How to Recce for the Dragon’s Back Race®
Having worked with runners preparing for the Dragon’s Back Race since 2019 – as well her own recces in advance of her 2021 Dragon’s Back Race, Kate from RAW Adventures has built an extensive knowledge of various iterations of the Dragon’s Back Route, and its route amendments in that time.
As an Official Event Partner to the race for over 6 years, RAW Adventures has provided Recce Events to hundreds of ‘Dragons in Training’, with the support of a unique team of #TeamRAW Run Guides who are also experienced runners with excellent knowledge of the Dragon’s Back Race route, event organisation and the race itself.
RAW Adventures is proud to provide these Recce Events, which help runners increase their route knowledge and technical mountain confidence, whilst preparing for this iconic race. For further opportunities to recce the DBR route with RAW Adventures, check this page for current information.
If you are thinking of doing the Dragon’s Back Race then going on some RAW Adventures Recce Events are a must. The knowledge of Kate and her team is second to none. I learnt an incredible amount on the two days I did in August. Everyone was made to feel welcome no matter what their ability. My only regret was not having done more recce days! Thank you Kate and team!
Will
August 2024
“Recce the route!” they all say…
When preparing for the Dragon’s Back Race, you will no doubt be advised to ‘recce the route’ as much as possible. Some familiarity with the different terrain types you’ll encounter will help your body and mind adapt to the challenges and strength required to keep moving through this beautifully complex race route. Hopefully this guide will help with some personal recce planning, with a focus on using public transport options to assist running linear routes.
Recce options using public transport can require some extra time and planning, but they also offer a real feeling of exploration and an extra chance to see more of Wales from a train or bus – it’s an adventure in itself. And if you can better the suggestions below with arriving into Wales via public transport, or stitching together route sections via backpacking, that’s a brilliant win! Listening to runners’ experiences over the years, any multiday backpacking trips tend to take much longer than people plan for, and are very tiring…be warned!
Planning and safety considerations
These recce sections are planned so that you’re ‘running back to your car/valley base’ by parking at the end of your route, and starting the day by using a bus/train to access your start point. This avoids the stress of potentially ‘missing the bus’ at the end of a long day.
Stay in touch with a ‘valley contact’, as an extra layer of safety. Let them know when you’re ‘safe off the hill’. Save the longer recce sections for when you’re more confident of what your average pace is over complex ground – you will get to know this as you train/recce etc.
Winter, then spring into summer
In addition to these recce sections, think outside the box as to how you can plan some recces without falling into the trap of ‘trying to cover one whole race day’ or always having to plan a linear route. Sometimes you can link the end of one race day/beginning of the next to make a neat solution transport wise. Or plan loops from one singular point, or ‘out and back’ recces instead of a linear journey. Think about when you’ll be at your strongest in the run up to your race – most likely late June/July time, in preparation for an early September race. This means, your longer recce sections with the most ascent can wait until summer months, when the weather can be more settled and you will move more efficiently.
Use your winter months for building general running volume and strength consistently (at home is fine…no need for massive mountain trips to Wales). Early spring could include some mountain walks to recce areas of the route…not even ‘running’, just mountain walking. Mountain walks are highly beneficial for building ascent and volume into your training, without adding extra intensity trying to run over technical and steep ground at this point in your training year. Weather in Wales can be very fickle in early spring (sometimes snow in April) which is another reason to save your longer and more intensive recces until late spring/summer. It’s common to meet Dragons who have added too many long recce trips too quickly to their training…and then wind up injured by April.
The adventure is in the preparation and planning…
Part of the adventure and skill of a Dragon is being able to manage yourself effectively in mountainous terrain, and the planning and preparation to even start the race is part of this process. Enjoy it – the time spent looking forward to this epic race is the heart of this challenge. The race itself is the culmination of so many factors…to even start is to win!
Always check the bus/train timetables as needed for current information as some timetables may change seasonally.
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 1
Day 1 START Conwy Castle – CP5 Aid Station/Ogwen Valley
30km/1900m ascent
Car Option
Park your vehicle in the CP5 Aid Station car park in the Ogwen Valley (below Tryfan) and gain a local lift (via experienced DBR Recce Event provider RAW Adventures) or local taxi firm (Snowdonia Taxi Ltd).
Bus/Train Option (Saturday)
This option sees you starting your recce from Conwy apx 11:00, so plan accordingly in terms of how long this section will take you/daylight hours etc. It’s a committing route because there aren’t many easy exit options should you need to escape the route or poor weather. This route section can be tough in strong S/SW winds as you’re always heading south in to the weather. You are also above 900m for the majority of the route, which is very exposed in poor weather.
