Feel Healthy Inside and Out with Walking
16 July 2021
Feel Healthy Inside and Out with Walking
Frequently Asked Questions
If your question is not answered below, or you fancy a chat with our events team, please do get in touch by email ([email protected]) or phone (0203 735 5444).
What is Snowdonia for Science?
Snowdonia for Science is the revitalisation of our Snowdon 500 and Welsh 3 Peaks Challenge events. We offer three walking routes in Snowdonia National Park with varying levels of difficulty. This event takes place in memory of Matt Rannamets, a prostate cancer sufferer who founded this inspiring event over 10 years ago, in order to get people walking and climbing for prostate cancer research.
What do I receive for taking part in Snowdonia for Science?
All adventurers will receive:
- A PCR t-shirt and buff
- A finisher medal
- Discounted rooms at the Royal Victoria Hotel
- Fully marshalled routes, maps and route descriptions
- Free snacks and water
- Option to attend our dinner buffet at the Royal Victoria (£15 per person)
- An event pack, kit list and training guide tailored to your chosen route
- One-to-one fundraising support from our Events Team
- Access to our Snowdonia for Science 2022 Facebook Group
Participants taking part in our in-person event will also experience a fully-marshalled route by Raw Adventures.
Our friendly Events team will also be on hand with top training and fundraising tips, and will work closely with Raw Adventures to provide all the necessary planning and safety requirements to ensure you have the most enjoyable experience.
When does Snowdonia for Science take place?
Snowdonia for Science will take place on Saturday June 18th 2022.
How much does taking part cost?
For the Snowdon Climb and Multi Peak route, the registration fees and options are as follows:
Charity place: £30 registration fee, raise at least £350
Self-funded place: £79 registration fee, raise as much as you can.
For The Beast route, which requires extra marshals and support, the registration fees and options are:
Charity place: £49 registration fee, raise at least £350
Self-funded place: £99 registration fee, raise as much as you can.
What's the difference between a charity place and self-funded place?
We want to give people the flexibility to choose their fundraising challenge so have created different registration options to suit your needs.
A charity-place will give you a cheaper entry fee but you will have a set fundraising target of £350. This is a challenge for those of you that really want to commit to your fundraising and raise as much as you can for Prostate Cancer Research! You are definitely welcome to set a higher target, but you’ll be required to raise this as a minimum. Don’t worry – we won’t be knocking on your door if you don’t quite hit the target – but if you’re ready to go all out with your fundraising and fully give it your best shot, this is the ticket for you.
A self-funded place costs more for your registration fee but you can set your own fundraising target. If you don’t want to take on the challenge of a set fundraising target, then this is the ticket for you. The higher registration fee will cover the cost of your place, and all we ask is that you raise as much as you to support Prostate Cancer Research.
Whatever ticket you choose, our friendly Events Team will be on hand every step of the way to help you achieve your fundraising dreams. We’re also more than happy to have a chat and discuss these options to find the best one for you, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
How difficult are the challenges?
The Snowdon Climb (Moderate) is best suited for beginners and families taking part on the route. Its is of course a challenging route, and we do recommend that participants train for the climb, and ensure they have all the right preparation and equipment for climbing a mountain. First timers and experienced walkers are perfect for this route.
The Multi Peak (Moderate to difficult) will be a challenging day and requires some experience or decent level of fitness in order to complete it. It is definitely achievable with training and determination and well worth it for the stunning views you will see of Snowdonia. A good challenge for a first timer but is also great for those willing to take their walking up a notch.
The Beast (Difficult) is for experienced walkers only. It is a huge day out, with over 18 miles of walking and over 2000m of ascent. Please only register for this is you have completed walking challenges before or have a good level of walking experience and fitness.
What level of fitness is required?
For the Snowdon Climb and Multi Peak
You don’t have to be an Olympic athlete for any of the routes but you should be able to walk for around 4-6 hours, with breaks. There are steep sections on all routes which are definitely accomplishable but more manageable and enjoyable with some training.
