The Welsh Three Thousand Foot Challenges: A Guide for Walkers and Hill Runners [Paperback]

I decided I really ought to have a go at the Welsh 3000s before my 30th birthday so did a bit of research on the web and this book came up. The advice given in it proved to be invaluable - detailed description of route, variations, how to prepare, what to eat and drink, timing schedules etc - plus 4 golden rules you need to obey if you want to succeed. (By the way, succeed we did - a friend and I completed the walk over along day in June this year.)

There is also a load of interesting info about the history of fell running over the route and other similarly, or even more challenging routes in Wales. It has left me wondering which one to try next.

I'd recommend this to anyone planning to do the Welsh 3000s - particularly if you want to do it in less than a day.

Being a member of Eryri Harriers for the past five years I was talking to Don Williams of Mynydd Llandygai during our march Border League Race at Wallasey on the Wirral.

He along with another friend Emlyn Roberts (winner of the 1991 Snowdonia Marathon in a very impressive 2hrs 32min)paced Colin Donnelly back in 1986 when he broke 4hrs 20min for the Welsh 15peaks,a record that still stands.

The only way to enjoy the Welsh3000s is to know the route like the back of your hand,and Roy Claytons excellent book gives excellent advice on different routes and possibilities if you are experienced enough to RUN the entire 27.6miles.

Actually this in my knowledge has been the only book written specifically on this classic Welsh challenge walk or run and the most comprehensive map-diagram profile on the Carneddau area.

You try and find a book written specifically on the Carneddau,the last one came out in 1974 when the late Showell Styles produced his superb books on walking in every mountain range in North Wales but individually.If you can get hold of a copy its a fabulous read.

Walking the route places different things in your way,the weather being the biggest problem.

I have tried three times and on each occasion have been beaten by the weather,heat being the main culprit.

Its not the distance that poses the problem it is the required fitness to do the route justice.

I have completed four easier Welsh 1000s races in just over five hours and they are only 22miles long.

The problem with the 15peaks is all the ups and downs and choosing the quickest and safest route.

This is where this book comes into its own,looking on the map is one thing but knowing where you can safely escape from either the Glyders or Carneddau only comes with practice and experience and no map will tell you that.

Finally Don told me that Donnelly told him to slow down gowing up Elidir,and this was the main reason he felt tired beyond Carnedd Daffydd, having gone off too fast.

If you read Claytons book Donnelly believed he could have been closer to 4hrs had he not gone off too fast.

I would love to break the ten hour barrier,and with decent cool weather i feel i could do it.

This small publication i always return to as a reference guide mainly because guides specifically on individual areas especially The Carneddau are no longer available.

Even though the Glyders and Snowdon ranges are included the Carneddau section is so good that you could plan individual routes from it.

Studying a map will tell you little about the terrain of these mountains,this book will prove invaluable when making plans for an assault on the Three Thousanders.

Everytime i stand on that summit cairn of Yr Wydffa (Snowdon)and actually look at Foel Fras on the horizon i can only dream of the required fitness to actually run that far in under 4hr 20min.

Next time you are on top of Snowdon just contemplate that Collin Donnely took just under 50 minutes to reach the roadside in the Llanberis Pass having already touched the summit of Carnedd Ugain and Crib Goch and travelling down through Cwm Glas.

Its little wonder that nobody has eclipsed this great record as there are few fell runners of note who can challenge his time.

He took a mighty 20 min of Joss Naylors best time and to the best of my knowlege the Bland brothers of Keswick made an attempt but failed.

The record of 4hrs 19min is a great one but just imagine how John Wagstaff must have felt when on June 17/18 1978 he made the amazing triple traverse all 45 peaks and 82 miles of it in under 23hours.

NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL SUPER FITNESS.

A must for anyone who wants to see the mountains of Snowdonia the hard way, covering the Welsh 1,000m Peaks Race, the 14 3,000' summits, and of course the Paddy Buckley Round.

Inspirational - I should be out there!