Day 1 CP5 Aid Station – CP6 Tryfan – CP8 Water Point/Pen y Pass
15km/1100m ascent (including run in from Capel Curig)
Park your vehicle in Nant Peris Park and Ride Car Park, LL55 4UF. Use the S1 bus (to Betws y Coed) to access a useful start point in Capel Curig. Aim to get on the 09:15 bus (arrives to Capel Curig at 0940) and get off at a stop just before the red ‘Joe Brown’ shop at the A5 junction in Capel Curig.
Access a Public Bridleway behind the Joe Brown shop (also signposted Snowdonia Slate Trail, heading west) and follow this right of way for apx 6km to reach where the DBR route emerges on to the A5 and on to CP5 Aid Station.
Follow DBR route to ascend Tryfan (CP6) and Glyder Fawr (CP7) and descend to Pen y Pass (CP8 Water Point). From Pen y Pass YHA, use the bus stop in the car park opposite to catch a bus back down the Llanberis Pass to Nant Peris Park and Ride Car Park (S1 or S2).
In summer months, these buses run every 15 minutes. Due to the nature of the terrain of this section, it will take you much longer to complete 16km than you think – it’s apx 1000m ascent, and very rocky, especially the route up/down Tryfan and up/over Glyder Fach and Glyder Fawr.
S1 (and more) Bus Timetables »
Day 1 CP8 Water Point/Pen y Pass – CP9 Crib Goch – Day 1 FINISH
15km/1340m ascent (including return to Pen y Pass)
Bus Option (Daily)
Park your vehicle in Nant Peris Park and Ride Car Park, LL55 4UF. Use either the 09:15 S1 or another S2 bus towards Pen y Pass (ascending the Llanberis Pass road). Journey takes up to 10 minutes only. Alight at CP8 Water Point/Pen y Pass and pick up the DBR route where it crosses the car park to access the Pyg Track towards the junction of Crib Goch. This recce section is THE most technical of the whole DBR route. Ensure you are well-prepared and informed about the section over Crib Goch, as this section involves some steep scrambling at times and a traverse of a narrow ridge, with high exposure. The section of route is exciting and very dramatic; but you will benefit from a calm, dry day with good visibility – especially if this is your first visit to this section of route.
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 2
Day 2 CP1 Cnicht – CP4 Water Point/Maentwrog
19km/1240m ascent (minimum – depending on turn-around point)
Bus Option (Saturday)
Park in one of the various public car parks in Porthmadog (further information via Gwynedd Council website). From Porthmadog Bus Stop C, use the 08:30 S4 bus towards Pen y Pass and ask for the Bryn Gwynant YHA stop – alight here. Walk north east up the road for a few minutes to join the DBR Day 2 route as it leaves the road at a gate here. You have not covered the first 2km of the route from Camp, but if you fancy some more tarmac…you can back track along the route if you’re interested?!
If you have time in hand, you could also venture further along the DBR route towards the dam at the north-west corner of Llyn Trawsfynydd, and return to Gellilydan (or Maentwrog) for a bus back to Porthmadog. If you ‘reverse’ the route all the way back towards the CP4 Water Point, then you can wait for your next bus at the Oakeley Arms pub here (with a bus stop outside the pub).
Day 2 CP5 Moel Ysgyfarnogod – Rhinogydd Mountains – Day 2 FINISH
37km/2050m ascent
The FINISH of Day 2 is located within the grounds of Vanner Camping and Caravan Park north of Dolgellau. This is a great place to base yourself for recces of sections of Day 2 and Day 3. Or, there is a smaller Eryri National Park car park next to the entrance of the campsite here.
This car park has a height barrier, not good for some larger camper vans!
Cross over the river via pedestrian access and cross over the A470 to access a bus stop on the northbound side. Catch the northbound T2 bus at 0710 (Mon – Sat only) or 0910 (Daily) and ask to alight at the entrance of Trawsfynydd Power Station here. The journey takes apx 25 mins.
Warm up run along the tarmac access road/cycle route towards the Power Station and the dam at NW corner of Llyn Trawsfynydd. Pass the point where the DBR route joins this access road here and continue to follow the DBR route over the dam. The following section of route, taking you on to the higher ground of the Rhinogydd mountain range is a long and committing section, best saved for a fair weather day and later in the summer months when stamina and fitness is ‘on the up’. Continue to follow the DBR route all the way back to Day 2 Finish.
