Machen Trail Half Marathon

The Machen Trail Half Marathon starts and finishes at Machen Welfare Ground, with a short road section through a residential area before turning onto the old railway line and crossing the Afon Rhymni by footbridge. The route climbs through woodland and across fields to Rudry Common, then continues south-west into the forestry of Caerphilly Forest and along the ridge to Cefn Onn Country Park. After a steep climb back to the ridge, it passes the trig point and descends through woodland and paddocks to join the Rhymney Ridgeway path. The course continues past Ruperra Castle and down to Draethen before a long final climb into Machen Woods. A firetrack descent through the forestry leads back to Machen and the finish. The surface is mostly trail, with wooded single track, open common and stream crossings, and the profile is hilly, with several climbs and descents. The course is fully marked.