Rasus y Bannau

Rasus y Bannau

Rasus y Bannau, also known as The Beacon Races, consists of three long-distance mountain running events held within the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Organised by Run Walk Crawl, these races follow a circular route that starts and finishes at the Theatre in Brecon town centre. The event takes place over a weekend in May, offering participants the opportunity to navigate through varied mountain terrain including ridges, forests, and waterfalls.

Participants can choose from three distinct distances:

• 100 km (approx. 104 km) with 5100 m of total ascent.
• 75 km Ultra Trail with 3500 m of total ascent.
• Marathon (approx. 43 km) with 2000 m of total ascent.

All routes begin by ascending the North ridge of Cribyn and passing through Fan Y Big. While the Marathon distance heads towards Blaen Y Glyn and Torpantu, the ultra-distance routes extend further to the Tal y Bont reservoir and the summit of Tor y Foil. The 100 km participants undertake an additional section on the Beacons Way towards the Black Mountain (Carmarthen Fan), reaching the summit of Fan Brycheiniog before returning east.

The event includes several safety and support features for participants. The entry fee covers GPS tracking and timing, mountain safety teams, and emergency first aid. Checkpoints with refreshments are located along the courses, and ultra-distance runners have access to a drop bag service at the 50 km mark. The routes are marked at major junctions, and participants are provided with accurate GPS files for navigation. All finishers receive a medal upon completion. The event is open to individuals aged 18 and older. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.