of Moel Eilio.
Why the name? Good question! From the shores of nearby Llyn Cwellyn to the adjacent flanks of Moel Eilio, the area surrounding event HQ is steeped in Celtic folklore, in particular tales of fairies (or Tylwyth Teg – a Welsh term for the ‘Fair Folk’/fairies)!
One such tale goes as follows: One day an unfortunate man entered into a fairy dance near Llyn Cwellyn and was transported to fairyland for seven years, though he thought only a few moments had passed. When he returned his friends didn’t recognize him and his sweetheart had married someone else. Unable to adjust he died of a broken heart!
Join the magic at next year’s event! © Evan Davies
This is also the perfect race for those who just fancy a hard blast over some more runnable terrain and we hope it attracts interest from trail runners of all abilities and backgrounds, from near and far alike.
Learn more about the route HERE.
Tryfan North Ridge during the 2022 event. © Andy Milton
With these two new additions, next year’s event will offer something for everyone, from aspiring trail runner novice to seasoned Ultra-Trail veteran. Race Director Mike explains:
“I’m delighted to be taking the Snowdon SkyRace to new heights next year and am highly motivated by the prospect of delivering an event that truly lives up to its full potential. With four unique and exciting races now on offer to suit a range of abilities and preferences, the team and I can’t wait to welcome you to Eryri next summer to be part of Wales’ only weekend of trail, ultra and Skyrunning!”
The Copper SkyTrail: a superb entry-level Skyrunning event! © Evan Davies
Taking into account feedback from previous editions, next year’s event also moves from a Sunday to Saturday, with the two new races taking place on the same day (22nd June) as our already established SkyRaces: the 40km & 3,150m+ Snowdon SkyRace®, which takes in Tryfan North Ridge and Crib Goch Grade 1 scrambles, as well as the Copper SkyTrail™ — 24km & 1,750m+ of technical mountain running, but without covering and graded scrambling, which next year celebrate their fifth and fourth editions respectively.
We’re delighted to once again be partnering with iconic climate-neutral UK apparel company Rab®, who will be supplying our generous prize pool and will be on-site at the event for runners to try before buying any of their packs or clothing. Why not check out their awesome Women’s & Men’s running ranges today and get yourself kitted out for this coming winter’s trail running exploits!
As previously, next year’s event will also be part of the Skyrunner UK & Ireland series, with series points on offer for finishers in the Snowdon SkyRace® (plus potentially also the Copper SkyTrail™ & 14 Peaks Ultra™ — TBC). All three of our SkyRaces will also be International Skyrunning Federation Certified Courses for 2024 too, pending ratification.
We hope you'll join us next June! Early bird entries to all races are now live via the ‘Enter Now’ links on the webpage HERE.
Don’t delay: enter NOW to guarantee your slot on the start line with us at the best rate today!
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