Dragon's Back Race
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Dragon's Back Race
The Dragon's Back Race is a multi-stage mountain ultra across Wales held annually in September. The full route covers 380 km over six days with approximately 16,400 m of ascent, travelling from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle along the spine of Wales. From 2026 the event follows a single mandatory route shown on the event map.
The event offers multiple entry formats: the full six-day course, two-day options called Dragon's Fire and Dragon's Tail, and the Hatchling option that allows participants to run part of the route each day. The route is not waymarked on the ground; participants must carry the supplied Harvey Maps and are encouraged to use GPS devices. Six provisional GPX files are provided and final files are sent before the event.
Safety and logistics include at least two manned checkpoints per day, a mid-day support point with access to resupply dry bags and mains drinking water, a charging tent, and overnight camps with catering. Meals at camps are meat and fish free with vegetarian options available. A GPS tracker is issued for race control and public tracking and must be carried each day. Medical teams are present at overnight camps and support points. Outside support is not permitted under event rules. Mandatory kit is checked at random each day and participants should be self-sufficient for navigation and on-course needs. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
