Join #TeamStGiles for Trekfest – The Beacons

Experience the impressive mountains, stunning scenery and rolling countryside of the Brecon Beacons National Park as you take on a trek for St Giles.

This incredible mountain range runs through the centre of South Wales and is a training ground of the SAS – so this is a charity challenge that requires a high level of fitness and trekking experience.

Both the 25km and 50km routes venture to the summit of Pen Y Fan – the highest peak in southern Britain. From here you and your fellow members of #TeamStGiles will witness just how beautiful and diverse this National Park really is!

Itinerary

Whether you take on the 25km or 50km routes, both start and finish at The TrekFest Village where you can find toilets, showers, food and drink, even camping plots and car parking! Join us for a BBQ on the Friday evening before the event or enjoy a celebratory drink once you have crossed the finish line.

25km route

You will leave the TrekFest Village and enjoy walking on some country roads as you follow sections of the Three Rivers Ride path. After approximately 9km you start your ascent up to Pen y Fan – from the checkpoint you will head up onto the ridge of Cefn Cwm Llwch, climbing up towards the summit of Pen y Fan. At the summit you can enjoy the amazing views before beginning your descent under the Corn Du Ridge. As you descend into the valley you will experience views of Llyn Cwm Llwch below. Upon reaching the lake, follow the valley before your final stretch along country roads back to the TrekFest Village.

50km route

You will leave the TrekFest Village in the opposite direction to the 25km route and enjoy the Taff Trail along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. After a walk along the canal you will reach the Talybont Forest followed by the Taf Fechan Forest. The route then exits the forests as you begin your ascent to Fan y Big, one of the four highest peaks in the Brecon Beacons. You will continue your ascent up to the summit of Pen y Fan – with stunning views across the Brecon Beacons. From here you descend, and then re-join the Taff Trail. Then enter Brecon and continue back along the canal to the TrekFest Village.

Your support

Sign up on your own or with friends, family or colleagues to be a part of #TeamStGiles. As members of the team, after registration we will support you through every step of your journey, with information on effective training, fundraising and sponsorship tips, kit lists, local information and answer any questions you might have.

Entry fees

The entry fee varies by date of registration:

1st Dec 2019 – 29th Feb 2020: £55 for 25k route | £65 for 50k route

1st March 2020 – 31st May 2020: £65 for 25k route | £75 for 50k route

1st June 2020 onwards: £75 for 25k route | £85 for 50k route

We’re here for you… because you’re here for us

“St Giles was like a home from home for us. Staff were amazing and giving something back by taking part in fundraising events has really helped us come to terms with his loss.”

Every time sisters Ellen & Laura Knowles look to the stars, they think of their dad, Alf, who died at St Giles. So when they got the chance to join an overnight trek up Mount Snowdon on Ellen’s birthday they decided it would be the perfect way to honour his memory.

Ellen and Laura signed up a team of 14 friends and family members to join the night-time trek in August 2019, raising an amazing £5,700 for St Giles Hospice.

“We’d already done the 25km Trekfest for Dad but I thought that trekking up Snowdon through the night on my birthday would be extra special.” said Ellen.

“Reaching the summit was beautiful – something I’d definitely recommend doing. It was gruelling but, because we were a team of very close family and friends all doing it for dad, we kept each other going.

“He would have been so proud of what we’ve achieved and it’s great to think that more people will get the same end of life care as Dad because of it.”

Since Alf died Ellen and her family have raised more than £30,000 for St Giles Hospice in his memory taking part in treks and organising events.

Please join Ellen and fundraise for St Giles to help us to support local people and their families, living with a terminal illness.