Description »
An epic three days of running from the Welsh-English border to the sea
Tour leader for running camps 2024: Leader for the 2024 tours is currently being confirmed and may be Tim Higginbottom or an alternative tour leader.
Join Tim Higginbottom, internally renowned fell runner and holder of the Paddy Buckley Round record for 10 years, on a running adventure through some of Wales' most remote and beautiful scenery.
Beginning from the Newtown near the Welsh-English border, over three days of guided running you will cover 55 miles, travelling across the Cambrian Mountains to end your tour on the coast at Aberystwyth.
Tim Higginbottom, Welsh Orienteering Champion and your guide for your cross-Wales adventure. Photo: AT.
Into the wild
The tour begins with the longest mileage, a 22-mile route over to Rhyader, through remote and stunning scenery. Day 2 is a little shorter, at 18 miles, though is likely to be the most challenging day of the tour, as you travel through very wild country on the way to Strata Florida.
From here, Day 3 makes things a little easier, though no less scenic, with a 15-mile day following a former railway track along the river, to end your tour at Aberystwyth and a triumphant dip of your toes in the salty sea water!
The 55-mile route takes you through some of Wales' most remote landscapes. Photo: AT.
Comfortable accommodation in boutique hotels
This is a challenging tour and a great chance to test your fitness and endurance, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little pampering at night! Accommodation along the route is in small, comfortable hotels, and you can spend the evenings relaxing, enjoying hearty pub meals and perhaps a Welsh beer or two as a reward for the day's exertions.
Your luggage is transferred between overnight locations, so you need only run with what you need for the day, and from the end point, transfer is included back to the start at Newtown for convenient onward travel.
Along the way, you'll be staying in boutique hotel accommodation with a warm welcome, soft bed and hearty meals! Photo: AT.
Fitness and adventurous spirit, but not speed, required
Train Running Across Wales is ideal for experienced trail and fell runners looking for a multi-day adventure, and is a challenging tour. But it is not necessary to be a fast runner - for this tour, you should be comfortable running 4-5 hours per day over 3 consecutive days, with a mix of terrain and weather conditions for distances of up to 22 miles.
The Welsh mountains have laid down the challenge - will you answer the call?
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Itinerary »
Day 1 (Thursday): Arrival and accommodation in Newtown
The start point for your tour is Newtown, on the Welsh-English border. Please arrive for check-in from 16.00.
Settle in and relax in preparation for the tour ahead, or take a stroll around the town. At 18.00 there will be welcome meeting followed by dinner with the rest of the group at the hotel. What better way to start your trip with good company and few (not too many!) Welsh beers!
Accommodation: Hotel in Newtown; Meals included: Dinner.
Day 2 (Friday): Across the Cambrian Mountains to Rhyader
Today your running tour begins. You will be transferred from your accommodation to begin your run, under the guidance of your tour leader.
Be prepared for a long run - today is the longest distance of the trip, covering 22 miles through the hills. You'll be running along the tops from Felindre to Rhyader. The landscape is wild and beautiful, offering beautiful views to keep you going!
You will make a stop for lunch along the way at one of the historic villages, such as Abbeycwmhir, before continuing to end the day in the attractive market town of Rhayader.
Your luggage will have been transferred, so it's time to check in to your accommodation and look forward to a relaxing evening. The local pubs offer a choice of locations for dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel in Rhyader; Meals included: Breakfast; Running distance: approx. 22 miles.
Day 3 (Saturday): Remote run to Strata Florida
After a well-earned breakfast to fuel your body for the day ahead, a check through the kit, you begin running today right from the hotel.
Today's distance is 18 miles, on an historic high level route said to have connected the Cistercian monasteries during the 12th century.
You'll be running very remote country today, and it is important to be self-sufficient. You may not see anyone else at all as you cross the moorland in the Elan Valley on your way to Strata Florida.
While not the longest day of the tour, the challenging off-road terrain and variable weather conditions may make this the toughest one. With luck, you may see majestic red kites or agile goshawks in the skies above, or maybe even an elusive otter.
Accommodation: Hotel near Strata Florida; Meals included: Breakfast; Running distance: approx. 18 miles.
Day 4 (Sunday): To the coast at Aberystwyth
Starting from your hotel, your final day of the running adventure awaits! You'll have been working hard on the previous two days, so today's route is less challenging, taking you along a former railway track.
While a very different landscape from the mountains and a flatter run today, the scenery loses nothing of its beauty. If the weather's warm, a paddle in the River Ystwyth along the way will cool hot feet and knees!
