RELAY Individual Legs are detailed here.
The route is a linear route from Ross-on-Wye to Chepstow. It's easy to follow as it's all on well marked and easy to navigate paths and national trails. We do not back up these national signs with any of our own - we recommend a recce of your leg.
We provide these maps to give an indication of length, direction and terrain - they really are not accurate enough for on-the-day navigation. We suggest you transfer the route to a 1:25000 map to find your way on a recce and print off the detailed route description we provide for each leg. There are many free on-line sources for mapping, one of which is suggested at the bottom of this page.
PLEASE NOTE - these leg description are for the Relay. The start/finish points are different in some cases to the Ultra checkpoint locations.
Leg 1 - 8.3kms, 262m Ross on Wye to Kerne Bridge. This leg runs on the 'Wye Valley Walk' from Ross to Kerne Bridge. The route goes over Chase Wood and then follows part of the 'Howling Bull' race. This is quite a hilly leg but runs on well used paths. We recommend you recce this leg. We will be marking the route through Ross from the start to the bottom of Penyard Park.
Detailed description here.
The map below shows the route through Ross from the start - this will be marked on the day. The map is for recce purposes.
Leg 2 - 9.8km. 117m. Kerne Bridge to Symonds Yat. Following the Wye-Valley Walk. An easy to navigate leg.
Starting just by the bridge on the footpath you run south keeping the Wye on your left. At the Welsh Bicknor works cross over the river on the bridge then keeping the river on your right run south. At Symonds Yat Rock run up the steep path, cross the road, turn first right on a path and ascend steeply to finish by the 'green box' below the Yat top car park.
Detailed Leg 2 description here
Leg 3 - 8.6 kms, 150m
Leg 3 starts below the cafe at the Symonds Yat upper car park (Hollow Rock), further down the path from the 'green box' - this is due to a rockfall in 2023. From the start, descend steeply down the footpath to the Wye and then along it all the way to the Biblins Bridge. Cross the bridge, turn left and keep following the Wye Valley Walk on the north and west of the Wye all the way to Monmouth, cross the bridge over the Wye and turn left before Topstack. The finish will be on the pavement just down here.
Leg 4 - 10.6 kms, 450m
Leg 4 starts on the other side of the road from Topstack in Monmouth - a short distance up the Offas Dyke path (start of Kymin Winter Race). Run up the trail to the Kymin, past the Naval temple, through Redbrook and finish at Bigsweir Bridge SO 539051. Car parking - the exit road from the School next to Topstack has spaces, so does the school/sports centre.
Leg 5 - 5.2 kms, 20m
Leg 5 starts at Bigsweir Bridge and follows Offas Dyke by the river all the way to Brockweir Bridge SO 539011. All competitors should park at Gumbersland Barn and walk down to the start at Bigsweir Bridge (please do not try to park here).
Leg 6 - 7 kms, 275m
Leg 6 starts at Brockweir Bridge and crosses over to the west side of the Wye and follow the Wye Valley Walk to near Wyndcliffe. When you join the road in Tintern run on the pavement on the left hand side until a crossing can be safely made to the pavement on the right. This is a busy road. There is a slight change to the WVW once you leave Tintern - this is shown in red on the map above. The finish will be at the very near the special field car park in 2024.
There is plenty of space in Brockweir for cars up the hill towards McKenzie Hall on the side of the road - please do not clutter the main village - be considerate to residents - the future viability of the event depends on it.
Leg 7 - 4 kms, 160m
Leg 7 will have to change in 2024. We do not have permission to run on The Wye Valley Walk - it's a permissive path not an official right of way. We will probably start as per the map below From here the provisional route is to run across Piercefield Park. The route will go down the side of the racecourse. We are likely to finish now on the sport centre field.
Maps: OS OpenSpace Developer Agreement
The maps on this webpage have been sourced via the OS OpenSpace API, which enables us to display quality Ordnance Survey maps (with optional boundaries) in this web application and overlay our data on them.
These maps are indicative only - you will need to source accurate maps for navigating whilst on the route.
Footpath Maps (https://footpathmaps.com/) are free online Ordnance Survey maps showing UK public footpaths, cycle paths, bridleways and other rights of way; for walking, cycling, and outdoor activities. We suggest you go there yourself and download the relevant part of the route you require and at the scale you need.