Merseyside  CTC

Wild Wales Challenge – 2025 Welcome!
 

​Thank you and well done to all those who entered this year's Wild Wales Challenge. 

We hope you all had a great time and are already looking forward

to next year's event, as we are.
 

Wild Wales Challenge Slates
 

For those participants who have

ordered their slates, they have arrived with us and

we are in the process of sending them out. Please contact us if you

have not received your plate within the next two weeks from the 14/09/2025.

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• Where: Bala, starting at the Rugby club LL23 7DZ.

• Start Time: Between 7am and 9 am.

• When: 24th August 2025

• Distance: Approximately 95 Miles and 10,000ft of ascent, with 3 checkpoints or approximately 65 Miles and 7000ft of ascent, with 2 checkpoints.

• Refreshments available at all checkpoints, including sandwiches at the lunch stop.

• *Cost: £40.  This will increase to £45 after the 17th of August until the 22nd of August which is the closing date.

• Camping £10 per night, Parking £5 on the day.

• Further details below.

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Welcome! This year will mark the 41st  edition of this most prestigious cycling event, which features a different route each year, but always set amidst the spectacular scenery of North Wales. The event is NOT a race – but a traditional tourist challenge ride in which riders are invited to complete the course within a generous time allowance. Riders should note that the roads are NOT closed for this event and that they should ride with due care and consideration for other road users.
 

WWC 2025 ROUTE GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

This event is one of cycling’s best kept secrets. For over 40 years it has been traversing the highways and byways of the area around Bala in good weather and bad and still even after all that time we manage to find approximately 10 miles of previously unused roads.

One of the major attractions of this traditional challenge ride is every year is a different route, this year the route is in a generally north westerly direction, out through a myriad of wonderful though hilly lanes arriving at Cerrigydrudion after 18 miles for the first stop. The route continues continues down the Merddwy valley passing near the Conway falls and onto Llanwrst for lunch. Just after lunch the course once again splits into shorter and longer routes. The shorter route takes in some spectacular views of Snowdonia before climbing over Cadair Benllyn to arrive back at Bala after some 65 miles.. The longer route takes in many of the hidden lanes around Llansannan before arriving back at Cerrigydrudion and onto Bala via Cadair Benllyn after approx 95 miles.
 

More detailed route descriptions and GPX files for the long and short routes will be released nearer the event.
 

 

Click here for the WWC History and Expectation
 

The event is open to all riders, whether or not members of Cycling UK. It is organised on behalf of Merseyside CTC and any type of cycle may be ridden, provided it is roadworthy. Low gears are advisable, and special attention should be paid to brakes, wheels and tyres. It is a challenge event, but a reasonably fit rider should experience no difficulty in completing the course within the time allowed. Being set in the glorious North Wales countryside, riders should expect both steep climbs and descents and some non-metallic road surfaces so care is required at all times. The course covers some of the highest and wildest parts of Wales and weather on the day can be as challenging as the event. Please carry sufficient weather gear to get you through the event safely.

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A New Route Every Year!

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The entrance fee of £45 provides 2 routes, each rider will be offered food at the lunch stop and grub at other locations. You will join a select group of just 650 fellow riders tackling the  41st event. Also included in the fee are: Online entry payment, full written route directions, gpx route files and electronic tag for timing and safety. There are light refreshments at the start and finish, changing rooms and showers at the event HQ and a commemorative engraved Welsh slate plaque to all finishers.

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For club riders there is the Harold Kewish Memorial Trophy. Traditionally awarded to the club with the most finishers on the long course. In a break with tradition this year we are to include finishers on the short course too.  In order to acknowledge the differences between the two routes a calculation will determine the successful club. It will consist of Course length * number of successful riders totalled for each club, so ensure you insert your clubs name in the correct format on the entry form.
 

This change allows all riders to participate in the opportunity to collect the events only trophy and more importantly allows a rider contribute even when selecting the short route on the day.

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Once again, this year there will be two routes; a long course of approx 95 miles and 10,000ft of ascent and a shorter course of approx 65 miles and 7000ft of ascent. 

Younger riders, those under 18 are encouraged and most welcome on the event, but please note there are differing Parental guideline requirements – please see entry page for details

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As in previous years there will be a 650 rider limit.
 

 

Entry have closed

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