Trail Running Camp

Accommodation

• 2 nights' accommodation in a cottage on the edge of Snowdonia National Park

The cottage is situated in the Conwy Valley with great access to some of the finest trails in North Wales. 

Guided by Tim Higginbottom

International Fell and Trail Runner

Tim is a lifelong mountain adventurer and racer, gaining National honours in 4 separate disciplines. He’s a UKA Fell and Trail coach and has gained the prestigious Mountaineering Instructor Award. He also coaches orienteering and has run navigation training for the Welsh Fell Running Association.

By day, Tim is a secondary school teacher and loves nothing more than sharing his passion for the amazing trails and hills around his home in North East Wales. Over the years he has set many course records in fell, trail and ultra running, held the record for the Paddy Buckley Round for 10 years, and is current Welsh Orienteering Champion.

He has raced successfully in various disciplines around the world and is now trying to pass on his love of the mountains to his 2 young children with the help of his wife, Jenny.

Single room supplement

If you would prefer your own room this can usually be accommodated, though an extra charge would apply.

Twin rooms

The luxurious bedrooms are shared with no more than 2 same-gender people.

Locally-sourced food

Accommodation and catering partners have been carefully selected based on their commitment to sourcing local produce, organically produced wherever possible.

Kit list

• Long sleeved running top / t-shirt
• Thin fleece or mid-layer
• Shorts / running tights
• Hat / buff
• Gloves
• Windproof jacket
• Hooded waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Warm layers for the evenings
• Trail running shoes – for a mix of short road sections and hard packed trail, with some sections of softer ground. Fell running shoes would be overkill but useable. Road shoes are not suitable.
• Head torch – useable, lightweight for running for at least 2 hours
• Rucksack / bumbag – to carry spare clothes, snacks and water while running
• Water bottle
• Dry bag – for inside your rucksack / bum bag
• Personal first aid kit
• Sun hat and cream
• Yoga mat (optional – there will be some available to use)
• Slippers / indoor shoes to wear in the house
• Towel

Season

• Jan
• Feb
• Mar
• Apr
• May
• Jun
• Jul
• Aug
• Sep
• Oct
• Nov
• Dec

Meeting point

Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Llanrwst
Clwyd
LL26
UK

Getting there

By air

The closest international airports to Llanrwst are Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport.

It is approximately a 1 hour 30 minute taxi transfer from either airport to Llanrwst or alternatively travel by rail to Llandudno Junction and follow the By Rail instructions below.

By rail

The closest train station to Llanrwst is Llanrwst Station.

From Llanrwst Station, it is a 12 minute taxi transfer to the cottage.

By road

Llanrwst is located less than an hour from the M6, M56 and M54 motorways. Free parking is available on site for the duration of your stay.

Itinerary

• Day 1 | Arrive and night run

  Arrive at the cottage in Llanrwst, North Wales. Set in the beautiful rolling hillsides of Snowdonia national park, your accommodation is a stunning detached Welsh long cottage, with the original part of the cottage dating back some 300 years. The bedrooms are beautifully furnished to make your stay lovely and comfortable.

  Get your running kit and head torch on, it's time for a night run to get everyone warmed up for a weekend of trail running. It will be a gentle run and you'll be out for around an hour. Just enough to experience running under a starry night sky, far from any light pollution, and get to know Tim and your fellow runners.

  Back at the cottage you'll have hot showers and a hearty wholesome dinner waiting for you. Freshen up, tuck in and get a good nights sleep.

• Day 2 | Guided trail run session and yoga

  Enjoy breakfast in the dining room, where Tim Higginbottom will give a briefing on the plan for today. 

  Head out into the beautiful Gwydir Forest for a longer trail run. Guided by Tim, you'll explore a stunning part of Snowdonia National Park. During the run Tim will be able to observe your technique, offering tips to help you get the most output from your effort.

  The trail running camp is about enjoying great trails and great company whilst learning from experts. So there's no need to worry about the pace, we'll only go as fast as the slowest person. As long as you're comfortable running for around 2 hours, at whatever pace, you'll be fine.

  Gather back at the hall for a wholesome lunch and a debrief on this morning's run by Tim Higginbottom.

  Top tips with Tim

  This afternoon Tim will run a training and technique workshop, aimed at helping you to identify specific areas to work on to improve your performance. Together with his tips on how to create an effective training plan, you'll be set for a successful summer of trail running.