The more training you are able to do before the event the more fun the day will be! Small changes like not taking the lift for a few floors at work; take the stairs at lunch time to get outside for a stroll to the nearest park; take the dog for a longer walk on Sunday or treat the family to lunch at the pub if they walk there with you; get off the tube a stop early and walk the extra which often only adds 10-15 minutes to your but helps the body and mind. So start getting ready now and you will have an amazing day in Snowdonia!
You’ll also have access to our training guides, to get you completely prepared for your adventure.
For The Beast
A good/high level of fitness and walking experience is required for this route. It is for those who have taken part in similar challenges before and are looking to take their walking to the next level.
How do PCR make the event as safe as possible?
Your registration fee helps provide you with all the materials, guidance and support to ensure you have a stress-free and safe day. This includes water and snacks, briefing packs, safety marshals along the route and mountain rescue support throughout the weekend.
You will be sent a safety video prior to the event, as well as a briefing pack and will be briefed on the day by PCR staff and the RAW Adventures safety marshals so you know exactly what to do if there is an emergency.
What happens if the event is cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19?
We hope that in June 2022 events will not impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. In the unfortunate circumstance that we have to cancel the event, you will have a number of options:
1. Transfer your entry to our virtual challenge! Take on the Snowdon Climb from home and receive all the same support and benefits as your initial ticket, including a finisher medal.
2. Transfer your entry to our 2023 event. Get a guaranteed spot in our 2023 event and transfer all your fundraising over as well.
3. Get a full refund on your ticket.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Events Team if you have any questions about this!
How many people take part in the event?
The number varies year on year, but this year we are hoping for over 200 participants.
Where do I need to go on the day of the challenge?
On Saturday 18th of June, participants will need to be at the Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis, at their allocated start time (you get to choose a 1-hour slot when registering and a specific start time will be sent to you closer to the time of the event). We have a marquee in the front garden of the hotel which is used as the start and finish point for all routes.
Here is the hotel address:
The Royal Victoria Hotel
Llanberis, Gwynedd
Wales LL55 4TY
If you are staying in Llanberis, the hotel is easily accessible by foot. Llanberis is also well connected to other villages by bus and taxi services are available.
How do I get to Llanberis, Wales?
Our event will start and finish at the Royal Victoria Hotel in Llanberis, Wales.
The Royal Victoria Hotel
Llanberis, Gwynedd
Wales LL55 4TY
If you are planning to get the train, the two closest train stations to Llanberis are Bangor (Gwynedd) and Betws-y-Coed. There are buses at both stations going into Llanberis.
From Bangor, you can take the bus 85. Click here for the timetable.
From Betws-y-Coed, the S2 bus will take you to Llanberis. Click here for the timetable.
Llanberis is also easily accessible by car. You can plan your route by clicking here.
How does the route marshalling work for the Snowdon Climb and Multi Peak Climb?
The best way to experience these routes is taking them at your own pace, so you can push yourself but feel comfortable and enjoy the adventure. We are working closely with RAW Adventures so you can do this as safely as possible!
There will be a marshal at the front and back of the groups on each route, with floating support marshals throughout. You will be allocated start times which you can select on your registration form (we will do our best to allocate you to your preferred start time!), given your map and route description and directed to start your route from our registration tent.
The front marker will set off before the group and stay away from view or with faster walkers depending on their pace. The floating team will position where needed. Rear markers will walk at a steady 3km/hour which will meet the cut off times for each route. Each route must have a cut off time to ensure all participants are safely off the mountain. All participants must have checked out at our registration tent by 19:00.
Marshals will be posted at the Bwlch where Multi and Snowdon routes meet. This marshal will check on people passing through and will become a secondary rear marshal onto Yr Wyddfa – so if you need extra support at this half way point, there will be experts there to help you!
How does the route marshalling work for The Beast?
The Beast is our most challenging route covering 30+km (nearly 19 miles) and over 2400m/7800ft of ascent. There are also some more technical parts of the route with areas of rough terrain. Participants must be an experienced mountain walker with good/high levels of fitness. The group size is therefore limited to 30 participants.
