Celtic Trail Races

Celtic Trail Races

The Celtic Trail Races take place in December, offering three different trail running distances through the landscape of South Wales. The event is centered at Dare Valley Country Park, where all races conclude. The routes traverse the Afan Forest, the Rhigos mountain range, and the high-level trails of the Coed Morgannwg Way.

Participants can choose from three distinct distances:

• Celtic Ultra: A circular 34 mile route starting and finishing in Dare Valley Park with 5850ft of ascent.
• Celtic Trail Marathon: A circular 26 mile route starting and finishing at Dare Valley Country Park with 4200ft of ascent.
• Celtic Trail Half Marathon: A linear 13 mile route from Resolven to Dare Valley Park with 2200ft of ascent.

The courses consist of fully marked trails featuring sharp climbs, river crossings, and single-track sections. Runners pass through various environments including ancient woodland tracks, hidden reservoirs, and areas featuring wind turbines. The routes offer views across the Brecon Beacons National Park.

The event provides electronic timing and safety tracking for the half marathon, while the marathon and ultra distances utilize GPS tracking. All routes are fully marked, and participants are provided with GPS files and maps. Checkpoints with refreshments are located along the courses. For the linear half marathon, coach transport is available as an optional addition. Support services on-site include physiotherapy and emergency first aid cover. The minimum age for entry is 18 years old. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.