Course Map
About this Race
The Snowdonia Marathon Eryri is one of the toughest road marathons in Britain, a brutal mountain course circling Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales, with enormous climbs amid the rugged grandeur of Eryri national park. The savage ascents and descents make fast times impossible and beside the point, set against spectacular Welsh mountain scenery. Held in late October, it contends with wild, unpredictable mountain weather. The dramatic landscape and the sheer challenge are the reward. It suits hardy, hill-hardened runners who want one of the UK's hardest and most beautiful courses and treat finishing as the achievement.
Course Insight
Snowdonia is one of Britain's toughest marathons, a brutal October mountain course climbing high amid the peaks of Eryri with relentless ascents and descents. Forget a flat-course time and pace the great climbs by effort, sparing your quads for the drops. This is a mountain challenge, not a PB hunt. The Welsh scenery rewards every hard step. Respect the mountains and run within yourself, and the difficulty becomes the achievement.
Difficulty Breakdown
Mostly due to significant climbing (750m), tough late hills.
Course Details
- Course type
- Loop
- Elevation gain
- 750m
- Elevation loss
- 765m
- Highest point
- 376m
- Lowest point
- 43m
- Net elevation
- -15m
- Cutoff time
- 7h 0m
Race History
The Snowdonia Marathon Eryri was first held in 1982 and is one of the toughest road marathons in Britain, a brutal course circling Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales, with enormous climbs. Its savage terrain and spectacular mountain scenery made fast times impossible and beside the point. From its founding it became a revered challenge. Held each late October, it draws hardy runners to the Welsh mountains.
Plan Your Trip
Everything you need to know to get there, get settled, and get to the start line.
- Nearest airport(s)
- Manchester (MAN), Liverpool (LPL) & Cardiff (CWL)
- Best area to stay
- Llanberis for proximity to the start/finish and guesthouses, Betws-y-Coed for charming village stays, and Caernarfon for fuller hotel options nearby.
- Getting to the start
- The start and finish are in Llanberis; walk from village guesthouses, as it's a small-town mountain course.