Ras y Gader, the Cader Idris mountain race, is one of the toughest fell races in Wales, and viewed by many as one of the classic “must do” races in the calendar.
The event starts and finishes in the market town of Dolgellau, at sea level, and climbs almost 3000ft to the summit of Pen y Gader itself.

One of the real challenges of the race is the constantly changing terrain, switching from steep metalled roads to flat tracks behind Gwernan lake, pitched steps up the Pony Path, and picking your way among the boulder fields on the final ascent… and then you’ve got to do it all in reverse! the key to success is avoiding cramp with the changing surfaces and gradients on the way back to town.

The atmosphere at the finish line, for those who successfully complete the course, with cheering crowds will long remain in the memory.

Text from cader-race.co.uk