Runners will set off from Porth Penrhyn in Bangor tomorrow morning (Saturday, 14 November) for one of Wales’ toughest endurance running events, the Slate Trail Ultra 2026, with both races starting and finishing at the historic port.
Organised by APEX Running, the event returns for its second edition, with two challenging routes taking competitors through the spectacular landscapes and historic slate-producing communities of Eryri (Snowdonia).
The main Slate Trail Ultra begins at 6am, with runners tackling a gruelling 147km (91-mile) course following the Snowdonia Slate Trail, including more than 3,900 metres of climbing.
The route takes participants on a journey through the region’s industrial past, passing former slate quarries, historic settlements, mountain valleys and remote countryside.
A second event, the Ultra Tour of the Quarries (UTQ), starts at 8am. The inaugural 80km (50-mile) race features more than 2,300 metres of ascent and takes in several highlights of the longer route.
Both events present considerable physical and mental challenges, with competitors facing long distances, potentially severe mountain weather and sections of remote terrain.
Organisers have warned that runners must be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions and the possibility of running in darkness. There is no alternative bad-weather route for either race.
The full Slate Trail Ultra is particularly demanding, with organisers recommending that entrants have previous experience of completing at least 80km over off-road terrain with significant elevation gain.
Although much of the route follows relatively non-technical trails, the combination of distance, climbing and prolonged physical effort makes it a serious endurance challenge.
Celebrating North Wales’ slate heritage
The Snowdonia Slate Trail was launched in 2017 following four years of voluntary work by the Cwm Community Action Group, based in Cwm Penmachno.
The trail was developed to encourage tourism and business opportunities in former slate-producing villages while bringing the region’s rich industrial and cultural heritage to a wider audience.
The route passes through landscapes shaped by centuries of slate quarrying, an industry that once made North Wales one of the world’s most important slate-producing regions.
The trail was developed by Aled Owen, who was born and raised near Bethesda and wanted to showcase some of Eryri’s quieter areas and their unique industrial history.
A keen runner himself, Owen has welcomed the continuation of the event and hopes to see course records broken in future editions.
For competitors, the Slate Trail Ultra offers not only an extraordinary test of endurance but also an opportunity to experience the communities, landscapes and industrial landmarks that helped shape North Wales.
Further information about the event is available at APEX Running, while details of the historic walking route can be found at snowdoniaslatetrail.org.
Photo: Slate Trail Ultra
