Ogwen | Yr Helgi Du, live.

Skyline running over the Carneddau and Glyderau

Ogwen | Yr Helgi Du is a set of mountain races of 15, 25 and 40 km from Plas y Brenin in Capel Curig on Saturday 24 July 2027.

Always Aim High Events calls these truly mountain races, with technical terrain over the skyline of the Ogwen Valley in Eryri. The Carneddau rise from the North Wales coast as the front range of the mountains, and Carnedd Llywelyn is just 21m lower than Yr Wyddfa. The 40K adds the Glyderau, another ridge line with more ascent.

The 40K is the flagship. After a flat start on the old Roman Road, a scree climb leads onto the Glyderau ridge past Castell y Gwynt, down to Llyn y Cwn and up Y Garn (947m), then a steep descent to Ogwen Cottage. Pen yr Ole Wen (978m) gains around 700m in 2 miles with Grade 1 scrambling, before the Carneddau summits of Carnedd Fach (960m), Carnedd Dafydd (1044m) and Carnedd Llewelyn (1064m), an out and back to Yr Elen (962m), more easy scrambling to Pen yr Helgi Ddu and a fast grassy descent home.

The 25k starts on the Eryri Slate Trail, climbs Pen yr Ole Wen with a short easy scramble, follows the Carneddau skyline and finishes over Pen yr Helgi Ddu. The 15K climbs a 4km scree ascent over Gallt yr Ogof, traverses the ridge towards Cefn y Capel and returns through the Ogwen Valley. The organiser pitches the races as an accessible skyline event that tests the experienced and supports those taking their mountain running to the next level.

The 40k usually starts at 07:30, the 25k at 08:30 and the 15K at 9:00, confirmed in the final instructions 10 days before. On the 15K, finish timing ends 3 hours after the start. Runners need to be confident using their hands on rock for the scrambles, especially in poor weather. Supporters can wait at Plas y Brenin, the National Outdoor Centre, where all three races start and finish.

On Livebib you can follow a participant live when they choose to share their own position from the phone they carry. That position comes from the runner, not from the organiser's timing, and official results are published by the organiser.