Machlud Sunset Trail Half Marathon

Machlud is a half marathon distance trail race starting and finishing at the village school in Cilcain, in the Clwydian Hills of North Wales. The route meanders above the Vale of Clwyd on quiet tracks and hill paths before climbing onto the Offa's Dyke footpath, which carries runners up onto the slopes of Foel Fenlli and finally to the summit of Moel Famau, North Wales's most iconic hill. Covering 13.1 miles with around 2,500 feet of ascent, the course is entirely off-road, mixing farm tracks, hill paths and open moorland. Rather than a mass start, runners set off individually in a staggered format calculated from their recent race times, so that everyone reaches the summit together during the golden hour of sunset, before descending by head torch on a reflective-arrow-marked trail. Snack and drink stations line the route, with homemade cakes and beer waiting at the finish.