Granite Peaks Ultra 50K & 25K Race [L] (C)
Local folklore is packed with stories about the ghosts and ghouls who lurk among the famous granite peaks. And none more so than among the mountain running community. So, as we are soon to enter the 2024 NIMRA championship season, we are introducing new longer distance races to the calendar.
Granite Peaks Ultra at 50km and Granite peaks 25 at 25km. Much more detail is to follow with location maps and entry details on SI entries. We will keep you up to date with all of that. But for now, here is a virtual run through the Ultra route, to whet your appetite…
The proposed Granite Peaks Ultra event is being organised directly NIMRA.
The event starts and finishes at Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford, just outside the rear of the Tollymore Outdoor Centre. From there it makes its way towards the Kings Grave, and beyond towards Trassey Track. The route continues up Trassey Track turns right once through the upper stile and heads for Happy Valley where it follows the track up to cross the Mourne Wall at the col between Meelmore and Meelbeg, proceeding in an anti-clockwise direction following the wall to the dam at Silent Valley.
The race will continue up the access road alongside the Silent Valley and Ben Crom Reservoirs climbing the steps and making its way to the Slieve Binnian summit, via the Slievelamagan/ Binnian col where it will follow the Mourne Wall down to the track at the edge of Annalong Wood. From there it will go up the track past the Blue Lough to Slievelamagan and make its ways to The Brandy Pad, via Cove Mountain and Slieve Beg. It continues in an easterly direction to reach the Mourne Wall at the foot of Rocky where it again will turn left towards the Bog of Donard before ascending Slieve Donard, Commedagh, Slieve Corragh and Slievenaglogh. At which point it descends in the direction of Hares Gap where it will cross at the stile (above Hares Gap) descending what is loving referred to as the green ramp back on to Trassey Track heading back into Tollymore Forest to the finish line.
There when you read it quickly it doesn’t seem too bad. So, time to lace up the ‘mudclaws’ (other race shoes are available) and get ready. It all kicks off on 20th April 2024.
Ciarán McAleenan
Race Director
Further details to follow….
