Ultra Trail UK

Self-navigated running, UK

Dragon's Back Race

Written by Catriona Adams. Published 10 August 2026

The Dragon's Back Race runs the length of Wales — roughly 380km and 16,400m of climbing from Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle, split into six stages with overnight camps. First held in September 1992, it disappeared for 20 years before returning in 2012, and has run in its current six-day format since 2021.

Key points

  • ~380 km (240 miles), ~16,400 m (53,800 ft) of climb, run over 6 stages — Conwy Castle to Cardiff Castle.
  • First held in September 1992, revived in September 2012 after a 20-year gap.
  • Extended from 5 days to 6 in 2021 — course records from before and after that change aren't directly comparable.
  • A multi-stage race with overnight camps, unlike the single continuous push of Eryri by UTMB or the Lakeland 100.

The numbers

Distance~380 km (240 miles)
Elevation gain~16,400 m (53,800 ft)
Format6 stages, overnight camps between each
RouteConwy Castle (North Wales) to Cardiff Castle (South Wales) — Snowdonia, Cadair Idris, Brecon Beacons
First runSeptember 1992
RevivedSeptember 2012, after a 20-year gap
OrganiserUltra X (acquired the race in April 2026 from the administrators of Ourea Events)

A multi-stage race, not a single push

Unlike Eryri by UTMB or the Lakeland 100, the Dragon's Back doesn't ask runners to keep moving without sleep. Six stages with overnight camps between them turn the challenge into cumulative fatigue across days rather than sustained sleep deprivation in one — a different demand on the body, even with more total distance and climb than either of the single-push races.

Current records

CategoryHolderTimeDate
Men (2024, 6-day format)Max King45h 39m 19s2024
Women (2024, 6-day format)Jo Meek63h 30m 11s2024
Fastest overall (5-day format)Marcus Scotney37h 58m 37s2017
Original pairs record (1992)Helene Diamantides & Martin Stone38h 38m 00s1992

The 2017 record was set on the race's previous five-day format — the format changed to six days in 2021, so it isn't a direct comparison with the current course record.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Around 380km (240 miles) with roughly 16,400m of climbing, run in six stages from Conwy Castle in North Wales to Cardiff Castle in South Wales.

Six stages with overnight camps between each — extended from the original five-day format in 2021.

September 1992, organised by Ian Waddell. It wasn't repeated for 20 years, returning in September 2012.

Under the current six-day format, Max King (45h 39m 19s) and Jo Meek (63h 30m 11s) set the fastest times in 2024. Marcus Scotney's 37h 58m 37s from 2017 remains the fastest ever run, but on the older five-day course — the two aren't directly comparable.

Ultra X, which acquired the race in April 2026 from the administrators of its previous organiser, Ourea Events. Existing competitor entries were honoured through the change.

Runners stop each night at a camp rather than continuing without sleep — the challenge is cumulative fatigue across six days rather than sustained sleep deprivation over one. Both are fully organised, unlike a Round.

Sources for this page

Related

UK Ultra-Trail RacesPaddy Buckley RoundThe self-navigated alternative, same Welsh mountains