Specialists for Nordic Outdoor & Adventure Holidays in the Nordic Countries since 2006

Menu

Photo: AT

Trail Running Weekend in North Wales (Wales)

An inspirational weekend of trail running in the beautiful Welsh hills with technique workshop, yoga and comfortable accommodation

  • Guided
  • Easy-Medium
  • From £/person
  • Mar-Sep, 3 days/2 nights
  • Adults, Groups, Solo

Highlights:

  • Beautiful locations in North Wales countryside
  • Comfortable accommodation in traditional cottage
  • Led by expert coach
  • Three runs during the weekend
  • Workshop on identifying areas of your running to improve
  • Yoga session on breathing to improve your running

Description »

Tim Higginbottom – your guide and coach for the weekend

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.

Your leader for the weekend, Tim Higginbottom, will be drawing on his wealth of experience and expertise to ensure you get maximum benefit and enjoyment from the runs and workshop, tailoring tips and advice to your needs.

Tim is a UKA Fell and Trail coach, has competed internationally in fell, trail and ultra running events and is currently Welsh Orienteering Champion. He has also taught navigation for the Welsh Fell Running Association.

Tim Higginbottom

Tim Higginbottom, internationally renowned fell and trail runner and your guide for the weekend. Photo: AT.

Tim held the Paddy Buckley Round record for 10 years. Also known as the “Welsh Classical Round”, this is a demanding fell-running event in Snowdonia, covering over 100km and crossing 47 peaks.

Ideal preparation for your runs ahead

The Spring weekend will focus on preparing you for the summer running season to come. The Autumn weekend has a particular emphasis on maintaining your condition over the winter and using this time to really improve your running technique.

The weekend is suitable for anyone interested in developing their running technique while spending an enjoyable and sociable weekend in beautiful surroundings.

You don't need to be a fast runner – provided you're able to keep running on trails in hilly terrain for about 2 hours (no particular pace), you'll be fine!

Running in North Wales

The weekend offers the opportunity to run through spectacular scenery. Photo: AT.

Comfortable and atmospheric accommodation

The weekend is in a lovely traditional cottage in Llanrwst, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park.

We all know how important a goodmeal and a restful night's sleep is to enabling you to operate at your best, and the accommodation is a central feature of the weekend.

The weekend is open to solo travellers or those travelling with partner or friends. Solo travellers will share room with other same-gender guest (or solo occupancy is be available on request at additional charge).

 ...

Itinerary »

Day 1: Arrival and evening run

16:30: Arrive at the accommodation for check-in.

18:30: Time to don your running kit and headtorch for the first run of the weekend, as you go for a night run with the group to explore the surrounding area. You'll be out for about one hour on a fairly gentle run, far from light pollution and hopefully enjoying the stars under clear skies as you get to know your run leader and the other members of the group.

You'll need a head-torch. You're far from light pollution here, giving you the chance to experience the special feeling of a night run in the darkness, hopefully with a clear sky of stars twinkling above.

19.30: You return to the accommodation for hot shower and your first dinner together, before retiring to your room for the night.

Day 2: Trail running in the hills and running workshop

08:00: Breakfast together in the dining room tent. Your guide will outline the day ahead.

10:00: Your first major run of the weekend. Your guide will take you for a longer trail run into the beautiful Gwydir Forest.

The focus today is both on enjoyment and on improving your technique. During the run, your guide will be able to observe you and offer personalised tips and advice on running more efficiently and maximising your capabilities.

It's not a race – the speed of the run will be tailored to the slowest in the group – but everyone will have an equal chance to benefit both from your guide's expertise and experience and from the knowledge and cameraderie of the group.

You’ll need to be able to keep running for around 2 hours.

13:00: Lunch back at the accommodation and some feedback on the run from your tour leader.

14:00: The second half of the day will be a workshop with the focus on producing an effective training plan to suit you and identifying the particular areas you as a runner need to work on and how to improve.

