14 June 2025
Offa's Dyke 15 2025
The Offa’s Dyke 15 2025 race is already open for entry!!!
15 miles of the best running trails following the Offa’s Dyke footpath on the Welsh/English border between Hay-on-Wye and Kington.
Mae ras Clawdd Offa 15 2025 eisoes ar agor ar gyfer mynediad!!!
15 milltir o’r llwybrau rhedeg gorau gan ddilyn llwybr troed Clawdd Offa ar y ffin rhwng Cymru a Lloegr rhwng y Gelli Gandryll a Kington.
Photos from the 2024 race are available HERE
Many thanks to Dave Latham for taking them and giving you full access
Event Information/Overview
The History of Offa’s Dyke 15
The race began in 1977, and became hugely popular for its beauty and the challenge, and it ran until 2002 when foot and mouth put a stop to it. In 2015, we tracked down the original race director – David Joyce and with his help we re-launched it, and our aim is to grow this race back to the numbers who took part in the glory days.
If you ran this event in the past please let us know and share any stories or email us copies of any of the results booklets that were produced.
Registration
Enter online by using the red entry button. A race pack with a bib number and timing chip will be posted out to you just before the event. Any entries that come in during the last week will not be posted and the race pack will be available for pick up at registration before the race.
Registration will be outside The Granary Cafe in Hay-On-Wye, directly opposite the Clock Tower, you can get a coffee while you wait for the start! Come and see us if you are a late entry or you forget your number.
If we haven’t reached the race limit there will be entries on the day.
Online entry fee for single entrants – £28 / £30 (UKA affiliated / Non affiliated)
Online entry fee for a Relay Team – £39 (per team – only one entry name required)
Day Entry fee (single entry) – £35 / relay team £44 (only available if the race limit hasn’t been reached)
Offa's Dyke 15 Course
Offa’s Dyke 15
The race starts as is tradition, by the Clock Tower in Hay-on-Wye at 11am. Crossing the Wye the race heads uphill along the B4361 road before turning right and heading through the campsite and up to the village of Bronydd. There is a major road crossing hear and it especially important to listen to the instructions from the marshals. A left turn see’s runners tackle the first major climb of the day, up Bettws Dingle. Crossing various fields and roads the route drops down to the village of Newchurch where a water station and the first cut off is based. The next climb is up Disgwylfa Hill where is very common to have Red Kite flying above you. Another descent takes you down to the second water and cut off station at Gladstry before the final (and largest) climb tackling Hergest Ridge. This will give you an amazing panorama of the surrounding countryside (if the weather is fair). Once at the top there is an epic 2 mile descent downhill to the finish in Kington at the High School.
Relay Option & Cut Off Times
RELAY
In 2023 we added a Relay option which will continue this year. So if you feel you might not be able to make the cut off times, or just want to split the miles then maybe this is for you.
The official handover points will be where the cut offs are – at the 7 mile water station in Newchurch, and at the 10 mile water station in Gladestry. (Parking will be signed)
You can choose if you run as a team of two or three – ie one of you can complete two legs, and the other run one; or you can split it three ways – it’s up to you. You will all have a full entry and everyone will get a medal.
We will ask you to let us know on entry or if you decide to change to the relay option though. You will be responsible for organising your own transport at handover points (that’s all part of the fun) but obviously you can book the coaches at the start and end of the day.
CUT OFF times
There are two cut off points on the 15 mile route.
This is because the course cannot stay open indefinitely (some of the course goes via farmers fields and gates who open them specially for the race). We also want to state and encourage that this race is a running event and not a walking event (although you may be walking up some of the steeper hills!). If you haven’t ever completed a race of this nature before we would either encourage you to make sure you put in the required amount of training, or if you’re not sure, why don’t you come and marshal one year and see if it’s something you think you can tackle.
You need to reach the 7 mile point by 12.30pm and the 10 mile point by approximately 1.15 pm. All runners should be home by 2.30pm.
Anyone reaching these cut off points after these times will be given a lift to the finish.
The 15 mile race starts at 11am in Hay-on-Wye.
The Start - Hay-on-Wye
There are two parking and travel options
Parking is in the Pay and Display car parks – use Oxford Road HR3 5EQ (max five minute walk to the start). This is also where the main big bank of TOILETS are. All toilets cost 30p in Hay-on-Wye so take a supply of coins with you! There are two toilets at the start but that won’t be enough!
You have a couple of travel options given that the race is a point to point course.
Option 1
Park at the start in Hay-on-Wye.
You can then book on the coach we’ve organised to get a lift back to the start after you’ve finished the race. It’s a cost of £5 per person. With this option you will have to wait until everyone has finished the race.
Option 2
Park at the finish in Kington. Jump on the coach we’ve organised to take people to the start from the finish before the race. This is also a cost of £5 per person. The coach leaves at 9.30am.
Obviously if you’re able to either car share or you’re able to sort out your own lifts and drop off’s that’s great.
There is a baggage drop at the start so anything you want taking to the finish will be transported for you. Please be reasonable we don’t have a huge amunt of room!
Google maps link to:
Lady Hawkins School, Kington HR5 3AR
Water Stations
Offa’s Dyke 15
There are three water stations, at 4.5 miles, 7 miles and 10 miles. If you think you will be short then carry some in a bladder, you will be able to top up drinks bladders at the 7 mile point. Do NOT under any circumstances drop gel wrappers and bottles other than in the immediate vicinity of the water station, we are very lucky to have access to this trail and cannot afford to upset farmers or harm wildlife.
Water will also be available at the finish.
Prizes
Prizes will be handed out on the day in the finish area. There are trophies for the individual winners and team winners, prizes for the first 3 finishers in each gender and first in each age group – these start at 35 for both men and women and will be in ten-year age gaps. This will be the same for both distances.
Baggage & Toilets
There will be a baggage drop off option at the start for anyone wanting their possessions to be transported to the finish.
Parking is in the Pay and Display car parks – use Oxford Road HR3 5EQ (max five minute walk to the start). This is also where the main big bank of TOILETS are. All toilets cost 30p in Hay-on-Wye so take a supply of coins with you! Apparently they to do contactless too. There are two toilets at the start but that won’t be enough!
Withdrawal And Cancellation
Up to six weeks prior to the race entrants will receive a full refund less a £2.00 admin fee.
After this deadline, no refunds are offered unless the runner comes to help marshal on the day. However an entry may be transferred to another runner on provision of full details prior to the race. Entries cannot be transferred on race day.
In the event of the race being cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control we will attempt to reschedule to a later date in the same year and all entries will transfer to that rescheduled date.
All contact should be made by email to tempo events rather than riderhq or via social media.
Music Whilst Running
We have officially changed our policy on earphones. Historically we have had a complete ban on earphones for safety reasons and because it impossible for us to verify that every pair worn are bone conducting. But we’re aware that many people train with theirs and can feel uncomfortable without them and it can help with motivation during the tougher moments of a race. So all our events going forward will allow earphones to be worn. However please have volumes at a reasonable level so you can either hear instructions from marshals or noise from vehicles, especially any medics who are trying to get through to any runners who maybe in need of their help.
Event Sponsors
