Capturing the King's Baton Relay 2026 in the Elan Valley

On a glorious summer day, with blue skies stretching over the reservoirs and hills, communities gathered to welcome one of the most recognisable symbols of the Commonwealth Games. The atmosphere was fantastic. Families lined the route, The organisers worked tirelessly behind the scenes, and baton bearers proudly carried the baton through one of Wales' most breathtaking landscapes.

A Relay Steeped in History

The King's Baton Relay is one of the longest-standing traditions of the Commonwealth Games. First introduced for the 1958 Games in Cardiff, the relay brings together athletes, volunteers and communities from across the Commonwealth.

Much like the Olympic Torch Relay, the baton travels thousands of miles before arriving at the opening ceremony. Inside the baton is a message from His Majesty The King, which remains sealed until it is read at the start of the Games.

Over the decades, the relay has become a celebration not only of sport, but also of community spirit, diversity and shared values across the Commonwealth. Seeing it pass through the heart of Mid Wales and the Elan Valley felt like a fitting reminder of the connection between local communities and a global sporting event.

The Challenge of Getting the Shot

Of course, photographing a relay sounds straightforward until you realise the baton doesn't stop moving.

For the Mogwai Media team, that meant constantly staying one step ahead of the runners, scouting locations, planning angles and somehow managing to be in multiple places at once.

This is where Dave entered his own unofficial event.

Armed with what can only be described as enough camera equipment for a small television crew, Dave spent much of the day attempting to outrun the baton bearers while carrying a gigantic rucksack packed with lenses, bodies, batteries and every piece of gear imaginable.

The only problem?

He was doing it in hiking boots.

As temperatures climbed throughout the day, spectators watched athletes carrying the baton with apparent ease while Dave charged across reservoirs and pathways, weighed down by what seemed like half of the Mogwai Media office.

There may not be an official Commonwealth Games medal for "Fastest Photographer with an Overloaded Backpack", but if there were, we'd like to think he was at least in contention.

Thankfully, despite the heat, the hiking boots and the occasional desperate sprint to reach the next viewpoint before the runners arrived, the effort paid off.

Why the Elan Valley Was the Perfect Backdrop

The Elan Valley provided a stunning stage for the relay.

The combination of historic dams, sparkling reservoirs, winding roads and dramatic Welsh scenery created endless photographic opportunities. Every turn of the route seemed to reveal another incredible backdrop.

What made the day particularly special was seeing local communities come together. The relay is about much more than sport; it's about celebrating people, places and shared experiences. Those moments of excitement, pride and connection are what make events like this so rewarding to photograph.

Capturing Moments That Matter

At Mogwai Media, we believe great event photography is about more than documenting what happened. It's about preserving the stories behind the event — the smiles, the anticipation, the laughter and sometimes the slightly overheated photographer sprinting into position with a backpack that definitely weighed more than it should have.

The King's Baton Relay 2026 brought all of that and more.

It was a privilege to capture such an important occasion as it travelled through one of Wales' most iconic landscapes, and we're proud to have documented a small part of its journey towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Although our legs may have recovered faster than Dave's, the photographs will remain a lasting reminder of a fantastic day in the Elan Valley.

And next time?

We might suggest trainers.