Rasus y Bannau

Rasus y Bannau

Rasus y Bannau, also known as The Beacon Races, consists of three long-distance mountain running events located in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Organised by Run Walk Crawl, these circular routes start and finish at the Theatre in Brecon town centre. The courses navigate a variety of mountain terrain, including ridges, forest paths, and multiple summits.

Participants can choose from the following distances:

• 100 km: Approximately 104 km with +5100m of total ascent.
• 75 km Ultra Trail: Approximately 75 km with +3500m of total ascent.
• Marathon: Approximately 43 km with +2000m of total ascent.

All three routes begin with a direct ascent of the North ridge of Cribyn before reaching Fan Y Big. The courses continue along ridgelines towards Carn Pica. The marathon route eventually climbs Corn Du and Pen Y Fan before descending back to Brecon. The ultra-distance routes extend further through the Taf Fechen Forest and across the Taff Fechen valley. The 100 km course includes additional sections on the Beacons Way, reaching Fan Brycheiniog on the Black Mountain and crossing summits such as Fan Gyhirych and Fan Nedd.

The event includes checkpoints with refreshments and mountain safety teams. All distances have specific time limits: 24 hours for the 100 km and 75 km ultra races, and 15 hours for the marathon. Registration is open to individuals aged 18 or older. Participants receive a finishers medal, GPS tracking, and access to race photography. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.