Running toward Llanddwyn Island, Newborough Beach

The Runs · 001

The Founding
Weekend.

Llanddwyn  ×  Y Garn  ·  Eryri, North Wales  ·  March 2026

Days 2
Total distance 22.14km
Total elevation 1,091m

Day One

Llanddwyn

13 March 2026  ·  Newborough Forest & Llanddwyn Island, Ynys Môn

Distance 11.16km
Elevation gain 275m
Duration 1h 18

The afternoon before the mountains. Out through Newborough Forest — tall pines, sandy tracks, the light low and cold — and onto the beach. The sand wide and tidal, the sea rough, the wind coming in hard off the Irish Sea. Ahead, Llanddwyn Island.

Nature is not a backdrop

We followed the crushed sea shells path to the stone plain cross, waves crashing on the island, Eryri across the water — the mountains we'd be on the following morning, still snow-capped, catching the last of the afternoon light. That view asks nothing of you except to be there.

The Llŷn Peninsula in one direction. The Menai Strait in the other. The kind of place that makes you feel small in the right way.

Route

Llanddwyn route map — Newborough Forest and Llanddwyn Island
Running on Newborough Beach toward Llanddwyn Island
Coastal path through marram grass, Llanddwyn
Llanddwyn cross and lighthouse
Looking out to sea from Llanddwyn Island

Day Two

Y Garn

14 March 2026  ·  Ogwen Valley & Cwm Idwal, Eryri

Distance 10.98km
Elevation gain 816m
Duration 2h 36
High point 947m

Strangers become companions

Early start. Ogwen Valley, Cwm Idwal ahead. At the base of the climb — a stranger. Jonathan. He was going up. We were going up. Smiles all round, due to the beaming morning sun.

Everything urgent stops mattering

Sun turned into fog as we crossed the snow line and caught up with Jonathan at the top. After some hesitation, Jonathan offered to run together towards Foel Goch. Wise move — the conditions improved, giving views towards the Menai Strait, everything else — the week ahead, the plans, the noise — gone. Just the mountain, the cold, the rapture of being alive.

On the descent, the clouds shifted and gave us Tryfan. The kind of view that stays with you long after you're back.

Route

Y Garn route map — Ogwen Valley and Cwm Idwal
Llyn Idwal and snow-capped cliffs, Cwm Idwal
Climbing the snow ridge toward Y Garn
The four of us at the summit — Y Garn, March 2026
Descending toward Tryfan, Ogwen Valley below
On the ridge, looking out over the Ogwen Valley
The Founding Weekend

Two days. Two places. My brother Remi and best friend Michael, who'd been there for the best days over the years. The stoke was high and carried on into the evening — Thrice, one of our favourite bands, closing it out.

Monday, back to normality. Thrice's Beyond the Pines still playing in my head as I flicked numerous times through our pictures. The idea for Beyond the Trail was born.

The soundtrack

Beyond the Pines Thrice
Thrice — Beyond the Pines
Watch on YouTube

Move through beautiful places.

Share it with people who feel the same pull.

Come back changed.

Beyond the Trail.