5th Llangollen Challenge 2025 Sponsored Hill Hike
The Challenge is a 35-mile sponsored hill hike, starting from the town and visiting every summit around the Vale of Llangollen on the route of the Round. It can be completed in either one or two days and all participants receive a medal and certificate. See below for a detailed account of the weekend.. We expect 500+ entrants so it's a good idea to get your entry in early!
1 The walk starts and ends from Dinas Brân School, Llangollen, Grid Ref SJ 214424. To get there from Llangollen Bridge, take the Wrexham direction, and in 50 yards (after the pedestrian crossing), turn left, uphill. After crossing the canal the school is directly ahead. Turn left passing all school buildings to reach the main entrance. The car park is 200 yards further along the road on the left.
2 On entering the car park you will be directed to the lower field. It is then only a 5- minute walk back to Dinas Brân School.
3 There will be changing rooms, toilets, and space for storage of clothing etc. at the adjacent Dinas Brân Leisure Centre. Between 5am (6am Sunday) and 8.30am we will be serving light breakfast (tea, coffee, toast, cereal) at the school for those who want it.
4 The Rules state a number of items that must be carried. These will be checked first and you will then be given a wristband bearing the emergency telephone number and your own event number. Once you have the wristband you can go to the start.
5 You may present yourself to the start checkpoint any time within the 2-hour slot given in the Rules. If you have any doubts about your ability to do the distance in the given time, please go for the earliest start possible. The school will be open from 5am
6 You are strongly advised to carry a mobile phone, and we should have a record of its number on your entry form. Most networks have reception most of the way. If you should need help when in a ‘dead spot’, you could ask another walker whose phone is with a different network. If you should be injured and alone with no reception, you should use the whistle. Six loud blasts in succession, followed by a minute’s silence is the recognised emergency signal.
7 Water is an important issue. Should it be a hot day you will need to carry a 2-litre bottle, and refill it wherever possible. Checkpoints will have water, possibly bottled, but more probably in large containers.
8 Clothing too is important. Walking boots or strong walking shoes are advised, as is a waterproof and sufficient warm clothing for the conditions (it will be around 5º colder on the heights, and probably windier). Should it be hot, note that there is very little shade on the long moorland sections. A wide-brimmed hat, long-sleeved shirt and sun-cream are advised, as well as plenty of water.
9 The route will be waymarked with both arrow waymarks and simple discs bearing our logo. Where there is any possibility of difficulty, red tape will be tied to e.g. shrubs and trees to guide you. If you should ever be in any doubt at all on the day, please phone the emergency number for advice rather than go off track. It is strongly advised that you read through the directions in the booklet before you go.
10 The route crosses main roads at four points – the A5 at Froncysyllte, the A539 at Trevor, the A542 at the Ponderosa and the A5 at Carrog. At each crossing you must decide for yourself when to cross, but do take care!
11 The other place that will need particular care is the crossing of Llantysilio Mountain in Section E. The path for the most part is shingly, and is steep in parts. Slipping and sliding are possible, but this is not somewhere you can fall off!
12 There will be checkpoints on the Panorama (7.8 miles), above World’s End (13.9 miles), at the Ponderosa (17.6 miles), at The Grouse Inn in Carrog (24.3 miles) and beside Ceiriog Forest (29.4 miles). At each of these you will be required to sign against your number and have your time recorded. All checkpoints will carry light refreshments (cheese, fruit, cake, etc) and water.
13 At checkpoints 3 and 4 it will be possible to purchase food. Both the Ponderosa and The Grouse will be serving everything from tea and cakes to hot meals, and they are happy for you to refill water bottles and use toilets. Note that for the rest of the time you will be well off-the-beaten-track, so you should carry emergency rations and water.
14 2-day walkers : Mini-buses will transport you between the half-way point (Ponderosa) and our Car Park Field (5 mins from school). They will leave the Ponderosa at approximately half-hour intervals from 1.30pm until 6pm on Saturday. Later arrivals will need to make their own transport arrangements! On Sunday morning buses will leave this same car park between 7am and 9am. Arriving at the Ponderosa, you must go through the checkpoint there before continuing on the Round. You should arrive back at Dinas Brân School on Sunday evening by 6pm. Anyone finding themselves running later than this should phone the emergency number for advice.
15 1-day walkers : You should arrive back at Dinâs Bran School in daylight by 9.30pm on Saturday. To ensure this, you must leave the Ponderosa checkpoint by 1.30pm at the latest. If after that time, you can choose to return next day. Anyone finding themselves behind time later should phone the emergency number for advice.
16 The rules state that anyone retiring from the event for any reason MUST either inform a marshal or telephone the emergency number. This is IMPORTANT!
17 If you should need to retire, please try to get to a checkpoint, so that one of our vehicles can collect you and take you back to the school. If you should be injured and this becomes impossible, rest assured that we do have vehicles capable of crossing rough ground on standby. We also have first-aiders on standby throughout the two days.
18 Those wanting to carry detailed maps (and it has to be advised) will need O.S. Explorers 255 (Llangollen and Berwyn) and 256 (Wrexham and Llangollen)
19 At the end of the walk, you must visit the checkpoint at Dinas Brân School so that we know you are back safely. Your time will be recorded. All entrants will be awarded a certificate bearing their name and time and a medal.
20 Dinas Brân Leisure Centre can offer showers and changing facilities. At the finish, on each day, walkers will be offered free light refreshments and supporters can enjoy the same for a small donation.
21 Llangollen has lots of accommodation. Tourist Information (01978 860828) can supply you with details of B&Bs, hotels, and campsites. A few motorhomes can be accommodated on the parking field (please phone us first to confirm your place)
22 Finally, a note about sponsorship. The Challenge is organised in support of Cancer Research UK, and every penny you raise will be put to good use. We raised a huge £66,000 in 2018. Can you help us to do even better?
We thank you in advance, and we really hope you enjoy the Llangollen Round Challenge. Please phone 01978 869364 /07905330788 or email thellangollenround@gmail.com if you have any more queries. AND GOOD LUCK!
PLEASE NOTE: Unlike some of the larger events such as the London Marathon where participants choose a charity for themselves, the Llangollen Round Challenge is organised in collaboration with, and exclusively for, the support of Cancer Research UK. We are grateful for your understanding of this in entering the event. Entry will be open from 1st November