The Ultra Tour De Cymru (SW100)- is a 100 mile ultra-trail footrace starting and finishing in Cardiff, crossing the South Wales Mountains and Valleys and the Brecon Beacons!  It is a demanding test of endurance over varied and challenging terrain, suitable for the committed and competent ultra-trail runner. The route has approximately 6000 meters of ascent and is over 90% on trails. It truly is a tour of some of the most amazing sites across the South Wales Valleys and the Brecon Beacons including ancient castles, forests, mountain summits, breathtakingly waterfalls and rolling green valleys and  hills.  It is a UTMB qualifying race eligible for 6 UTMB points.

The Brecon to Cardiff Summer Ultra (SW50) - 50 mile ultra following the second half of the SW100 route. Starting in Brecon, you will run, walk or crawl to the top of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Britain, where you will join the SW100 mile route to cross the Brecon Beacons and journey back to Cardiff via an amazing network of trails, mountain summits, green valleys and woodlands. It has  approximately 3000 meters of ascent and is a UTMB qualifying race eligible for 3 UTMB points. 

We've searched out the best landmarks in the South Wales valleys and the Brecon Beacons and linked them all with an amazing network of rolling runnable trails. Starting in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, the UTDC route heads out of the city crossing the river Taff then heading West along the fully waymarked 'Ridgeway route'.  On a clear day, from the top of the first climb, Mynydd Y Garth, you can see the highpoints stretched out of the entire circular route you are about to conquer - even Pen Y Fan looming in the distance!  After approximately 15 miles along the ridgeway route you turn North again heading through dramatic woodlands, then open fell to the top of the Bwlch.  From here the Maindy Trail brings you down and across the valleys of the old mining communities of Treorchy, over Maerdy Mountain, then the Rhigos Mountain. From here a fast downhill section on brings you out in 'Waterfall Country' and, into the Brecon Beacons National Park. The 'Four Waterfalls Walk' route is a highlight of the route as you pass under the breath-taking ' waterfall 'Sgwd yr Eira'.  By early morning you will be through Yestradfeltte Village - and you now have the day to cross the main Brecon Beacons Range. Following the Beacons Way and the more exposed summits of Fan Llia and Fan Frynych, you will drop down through the magical Graig Cerrig Gleisiad (Nature Reserve) to the Storey Arms at the half way point. 

The route then climbs to the top of Pen Y Fan (via Corn Du) and it is here where the SW50 mile route joins the SW100.  You will cross the stunning Brecon Beacons mountain range of Pen y Fan, Cribyn and Fan y Big before the long descent to Talybont reservoir.  From here the steepest climb of the route is Tor Y Foel -  the crux of the route (named Mount Doom or 'The Devils Tit' by previous competitors) , after this it is (nearly) all downhill!  Heading South via the green and rolling hills through Tredegar, you'll reach the Rhymney Valle, the mountain peaks of Rhymney Hill, Mynydd Bedwellte, Cefn y Brithdir and then Caerphilly Castle - another highlight of the route. Skirting around Caerphilly Castle a final push over Caerphilly Mountain and Crag yr Alt brings you back Cardiff.

A map and gps of the provisional route is available at the bottom of the page.  To download the gps click on 'actions', then 'export' and follow the onscreen prompts. 

Both routes require participants to be self-sufficient, which means you must be able to complete the route as if without any support, carrying the appropriate compulsory kit and food and water between checkpoints.  To enter the UTDC you need to have experience in Ultra trail racing and as a minimum you should have completed at least one 50 mile event of similar nature, examples will be asked for on the entry form.  You should be able to run comfortably and navigate at night.  You will need to be totally self-sufficient throughout the event and able to make sound mountain judgment. 

For the B2CS (SW50) entrants will need to be able to navigate the route using map, road book, gps and any additional signage.  It is likely you will be finishing in the dark so you will need to be able to navigate and run in the dark.  You will need the physical fitness to complete the event carrying the compulsory kit including food and water between checkpoints. There is no qualifying necessary for the SW50, but you must have gained the required skills and fitness levels to complete the course safely.  

The course is self navigation and you must follow the route using a combination of gps trace, map, road book. There is some additional running arrows and markers placed on route to help you navigate any particularly tricky sections. We highly recommend you recce the route before.

There are 11 manned checkpoints for the UTDC 100 & 6 Checkpoints for the UTDC 50.  The majority are indoors in community halls or similar. We provide a comprehensive variety of food and drinks.  Details of what was provided and locations in 2019 can be seen on the FAQ page on (Q17).  Checkpoints are spaced approximately every 6-10 miles.

There will be a number of compulsory clips located on the course (for example the top of Cribyn) to ensure competitors follow the course correctly, and these are not manned.

For the UTDC 50 the course is linear so you will either get dropped off in Brecon and picked up or catch the buses provided from the race finish in Cardiff to the start in Brecon. 

The UTDC /SW100 course starts at 1900 on the Friday evening. 

The B2CS /SW50 starts at 0900 on Saturday morning.

The SW100 Early (walkers) start, starts at 1300 on Friday with an overall cut off time of 44 hours.  

There is a 38 hour cut-off time for runners to complete the entire UTDC /SW100 course. There is a 24 hour cut off time for runners to complete the B2CS/SW50 course.  

The 'Early Start' allows for a 44 hour time limit for the SW100. For the early start you will set off at 1pm on Friday giving you an extra 6 hours to complete the course.  Please note that if you decide to take the walkers start time and set off to quickly you will have to wait to go through the first few checkpoints as they will open based off a walkers speed.  If you take the walkers start this is non-competitive which means you will not be eligible for prizes in the race! 

There is a compulsory kit list that must be carried. This may vary depending on the conditions. This can be viewed here. 

Friday

1200-1230 Early Start registration & briefing

1300 Early start race start

1600-1730 SW100 Registration & briefing at 1730

1900 SW100 Start

1915-2100 Registration re-opens for SW50 competitors

2100 Registration closes

Saturday

0700 Coach departs Cardiff from Race HQ

0730-0830- Registration in Brecon

0830 SW50 Brief in Brecon

0900 SW50 start from Brecon

1700 First 100 finishers expected

1800 First 50 competitors expected

Sunday

0900 Last finishers for all races

0930 Presentation

1000 Race HQ closes

Ultra Tour De Cymru (SW100) £120

Brecon 2 Cardiff Summer (SW50) £75

You can select the appropriate options when you sign up to the event online.

A marked route

Waterproof route description and map booklet

Well stocked checkpoints

GPS tracking for both races

Event t-shirt

Event medal

Resting facilities at race HQ for Saturday night

Toilets, showers and changing facilities

Post event meal

GPS file

Two drop bags on the UTDC and 1 on the B2CS (SW50)

Bus transport from Cardiff to Brecon for B2CS (SW50) competitors

Physiotherapy, CAVRA First Aid and Safety Team cover

Experenced Race Directors, Race Team and amazing marshals

6 UTMB Points for the UTDC (SW100) & 4 UTMB Points for the B2CS (SW50)

All entry is on the sientries system at the following link.