  Time to stretch

  Our yoga teacher, Kirsty Martuccio, will join us this afternoon too. As well as the mindful movement and flexibility associated with yoga, her workshop will focus on connecting your breath to movement. As runners we often focus on the physical side of running, but improving your breathing technique can bring great benefits in performance too.

  Kirsty has developed a yoga flow specifically designed to establish that connection between your breath and your movement. Enabling you to run more relaxed, and therefore for longer.

  Enjoy an evening meal

  After a full day of trail running and workshops, kick back and relax. Dinner will be a hearty affair to make sure you're fully refueled. Then you can enjoy curling up in front of the fire for a natter with your new friends.

• Day 3 | Early morning trail run

  Morning run

  Embrace the new day with an early morning trail run. Freshly loaded up with knowledge from yesterday's workshops, you'll be ready to start putting our professionals' advice into practice.

  The run will be a similar length to yesterday, so expect to be out in the hills of Snowdonia for around 2 hours. As before the emphasis is on enjoyment, not pace, and you can begin to experiment with the tips you've been given.

  Today your run will include running through another beautiful part of the Snowdonia National Park - a pretty epic way to conclude your running weekend!

  Breakfast and home!

  Back at the cottage there will be a breakfast feast awaiting you! Bacon butties devoured, all that's left to do is pack up your things and say a fond farewell to your new trail running buddies.

  
  

Included

• Short night trail run to get your weekend started
• 2 longer trail runs, guided by Tim Higginbottom
• Training and technique workshops to improve your performance
• Yoga workshop focused on connecting your breath to movement
• Opportunity for 1-2-1’s with both experts for personalised support
• 2 nights in a luxurious cottage on the edge of Snowdonia National Park
• Voluntary trail clean in association with Trash Free Trails
• All the delicious home-cooked locally-sourced meals you need to stay fuelled up
• 1 native tree planted in the woodland

Caring for the world as you do

This adventure supports local, independent businesses. Local guides are always used – people who will give you a more authentic experience and share the hidden secrets only local adventurers can bring. And because this is their home, they have a truly active interest in caring for their environment.

The carbon footprint of all trips is measured and reduced to be as low as possible. Any carbon that is yet to be mitigated is off-set through a local tree planting project. One tree exceeds what is needed to offset the emissions of your low carbon adventure holiday.

Here is a summary of the Sustainability Policy:

Economic responsibility

• Keeping it local

  Working exclusively with local, independently-owned businesses to ensure your money goes straight into the communities that you're visiting.

• Fair pay for quality service

  Treating partners fairly for the high standards of service they deliver to you, whilst still ensuring value for money.

• Supporting local producers

  Local, independent shops, accommodation, bars and eateries are used and encouraged.

Environmental responsibility

• Low carbon travel

  Ensuring the carbon footprint of this adventure is offset by planting native broadleaf trees, including oak, ash and birch.

  Responsibility is taken for ensuring the carbon footprint of your travel is offset. By working with the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, the unavoidable carbon emissions created by travel are offset, but also new, biodiverse woodland areas within the UK are created that will benefit both the planet and the community. Planting native broadleaf trees, including oak, ash and birch, is helping to increase the available natural habitat for the UK’s native wildlife. Species such as bullfinches, beavers, the brimstone butterfly and many more are all benefitting from this.

• Avoiding single-use plastics

  Reusable aluminium bottles are provided on arrival at your accommodation and packed lunches use more sustainable wrapping such as paper bags or wax paper wrap.

• Locally sourced food

  Accommodation and catering partners have been carefully selected based on their commitment to sourcing local produce, organically produced wherever possible.

• Blue Flag Award

  Partnering with one of the first boat tour operators in the UK to be awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Sustainable Boat Tour Operator status.

Social responsibility

• Small group tours

  The primary concern with tourism in the UK’s wild spaces is to ensure it only has a positive impact on the local communities and culture so for this reason small group trips never exceed 15 guests.

• Live like a local

  Learning the history and culture of a region plays a big role in your travelling experience – it’s what brings a place to life.

• Read the landscape

  The historical significance of the area is brought to life by the local guides who help you understand the features of the landscape.

• Learn the language

  Keeping local languages alive is sacred, so you’re encouraged to learn simple words and phrases during your time on the adventure.

• Understanding farming culture

  Respecting the countryside code and understanding farming practices are important for visitors to the area.

Adventure promise

Making travel better for everyone

The Adventure Promise is simple and honest. It’s the commitment that this challenge will always do right by you, local communities and the world we live in:

• Payment Instalments
• Flexible Booking
• Low Carbon
• Low Impact
• Support Local
• All Abilities
• Covid Secure

Costs