Pen Llyn Ultra Road Book 2 nd Edition 29 th of July 2017 Well done and thank you for being part of the second edition of the Pen Llyn Ultra Marathon 2017! It s not long now until you begin this 75mile coastal hugging Ultra, for some you may be out for near on the full 24hours and others who knows will you be close to or even beat Gwyn Owens first place time of 15 hours and 32 minutes. Whatever your time all off the team at Pen Llyn Ultra hope you have a fantastic time. The Welsh Coastal Path takes you round most of the course, with you only hitting a chunk of tarmac on the last quarter of the course. We suggest you read this Road Book and Keep it with you throughout the race, it contains important information that you may need to refer to in between checkpoints. Take Pleasure in your adventure, enjoy it. we ll see you at the finish line for a glass of wine and some warm food!
29/07/17 05.00am Start Prompt 75 miles in 24 hours. Distance to first Checkpoint 9.15 Miles Start line at Plas Heli to Check point 1 Abersoch Beach Cafe 3 hours 15 Min Max Cut Off Checkpoint Closes 08:15am Total Ascent of this section 719ft
Shortly after the first mile you will be running on a gravel path towards Pwllheli Golf Course with the beach on your left Mile 4 sees you crossing farmers fields along the side of quarry beach. The fields may have cows in them so please be respectful and have your wits about you in case there is an over friendly bull! Shortly after the fields you will follow the steps down onto the quarry beach and run along it until you go around to the houses on the headland until you start your first ascent of the day up to the Tin Man and first Honesty Book. (take a page out of the Honesty Book and hand it in when you get to checkpoint 1, You will have 2 hours added to your time if you forget to do so!)
When you come off the headland at Mile 7 and on to the Warren Beach, you will have the Holiday homes of the rich and famous on your right and the sea on you left, along the beach and just after mile 8 there is a path leading to the road into the sea side village of Abersoch As you go down the hill you will pass the Coconut Kitchen Restaurant on you right, carry on into Abersoch and take the beach path of called LON TRAETH towards the beach, Now the Gate will most probably be locked that leads down to the beach, So just climb over it! Once on the Beach you will have a short run towards Checkpoint 1 on the Slip Way at Abersoch Beach Café. There will be drinks and Snacks here. There are also toilets. Well done you have made it to checkpoint 1. Please fill you water bottles up and I would strongly suggest just a quick hi and bye here as the next section is the most technical of the course! Checkpoint 2 Rhiw Car Park - Segment distance12.7 Miles Total 21.8 Miles Checkpoint Closes 11:50am Total Ascent 1417Ft Total Descent 1227Ft
Up from the first checkpoint you carry on the path along the Abersoch Golf Path and on to the coastal path with the Tydwal Islands to your left (One of which belongs to Bear Grylls!) Along the headland here you will pass the famous Wild Welsh horses of Cilan, like all livestock please be respectful and slow down if near by Mile 16 will see you descend round the headland towards Hells mouth beach. Carry on until you come to a path on your right leading up to the beach car park
Follow the road to the left. IMPORTANT This is a critical part of the course so please have your wits about you! Once you get on to the road follow it to you enter a field between to farms. Please close the gate to stop the Cows going out. That s right there is a high possibility that there will be cows in these next few fields so please be aware whilst crossing through them. As you enter the fields there is a river on your right and in the distance, you will see a red bricked building. Once you get to the Red Bricked Building you will see 2 gates leading onto a field. Follow the field to the white marker and then follow the markers in the fields towards the Rhiw road. Checkpoint 3 Aberdaron Segment distance 6.7 Miles Total 28.5 Miles Checkpoint Closes 13:00pm Total Ascent 889Ft Total Descent 1030Ft
On leaving the Checkpoint in Rhiw cross the field to the left of the road into the wooded area. There is a short steep climb on leaving the woods take a breath at the top and admire the view!
The path follows the coast round until a couple of fields that are marked by the White Coastal path posts, this takes you onto the road into Aberdaron, hang a left once arriving onto the road and into Aberdaron. There are Public toilets are at the National Trust Carpark just over the Bridge. Run up to your left where you will find check point. Its time to have a snack and fill your water up as its 12.4Miles of undulated path until the next checkpoint. You will also be running around the Horn of llyn onto the North side of the peninsular and if it s clear you will be able to look across the Irish sea and see Ireland Checkpoint 4 Porth Colmon Segment Distance 12.49Miles Total 40.9 Miles (You are over half way! Well done!) Checkpoint Closes 18:30pm Total Ascent 1948Ft Total Descent 2001Ft
The first part of this section will take you up and down into secluded coves where Welsh pirates used to haul in their treasure.
