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 The South Wales Traverse                                   South Wales

Originally known as the Brecon Beacons Traverse, this 24-hour challenge involves covering 72 miles and ascending some 17000 feet.  It was launched in 1984 having been completed by Derek Fisher and Andy Lewsley the year before in 21-24.
It traverses 31 summits in the Carmathen Fan, Fforest Fawr, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains areas and may be completed in either direction.  The mountains selected are from the 2000 foot summit tables compiled by George Bridge in his book - The Mountains of England and Wales, 1973.  A dedicated website was launched in 2020 to provide a comprehensive guide to the route - see link below.

Route                                                                                             

 

The object is to visit the 31 twothousand foot summits listed above. 'The start in the West of the SWT is the eastern side of the road where the A4069  meets the car park at Pen Rhiw-wen at GR SN730184. The finish in the East is the wall  that divides the parking areas to the south of the Priory at GR SO 289278.  Use Explorer maps (1:25000)  EX012 Brecon Beacons: West and Centre and EX013 Brecon Beacons: East.

Schedule                                                                                      

A selection of schedules is included on the SWT website - see link below.

 

Completions log and contact                                                     

 

The route is generally completed in a West to East direction, but can be completed the opposite way.  If you complete the route in less than 24 hours you will be added to the Completions Log. Contact Paul Colley-Davies email: pcd@southwalestraverse.co.uk . 

If you are aware of a sub-24 hour completion by anyone who is not on the list, please put them in touch with Paul.  Send Paul a GPX track, with age and sex to support your record or a schedule and a witness list for summits. Consideration is being given for longer completion lists outside of 24hrs to be published on the South Wales Traverse website and Facebook Group.

 

Why not share your experience on facebook to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go!

 


Links and Further Information                                                      

Everything you need to know about the SWT - history, route, accounts, schedules and completions log

 

News, photos and discussion

 

 

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Andy's  Southern Fells

Assynt Traverse
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Bob  Baxter  Traverse
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Dragon’s Tongue
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Etive Munros Round

Freeman Round

George Fischer Tea Round
Glen Lyon Corbett Round
Great North Inns Run
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John Fleetwood Lakes 40

John Fleetwood Lakes Routes

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John Fleetwood Welsh Round

Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge

Knoydart 7
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Leventon’s Line
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No Cure Always Hope
Over The Hill Round
Paddy Buckley Round

Peak Traverses & Rounds

Pikes of the Lakes

Rigby Round - Cairngorms

Run the Line - Dales

Ring of Fire - Galloway

Saddleworth 10 Trigs
Scottish 4000’s
Six County Tops - Peak
Snowdonia Skyline
Snowdon to Pumlumon

South Pennine 39 Trigs
South Wales Traverse

Steve Parr Round

Tan Hill to Kirkstone Pass Inn
Tranter’s Round

Tyndrum Round
Upper Calder 13 Trigs
Wainwright 7 Summits

Wainwrights 30@30

Wicklow  Round
Yorkshire Round
Yorkshire 2000’s

 

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Links & Articles

Sub-ultras (under 50 km)

COMPLETIONS

Where there is a recorder please contact them to log your completion. In addition, or if there isn't a recorder, you are invited to share your experience on the gofar facebook page to encourage and inspire other runners to have a go!

SAFETY WARNING

 

All the routes on this site require proven mountain running experience. You undertake them entirely at your own risk. Please take full mountain safety precautions at all times.  Always ensure you carry sufficient clothing, food and equipment to cope with dramatic changes in the weather conditions!  Appropriate insurance cover is recommended.

HAVE A GO!

The object of this website is to provide a single, ready source of information on the ultra-distance mountain challenges which have been developed over the past four or more decades. It now offers a diverse range of long and "short", old and recent, formal and informal routes from around the UK to encourage runners of all ages and abilities to have a go, subject to proven mountain experience in all conditions.

FRA LONG DISTANCE

RECORDS and NEWS

 

Please send details of any record-breaking runs and the like to Martin Stone who maintains records on behalf of the Fell Runners Association. Email:  martin.stone@sportident.co.uk

Please also refer to the guidelines and definitions in the FRA Handbook.

HELP WANTED

If you can improve on the accuracy of this resource, spot any errors in grid references, names, heights, spelling or punctuation, or find a link which does not work please email Tony Wimbush.: gofar99@gmail.com

Similarly, if you wish to submit any new (or old) routes for inclusion see the contact page for the information and format that is required:. 

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