We have been blessed with some truly glorious weather over the last week or so, I can only hope you have been able to get out & enjoy it as much as I have.

On Friday I ran out my front door, up to the Coed y Brenin centre & then set off around their Gold Rush Trail. This promised over 8.5 miles & more than 400 metres of ascent, it proved to be my favourite of the 3 new trails I have now tried out. It felt more remote than the others with a high proportion of single width forest paths with technical ascents & descents which felt safe but demanded attention. My local knowledge worked against me at the halfway point as I missed a marker in my presumption that I’d be running up to the Gold Mines, adding an extra 2 miles or so but in fine sunshine that was more of a blessing than anything else.

A fine switchback descent near the end was a highlight & I’ll confess to being a little relieved that the return to the centre was not via the Half Marathon routes infamous hill.

Returning home called in at Bill’s (my neighbor) for a couple of coffees before fumbling the last 500 metres home in the dark (no headtorch doh!). With over 14 miles covered this was one enjoyable afternoon.

Another great route thanks Matt.