Your tour ends in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Having crossed Wales, you can dip your toes triumphantly in the salty sea water and celebrate with some local fish and chips (included)! Then check in to your accommodation and enjoy your last evening, with the satisfaction of a real achievement that you have shared with like-minded adventuters. You may well have made some friends for life!
Accommodation: Hotel in Aberystwyth; Meals included: Breakfast, dinner (fish and chips); Running distance: approx. 15 miles.
Day 5 (Monday): Departure
Time to pack and bid farewell to the coast. Please check out by 10.30 for transfer (by train, tickets included) back to Newtown and onward travel.
Dates & Prices»
Dates 2024
- May: 16.05-20.05.24 (Thursday-Monday)
- October: 03.10-07.10.24 (Thursday-Monday)
Prices 2024
| Standard Prices | |
|---|---|
| May tour: Per person (based on 2 persons sharing) | GBP |
| May tour: Single occupancy supplement* (optional) | GBP |
| October tour: Per person (based on 2 persons sharing) | GBP |
| October tour: Single occupancy supplement* (optional) | GBP |
*Guests will share room with other same gender participant in the group unless solo occupancy has been requested.
What's Included »
Included
Accommodation:
Four nights' accommodation in boutique hotels along the route in 2-person rooms. Guests will share room with other same gender participant in the group unless solo occupancy has been requested.
Activities, guiding and logistics:
- Three days' guided trail running as per itinerary.
- Luggage transfers between overnight locations and return transfer (by train) to start point at end of route.
Meals:
4 x breakfast, 2 x evening meal (Day 1 at accommodation and Day 4 fish and chips). Other meals are available to purchase locally. Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements. You should of course bring additional energy snacks, etc, for the runs.
Not Included
- Travel: We do not arrange flights or domestic travel, but are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey. See under "Getting There" for general travel information.
- Meals except for as per itinerary.
Good To Know »
Required
Health requirements/experience:
Minimum age 18 years. For this experience, you should be an experienced trail or fell runner prepared for an adventurous and challenging tour.
Solo travellers will share room with another solo traveller in the group unless solo occupancy is requested.
It is not necessary to be a fast runner, but you should be comfortable running on trails and mixed terrain for 3 consecutive days, with running time around 4-5 hours/day. Max. daily distance covered in one day is 22 miles, but the second day of running (18 miles) may be the most challenging due to the nature of the terrain.
What makes this "Hard"?
The tour covers a total of 55 miles over 3 days, with the first 2 days being the most challenging. You will be running in, at times, a very remote landscape where runners must be self-sufficient and weather conditions and terrain can significantly add to the level of challenge.
Accommodation en route is in comfortable hotels and main luggage is transferred between overnight locations, so you only need to carry with you what you will need for each day's running.
NB: Perception of difficulty is very subjective. What is hard to one person may be easy for another and vice versa, depending on factors including level of fitness, age and previous experience. Weather conditions/temperatures can also dramatically affect the actual level of challenge encountered.
Equipment/clothes needed:
For information on any equipment and/or clothing included as standard for this experience, please see under "What's Included".
A detailed recommended packing list for personal items to bring will be sent with your booking documentation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing. Note of course that the most appropriate clothing to use as well as the level of challenge experienced during any outdoor activity may vary significantly depending on factors such as the time of year and the particular weather/temperature conditions during your trip.
Preparing for your trip:
For further reading, we also have a number of general information articles to get you ready for your trip, covering a wide variety of topics from what to do on a city break before/after your tour, advice on packing, eyewear for winter and considerations for female travellers.
Minimum number:
A total of minimum 4 persons are required for fixed-date tours to be guaranteed to run. You are of course welcome to book as a solo traveller.
Groups
Max. group size 10 persons.
Eco Info
This provider has a written ecotourism policy.
Getting There »
Getting There
See below for a summary of travel options. To learn more about how to travel to this experience, please get in touch!
Detailed information on travel will be provided in response to your enquiry. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
NB: Please ensure that you make a booking with us first and wait for confirmation that your spaces are reserved before making any travel arrangements.
Travel Summary:
From Within the UK:
Travel to Newtown near the Welsh-English border, conveniently reached by rail or private car.
From Outside the UK:
For guests outside the UK, please contact us for information on suitable airports and transfer possibilities.
Recommended by The Guardian as one of "Britain's 10 Wildest Adventures".
Did You Know...?
- In addition to fixed-date public tours, groups of friends can arrange private tours on custom dates.
- For an alternative way to discover the beauty of Wales on a running holiday, we also offer Trail Running Camp in North Wales.
- Island Hopping and Hiking in the Stockholm Archipelago in Sweden can also be done as a self-guided running tour!
