THE devil is in the detail, as the saying goes, and in terms of a gruelling endurance race being held in Powys next month, that detail is nearly 5,000 feet of ascent and descent.

A busy year of wacky and wonderful outdoor activities in Llanwrtyd Wells continues with the challenging Trailhead Get Jerky Devil’s Staircase Ultra Trail Race on Saturday, April 1.

Held for the first time last year, following a delay caused by the pandemic, the endurance race covers around 31 miles with a total ascent and descent of about 4,700ft.

Most of the race, designed to test endurance and stamina, is off road with some short road sections, including the hellishly steep 25 per cent ascent of the iconic Devil's Staircase.

Starting and finishing at the Neuadd Arms in the centre of Llanwrtyd, famed for being the smallest town in Britain, the race route combines a mixture of road, forest tracks, bogland, farmland and river crossings.

Local landmarks along the route include St David's Church which dates back to the 13th century, an old drovers road to the Abergwesyn Valley, Soar y Mynydd Church, built in around 1822 and claimed to be the remotest chapel in Wales, the Llyn Brianne Dam and of course the Devil's Staircase.

County Times: The Trailhead Get Jerky Devil’s Staircase Ultra Trail Race is on Saturday, April 1 The Trailhead Get Jerky Devil’s Staircase Ultra Trail Race is on Saturday, April 1 (Image: None)

“This is open to all over the age of 18 and is 31 miles approximately in distance with ascent and descent of 4,686ft,” said Bob Greenough of organisers Green Events.

“It will be tough with both road trail and many other surfaces for runners to deal with. The course passes through some wonderful scenery and local landmarks."

The course will be marshalled and waymarked with water points and two feed stations providing cold and hot drinks, bananas, biscuits and sweets. Waiting at the finish will be Welsh cawl and a vegetarian alternative.

Each runner will receive a unique devil medal and there will be prizes for the first three male and female runners. The entry fee is £45 and commemorative technical t-shirts can be ordered at time of entry for an additional £15.

Runners can enter online until Friday, March 24, but entries will also be accepted on the day.

The race is sponsored by Welshpool-based Get Jerky snacks manufacturer Trailhead Fine Foods.

Thousands of visitors enjoy annual events around Llanwrtyd such as the World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Man versus Horse race, the Real Ale Wobble and Ramble and the World Mountain Bike Chariot Racing Championship.

A new event has been added to the list this year in the shape of the Bogathlon on Saturday, August 26, which replaces the Bog Triathlon. This sprint triathlon is designed to be more fun and accessible to a wider group of athletes.

It starts with a 60-yard bog snorkel followed by a two mile cross country cycle and finishes with a one mile all terrain run which will probably involve water hazards. Athletes start the time trial event at three-minute intervals.

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“The Bogathlon replaces the Bog Triathlon and is mercifully much shorter, providing what could be described as a sprint triathlon,” added Bob.

The other events and dates coming up in Llanwrtyd include:

  • Whole Earth Man v Horse Race (June 10);
  • Drovers Walk (June 24),
  • Cider Cycle (August 12);
  • World Bogsnorkelling Championships (August 2);
  • International Four Day Walking Festival (September 20-23);
  • Ron Skilton Memorial Half Marathon (October 22;
  • Real Ale Wobble (November 18);
  • Real Ale Ramble (November 25);
  • and the Mari Lwyd New Year Walk (December 31).

Green Events is a member of MWT Cymru, an independent organisation representing around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Wales.

For further information, visit https://www.green-events.co.uk/index.php?dstenter.