Granite Peaks Races (25th May 2025)
Granite Peaks Ultra
The Granite Peaks Ultra event on Sunday 25th May 2025 starts at Tollymore Forest Park, Bryansford, just outside the rear of the Tollymore Outdoor Centre. From there it makes its way down the hill, turning right at the bottom and heading over Parnell’s Bridge towards the Kings Grave, and beyond to 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 Slievelamaghan/ 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 Slievelamaghan 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 lovingly referred to as the ‘green ramp’ back on to Trassey Track heading back into Tollymore Forest to the finish line.
Granite Peaks 25
The Granite Peaks 25 event on Sunday 25th May 2025 starts 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 stile at the col between Slieve Loughshannagh and Carn Mountain.
From there the race takes a left turn down the track between Loughshannagh and Doan all the way down to the base of Ben Crom Dam. Runners will check in at the aid station, situated at the base of Ben Crom Dam before ascending the steps to the top of the dam, crossing the stile and follow the track along the shoreline of Ben Crom Reservoir, taking the track just to the left of the Kilkeel River at the north end of the dam that leads up onto the Brandy Pad (not the river that leads to Hare’s Gap).
At that point the races takes a left and follows the Brandy pad to Hare’s Gap where it turns right, climbing the steps to the Mourne Wall continuing until it reaches the stile (at the top of the ‘green ramp’). Crossing the stile the race descends the ‘Green Ramp’ to the Trassey Track and makes its way back into Tollymore Forest, past the Kings Grave ending at the Tollymore Outdoor Centre.
Mandatory Safety Kit
1. Runners are to have the mandatory minimum race kit, which comprises:
- Footwear suited to the race terrain (fell shoes not road trainers),
- Waterproof whole-body cover (with taped seams and integrated attached hood),
- Hat and gloves,
- Map of route, whistle, and compass,
- Bivouac (aka bivy) bag,
- Emergency Foil Survival Blanket, and
- Fully charged mobile phone with the race director’s number(s) stored (Note: mountain rescue call is 999 – Ask for ‘Police’ then ‘Mountain Rescue’)
- Tracking device (supplied by Primal Tracking at Registration),
- Thermal layer, and
- Emergency food and drink (minimum 500 ml water bottle).
2. Any updates to the mandatory kit will be communicated at race registration.
3. Advisory Race Kit
- It is advised that if you are anticipating that your race will exceed 10 hours (Granite peaks Ultra only) that you also bring a fully charged head torch and back up.
- Racers may consider bringing basic first aid supplies with them. Some supplies will be available with marshals for runners to avail of, should they need them. Please note marshals are not trained first aiders
- Sunscreen (even on overcast days the use of sunscreen is advised)
4. Runners may be required to carry additional race kit, which be communicated to runners in advance of the race.
A kit check will take place before the start of the race. Bring your kit to the race registration point and have your kit check completed before getting fitted with your tracker.
Random kit checks may take place during the race and at the end. Runners must comply with any requests for a kit check.
Please note walking poles, headphones or earbuds are not permitted in accordance with NIMRA race guidelines.
Further details are available in the Runners Guidebook
Environmental Protection
The Mourne Mountains are in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and we want to keep things that way. Also much of the race is inside a drinking water catchment area maintained and operated by NI Water. As responsible event organisers and runners we don't want any pollution incidents.
Help us reduce waste, minimise plastic pollution and respect our 'Leave No Trace' policy.
Please bring and fill your own water bottles at the Tollymore Outdoor Centre before the race starts. Water will be available at designated aid stations along the route. No water bottles will be provided.
The full Habitat Impact Assessment and controls sheet is available on our controls page.