As you round the course toward the ascent towards Uwchmynydd follow the White Coastal path Posts towards the top. You will have an honesty book and a mermaid station at the National Trust Weather Station (White Building near Car Park). At Whistling sands beach there is also Public toilets and another Mermaid station, as you run past here just listen for the sand to whistle you luck! A very undulating section of the course with some fantastic views. Checkpoint 5 Ty Coch Segment distance 9.9Miles Total 50.8Miles Checkpoint Closes 21:30 Total Ascent 639ft Total Descent 646ft
This Segment of the course is the Welsh Coastal Path at its best. Undulating with spectacular views As you approach the Nefyn Golf club keep to your Left and head towards the Coast Guard Station on the Trwyn of Porth Dinllaen. This is where you will find the final honesty book, so once again rip out a page and hand it in when you get to the checkpoint at Ty Coch
Take the path along the shore towards the music and cheers of Checkpoint 5 the World Famous Ty Coch pub! A few of the runners had a quick pint of Gunnies here in 2016! Public toilets to the left of the Pub For friends and family coming to cheer you on we would suggest that they park at the Nefyn Golf Club and walk down. Checkpoint 6 Nant Gwythain Top Car Park Segment distance 8.2Miles Total 58.1Miles Check Point Closes 00:30am Total Ascent 1831Ft Total Descent 843Ft
As you leave Ty Coch please make sure you know where you have your head torch. Your Safety is paramount during the Pen Llyn Ultra and at 21:00 all head torches must be switched on. It may not be completely dark however you may be fatigued plus we want any oncoming traffic to be able to see you. Instant disqualification if head torch is not on for 21:00. The course takes you briefly though Nefyn and then onto the side of Gwylfa heading for Nant Gwrtheyrn.
Once again White posts with be markers as you cross a few fields during this section You will have a short climb before entering the start of the climb from Nant Gwytheyrn along the tarmac road towards the Checkpoint. Dig in as this is your last true ascent of the Pen llyn Ultra Hot drinks and food will welcome you as you arrive at CP6. This is also a popular choice for Bag Drops for a shoe change to road shoe as there the last sections are mainly tarmac until the home straight along the beach Checkpoint 7 Cae Corn Mawr Segment distance 5.5Miles Total Miles 63.7Miles Checkpoint Closes 01:55am Total Ascent 118Ft Total Descent 879Ft
Fed and watered you will head out of the Car Park and along the road towards Llithfaen (There is a cross roads here so please be vigilant when crossing over) Descending towards the second lot of cross roads of this segment, you will go straight over with the School Ysgol Pentreuchaf on your Left. Carry on towards Llannor and take the left past the church and up the hill. You will run along the road until you see a big white sign pointing towards CP7. CP7 is the Kitchen in my farm house where there will be a bowl of traditional lobscows and some warm drinks. Checkpoint 8 Old Butlins Road Segment distance 6.5Miles
Total 70.1Miles Checkpoint Closes 03:45am Total Ascent 449Ft Total Descent 528Ft
Leaving CP7 you follow the lane down toward a 30 sign. Take a left just before the 30 sign otherwise you will go off course completely! This lane will take you up and past Denio Cemetery (For a lot of you it will be dark by now so we suggest you run as fast as you can as its said to be haunted! The lane will take you to a junction leading onto the main road (You Cross it and go up to your right along the foot path then the road to your right with the houses) Nice downhill bit here taking you into Aberech. Once you cross the little bridge over the Aberech river you bang a left up the road and past the on your left housing estate. There will be a Marshal at the junction (Just after mile 5 on this section) to point you in the right direction but please familiarize yourself with this part of the course as it will be dark when most of you get here. The final checkpoint before the final push will welcome you with snacks and drinks whilst you get ready for the run in home! Finish Line Pen Llyn Ultramarathon Segment distance 4.3Miles Total 75Miles Closes 05:00am Total Ascent 118Ft Total Descent 75ft
You will cross the road at the bus stop opposite the entrance to the Penychain Train Station. Please have your wits about you as this is the last main road you cross With the farmers house on your right take the path down on your left towards the beach. Do not go through the second gate follow the path round. Sign posts and glow in the dark sticks will lead you onto the beach and in the distance you will see the lights of Plas Heli and the Finish of the Pen Llyn Ultra marathon. Plas Heli has showers and at the Race Hub you will be able to have a free glass of wine before picking up your Drop Bag.
Prize Giving will be at the Penlan Fawr Pub at 14:30pm on the Sunday. They do a fantastic cavery, but get there early as it is very popular. Running Legend Colin Donnelly will be handing out the prizes and we have a few surprises to tell you about as well. After the Prize giving there is a Welsh Band playing for you to celebrate taking part in the Pen llyn Ultra Marathon. On behalf of myself and Dan we hope you have a fantastic time during and after the race. Hwyl! Lets go for it!