To support safely, you will be walking with other people taking on the route. We will be grouping participants together based on their previous experience, which you can select on your registration form, to ensure that you are completing the route at the pace you want to. There will be one marshal allocated for every eight walkers and two floating marshals on the route to support where needed.
Groups on The Beast will start before walkers on the other two routes and will be leaving no later than 0700. You will need to reach Pen Y Pass, the half way point, by 1300 with the aim to finish back at RVH by 1900, 12 hours in total. There will be minibus support for this route for any walkers who need to finish the route early at Pen Y Pass.
Can I participate on my own?
You are very welcome to take on these challenges alone. It’s likely you will meet and get to know lots of other participants on the way so you wont feel alone on the walks, unless that’s exactly what you’re after!
Can children participate?
Children under 16 are welcome to take part in the Snowdon Climb. Children over the age of 16 are welcome to take part in the Multi Peak Climb. Adults are responsible for the children in their group.
Participants must be over 18 to participate in The Beast.
Am I able to bring my dog?
Yes, please do! We love seeing dogs on the challenge. Please do just make sure you bring bags to pick up any mess and keep on a lead if required.
Does my registration fee include travel and accommodation?
No, your registration fee does not include travel or accommodation for the weekend. You will need to book these separately. We have a special offer with the Royal Victoria Hotel Snowdonia for participants on a first come first served basis.
Where can I stay?
We have a special offer with the Royal Victoria Hotel Snowdonia for participants on a first come first served basis.
For more ideas on where to stay, check out our article: https://www.pcr.org.uk/best-places-to-stay-in-llanberis/
What should I bring with me on the day?
When it comes to walking challenges, getting ready is half the fun! Make sure you have proper walking shoes and socks. We recommend sports leggings or trousers and a thermal top for your base layer, with a fleece or sweatshirt for extra layers. Be sure to bring a waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers, and a high factor sun-cream, to prepare for any weather eventuality. Spare clothing might include a hat, gloves and other layers. Make sure your backpack is big enough to carry food, drink, spare layers and other useful tools. Lastly, walking poles might come in handy to take some of the strain off your knees. For a fuller description go to https://prostate-cancer-research.org.uk/everything-you-need-to-know-before-your-walking-challenge/.
What happens if the weather isn't great on the day?
The challenges go ahead despite wind and rain – that’s the beauty of the mountains and its great to experience them in different types of weather.
We will however, be keeping an eye on the forecast and if there is any weather that could be dangerous for walkers, we will either re-route you or cancel the challenge in extreme circumstances.
Where does all the money I raise go?
All funds raised will go towards research into finding treatments for advanced prostate cancer, through Prostate Cancer Research. Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, and 12,000 people are diagnosed with advanced stage prostate cancer every year. Yet treatments are limited and can cause harmful side-effects for patients.
This is where the Prostate Cancer Research (PCR) comes in. We focus on science, research and innovation, concentrating on developing novel and effective treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer. We currently fund 14 research projects across the UK. We want to provide a better future for people and their families affected by prostate cancer, all of which wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing supporters, so thank you.
Find out more about our research at www.pcr.org.uk.
Will the buffet dinner be taking place this year?
We are planning to host an after-party at the Royal Victoria Hotel on the Saturday evening after your challenge, so you can celebrate your accomplishment with other walkers and the PCR team!
This is an informal and relaxed party, with a dinner buffet and a prize giving ceremony where we give our special Matt Rannamets Award to our top fundraiser at Snowdonia for Science 2022.
Tickets cost £15 per person and can be purchased when you register for the challenge. If you have already registered for the climb but did not get a dinner ticket, get in touch with the PCR team to purchase one by emailing [email protected]!
Need more information?
We’re always happy to answer any questions, so please get in touch with our friendly Events Team!
Telephone: 0203 735 5444
Email [email protected]
Address: Prostate Cancer Research, 23-24 Great James Street, London, WC1N 3ES
Facebook: @PCResearchNews
Twitter: @PCR_News
Instagram: @Teampcr_
Registered Charity Number: 1156027