As part of the workshop, it's time for yoga! Led by a professional yoga instructor, the yoga session will focus on breathing and how this relates to the movement of your body.

Breathing is one area runners can benefit enormously from focusing on, making a real difference to the efficiency of your running and extending your capabilities. The message will be: Run Relaxed, Run Longer.

18:00 It's been a full day! Time to relax and socialise over dinner. Curl up around the fire for a cosy evening!

Day 3: Sunrise run and departure

07:30: Rise and shine! Time to put what you've learned into practice, with a sunrise run to end the weekend.

As for Day 2, you’ll be out for around 2 hours, with your guide to give you some last tips to take away from your days in the Welsh hills.

Your run will explore another beautiful area of Snowdonia National Park.

Take time to try out some new techniques – as with any change, it may feel unfamiliar at first, but stick with it and you may have discovered some hidden depths to your running ability!

10:00: Return to the accommocation for a hearty breakfast feast together before you pack and bid farewell to your new running friends and the beautiful landscapes of North Wales. Hopefully you'll be leaving inspired and energised for the coming season of trail running adventures!

Dates & Prices»

Dates 2024

  • Spring camp: 15.03-17.03.24 (Friday-Sunday)
  • Autumn camp: 20.09-22.09.24 (Friday-Sunday)

Prices 2024

Standard Prices 
Per person (based on 2 persons sharing)GBP
Single occupancy supplement (optional)GBP

What's Included »

Included

Accommodation:

Two nights' accommodation at traditional detached Welsh long cottage. The oldest part of the cottage is around 300 years old. Guests will share room with other same gender participant in the group unless solo occupancy has been requested.

Rooms are comfortably furnished and the cottage has a social area.

Country cottage

Traditional Welsh long cottage. Photos: AT.

Country cottage accommodation

Bedrooms and communal areas at the cottage. Photos: AT.

Activities and guiding:

  • Three guided trail runs in the Welsh mountains as per itinerary.
  • Workshop covering training and running techniques.
  • Yoga workshop on the connection between breath and movement.
  • A voluntary litter-picking activity in association with Trash Free Trails.

Meals:

All meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3 (please let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements). You may of course wish to 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.
  • Taxi transfers from local train station or airport. If coming by car, driving directions will be provided.

Good To Know »

Required

Health requirements/experience:

Min. age 18. The emphasis for the week is on enjoyment and identifying aspects of your technique to work on. You will need to be able to keep running for around 2 hours in hilly terrain, but pace will be adapted to the slowest member of the group. There are 3 runs in total during the weekend – a short night run on Day 1 and two runs of approx. 2 hours each on Day 2 and Day 3. No yoga experience is required for the yoga component of the weekend.

What makes this "Easy-Medium"?

The nature of the weekend means that it is suitable for runners of varying ability. The minimum requirement is that you can run continuously for 2 hours in hilly terrain, but the level of challenge of the weekend is flexible and runners of all abilities will be able to benefit from the workshops and expertise and to enjoy the camp environment.

Accommodation is in comfortable cottage.

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 6 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 12 persons.

Eco Info

This provider has a written ecotourism policy.

A tree will be planted in native woodland near the location of your running tour for every participant.

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 Llanwrst in North Wales. For guests travelling by public transport, Llanwrst is the closest train station, from where it is 12 minutes by taxi to the country house accommodation.
  • From Outside the UK: Fly to Manchester or Liverpool John Lennon airport, from where it is around 90 minutes by taxi, or travel by train to Llanwrst as above.

Privacy and Cookies | All information, products and prices on this website are subject to change without notice | © Nature Travels 2024 | Site Map

Registered Office: Nature Travels Ltd, 11 Normandy Way, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2PP, United Kingdom | Company No: 5636754

Opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-12.30, 13.30-16.30 | Email: admin@naturetravels.co.uk | Tel: +44(0)1929 503080

Nature Travels Ltd logo
Superfast Business Champions ABTOT logo