Day 2 CP6 Aid Station – CP7 Rhinog Fawr – CP8 Rhinog Fach
20km/1280m ascent (incl return to car park)
Car Option
An alternative/shorter plan to access some of Rhinogydd mountain range for useful loops is via this remote car park on the east side of Rhinog Fawr and Rhinog Fach. From this car park, you can access the top of the ‘Roman Steps’ path, from where you can descend to CP6 Aid Station in Cwm Bychan and then re-ascend towards CP7 Rhinog Fawr and as much of this mountainous ground as you want to explore – returning to the car park at the end of your recce plan. This is a great recce to do ‘as a walk’ earlier in the summer, to see the nature of this ground before trying to complete a much longer recce section along this challenging terrain.
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 3
Day 3 CP1 – CP2 Cadair Idris Range – CP4 Water Point/Abergynolwyn
22km/1300m ascent
Bus Option (Monday – Friday)
Ideally, take advantage of an early weekday morning bus and park in the village of Abergynolwyn (next to community centre or nearby lay-by). From the bus stop outside the Railway Inn, catch the 08:25 G4 bus towards Dolgellau and arrive at the main square in Dolgellau (Eldon Square) at apx 08:56.
Follow the DBR route over the Cadair Idris mountain massif and descend into the valley on the other side, continuing at valley level to reach the village of Abergynolwyn and CP4 Water Point. Based on time/energy/weather, you could choose to recce onwards from CP4, but return to Abergynolwyn.
Day 3 CP4 Water Point/Abergynolwyn – CP7 Aid Station/Machynlleth
16km/700m ascent (plus as far as you want before returning to Machynlleth)
Park in the Long Stay Car Park in Machynlleth and access Machynlleth Railway Station for a bus stop. Catch the 0900 G24 bus (bound for Tywyn) and alight at the Railway Inn in Abergynolwyn (Day 3 CP4 Water Point). The journey takes apx 30 mins. Pick up the DBR route as it passes through the CP4 Water Point and ascends hills between Abergynolwyn and Machynlleth.
When arriving back to Machynlleth, remember to recce some of the shops for potential race day provisions!
Please note you are not able to access the exact location of the Day 3 CP7 Aid Station as it is private land.
You can choose to recce as much of the onward route as you time/energy for, but return to Machynlleth. You can re-gain the DBR route via exiting the town via Forge Road and a golf course area here, instead of the CP7 Aid Station location.
Day 3 CP7 Aid Station/Machynlleth – Day 3 FINISH
25km/1110m ascent
Bus Option (Monday – Saturday)
There is a rough parking area on the A44 opposite the site of an old hotel/pub called ‘Dyffryn Castell’, this is a useful place to park to access the end of Day 3 and start of Day 4. At apx 08:00 the X75 bus (en route to Aberystwyth) will pass by – be sure to hail it down at this bus stop area.
Please note you are not able to access the exact location of the Day 3 CP7 Aid Station as it is private land. You can re-gain the DBR route via exiting the town via Forge Road and a golf course area here, instead of the CP7 Aid Station location.
Once back on the DBR route, follow its course back to the end of Day 3 Finish and back to the Dyffryn Castell parking area.
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 4
Day 4 START – CP6 Aid Station/Elan Village
40km/1060m (including return to Rhayader)
Bus Option (Monday – Saturday)
Park in the Dark Lane Long Stay Car Park in Rhayader. This car park is very handy for the bus stop there. Catch the 09:35 X47 bus north to Llangurig Black Lion (arrives 09:49). Change buses to the X75 from Llangurig Black Lion (departs 09:56) and ask to get off at the Dyffryn Castell stop (which is the site of an old hotel/pub) very near to the entrance of the Day 3 Finish Camp/Day 4 START.
Now you are at Day 4 START, follow the DBR route to CP6 Aid Station in Elan Village. Once arrived into Elan Village you may be able to access the Elan Valley Visitor Centre for refreshments/toilets (if it’s open). Options from Elan Village to gain access back to Rhayader are either use an excellent cycle track to run 5km to the town, hitch a lift if you feel so inclined or choose to pre-book a taxi to collect you from Elan Village and return to Rhayader. Try Simon Price Cars (S P Cars) or others.
Day 4 CP6 Aid Station – CP8 Drygarn Fawr – towards CP10 Water Point
35km/1300m ascent (variable – depending on your ‘turn around’ point)
Car Option
Free parking is available at Caban Coch Car Park near the Elan Valley Visitor Centre.
Depending on how much time/energy you have, you can choose to extend the recce route as far towards CP10 Water Point as you want, but remember the distance of returning to Elan Village!
There are limited options to access public transport for the next section of Day 4 (a lot of which is on road towards the end of the route), so recce options for Day 4 sometimes fall back on dropping cars with other runners or using local taxi services.
