Dolgoch and Tynllwynhen Challenge

The Dolgoch Challenge is 5.5 miles

The Tyllwynhen Challenge is 3.5 miles

The minimum age for the Dolgoch Challenge is 10 and the Tynllwynhen is 9 on race day

The Dolgoch Challenge starts at Dolgoch which is approximately 51/2 miles from Tywyn.

Runners are conveyed to the start by either the Talyllyn Train or by coach as the entry for these races exceeds the capacity of the trains. We will try to get runners onto the train with their friends and family. You disembark from the train at Dolgoch Station and walk down about 1/3 mile to the start marshals will be on hand to guide you. You will find clothes collection and toilets available here. The actual start whilst marshalled is started by the train’s whistle and you will be instructed at the start about this procedure. The initial mile of the course heads towards Tywyn across the fields and rough pasture with the railway higher up the hillside on your left side, it joins a short farm track before climbing gently over fields crossing the railway via a bridge to join a farm road before descending to Brynglas where the first water / refreshment point will be found. The station at Brynglas which is now on your right side is within a few yards of the course at this point. Proceeding up a track, through farm buildings, back on to rough grazing land the course now descends slightly to run very close to the railway before ascending steeply away from the railway. Climbing steeply up the field the track crosses another flat field to pass between an old farmhouse and it’s outbuildings. This is a private house and only opened for the race and the owners man a water point here. (The public footpath climbs further up the hill to skirt the house).

This is also the start for the Tyllwynhen Challenge.

Now the route climbs slightly on an un-metalled road with bare rock in places before descending, and runs through a small ford before turning on to a normal lane. Descending on this small tarmacadam lane for 1/3 mile once again the course returns to run over farmland and farm tracks for over a mile. You are now running close to the railway with just a hedge separating you from the train. Once again you cross the railway via a bridge to run through farm buildings down the farm road to join the public road for about  a mile and a half back to the finish field in Tywyne