Dragon's Back Race: The Spine of Wales
The Dragon's Back Race is a legendary multi-stage mountain ultra — ~315 km over 5 days along the entire spine of Wales from Conwy Castle in the north to Cardiff Castle in the south, with ~16,000 m of cumulative ascent over the Welsh mountains.
First run in 1992 and revived in 2012, it is one of the hardest mountain ultras in Europe and a test of multi-day endurance, navigation and mountain self-sufficiency.
Date verification: Dates for the next edition have not yet been officially announced. The Dragon's Back Race is traditionally held in September — check the official website for confirmed dates.
Distance categories: ~315 km over 5 days · ~16,000 m ascent
Elevation gain: ~16,000 m cumulative
Entry: Entry via the official website with evidence of mountain ultra experience. The race is self-supported between checkpoints with mandatory kit. See the official website for current entry rules.
The Course
The race traverses the Welsh mountains over five consecutive days, each day a self-supported mountain stage with checkpoints. The terrain includes the Carneddau, Snowdonia, the Rhinogs, Cadair Idris, the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains.
Mandatory kit includes full waterproofs, map, compass and survival gear. Entry requires evidence of prior mountain ultra experience.
Frequently asked questions
- How far is the Dragon's Back Race? Approximately 315 km over 5 days along the spine of Wales, with about 16,000 m of cumulative ascent, from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle.
- When is the Dragon's Back Race? Traditionally held in September. Dates for the next edition have not yet been officially announced — check the official website.
- How do I enter the Dragon's Back Race? Entry via the official website with evidence of mountain ultra experience. The race is self-supported between checkpoints with mandatory kit.
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