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 5 (and into Day 6)
Day 5 CP1 near Llandovery – CP9 Underpass A470/Storey Arms
37km/2030m ascent (not including descent to Brecon)
Parking available in a number of Brecon town centre car parks. Access the main bus interchange in the town centre and find Stand 5 for the X80 service. Catch the 07:03 bus to Llandovery (an early bus is good for this long day in the hills!), arriving into Llandovery at 07:45. Pick up the DBR route as it passes through Llandovery and onwards towards the hills of Day 5.
This recce section descends to the main A470 road at Storey Arms (below Pen y Fan) and you can access the underpass (CP9) to gain the other side of the A470. Use the valley-based Taff Trail route to descend back to Brecon (apx 12km) – good distance training, even if not the DBR route itself.
Or, there are T4 buses to Brecon from opposite the Storey Arms Outdoor Education Centre (every hour Mon – Sat). Save the ascent of Pen y Fan for another recce day…
X80 Bus Timetable »
T4 Timetable »
Day 5 CP10 Water Point – Day 5 FINISH – Day 6 START
32km/1230m ascent (including descent to Talybont-on-Usk)
Bus Option (Sunday)
Park at the Henderson Hall/Village Hub public car park in Talybont-on-Usk. Walk for a few minutes back towards the centre of the village and the White Hart Inn and bus stop opposite the pub. Catch the 10:20 X43 bus towards Brecon (arrives to Brecon Bus Interchange 4 at 10:41).
Descend to Day 5 FINISH – this will be a dark descent for many in the race. Note where the Finish of Day 5 is, but carry on via start of Day 6 to climb the first ascent of Day 6, arriving at the first key junction at Pen Rhiw-calch. If you have time/energy you could carry on along Day 6 route for a little longer, but return back to Pen Rhiw-calch to access easy forest trails to descend north to Talybont-on-Usk (emerging on to the Taff Trail) and back to the village (apx 6km).
Dragon’s Back Race – Day 6 (and end of Day 5)
Day 5 CP10 Water Point – Day 5 FINISH – Day 6 CP1 + Merthyr Tydfil
37km/1400m ascent
There are numerous parking options in Merthyr Tydfil – various local council options are here. From the central Merthyr Tydfil Bus Station, find Stand 2 for the T4 bus northwards (towards Newtown). Depart on the 08:04 bus and alight at the ‘Storey Arms’ bus stop on the A470 beneath Pen y Fan (arrives apx 08:23). Pick up the Day 5 DBR route as it passes under the busy A470 using an underpass and continue to the foot of Pen y Fan (CP10 Water Point) before ascending the final section of hills of Day 5.
Descend to Day 5 FINISH – this will be a dark descent for many in the race. Note where the Finish of Day 5 is, but carry on via start of Day 6 to climb the first ascent of Day 6 and onwards, south towards Merthyr Tydfil.
This recce section will give good training on both hilly ground as well as the flatter cycle path tarmac of the ‘Taff Trail’ into Merthyr Tydfil. Taking time to recce around the urban environment can be useful… sometimes following the route through Merthyr Tydfil is more complex than navigating in the mountains!
Day 6 CP2 – Day 6 FINISH
44km/920m ascent
Numerous parking options in central Cardiff. Try North Road Pay and Display Car Park as an option – other options via Cardiff Council here. Access Cathays train station (NE of Bute Park/Cardiff Castle) and use a 09:08 train northwards to Merthyr Tydfil (arrives 10:05).
Pick up the DBR route as it weaves through Merthyr Tydfil. Taking time to recce around the urban environment can be useful… sometimes following the route through Merthyr Tydfil is more complex than navigating in the mountains! Follow the DBR route as it progresses south towards Cardiff, and into Bute Park for the final kms to the Castle… feel excited! The end of the DBR route is apx 15 mins walk away from Cathays train station – and 380km away from Conwy Castle…
What next?
Inspired? We hope so! You can find out more about RAW’s Dragon’s Back Recce events – we’d love to have you along. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
I really don’t think I would have achieved it this time round without your support, knowledge and constant positivity. RAW have given me so much confidence, especially given the crazy weather we’ve had for training over the last year. Please pass on my thanks to all of your team!
Samantha
October 2023
Thank you for all the recce days we have had since last May. It has been an amazing experience for us and we have learnt so much – not just about the route, but also about race preparation. Kate, you make everything feel calm and achievable and always keen to share DBR knowledge.
Lew-Chin
July 2024
Such a great bunch of people. Very friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and helpful. Catered extremely well with keeping whole group together. Always made sure that key messages were heard by the whole group. Excellent explanation of technical skills and route planning. Totally recommended.
Steven
April 2025
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