The Cairncastle Classic Fell Race is Race 1 of the NIMRA Mountain Running Championship.  The event base will be at Ballygally, a coastal village, 5 miles north of Larne.  Registration will be held close to Ballygally Beach, with car parking and toilet facilities available only metres away from the start line.

Start Time: 11am (Saturday 12th June 2021)

Description of the most efficient route:

The race will start on Cairncastle Primary School.  

Participants will follow the Cairncastle Road, uphill, in a westerly direction for 1 mile (roughly the same gradient as Slievenaman Road, Co Down), passing one of County Antrim’s oldest and most iconic public houses ‘Matties Meeting House’.  

After the road section, the course continues uphill on a farmers track which leads onto the fells and the well-known ‘face’ of Knockdhu.  Upon reaching the summit, runners will turn south west and run along the edge of the Sallagh Braes to Check Point 1 (located at a stile)– offering superb views of the countryside, Larne lough and hopefully Scotland (in favourable weather). 

From Check Point 1, runners will negotiate a short but tricky descent to the valley floor and Check Point 2, where many scenes from the cult American drama Game of Thrones were filmed. 

From CP2 there is a gradual ascent along a rough tractor path, in a southerly direction, onto the Antrim Hills way and subsequently the turning point at  Check Point 3. 

From CP3 runners will retrace their steps in a northerly direction and onward to Check Point 4, at the well-known Linford Car Park. 

From Linford Car Park, it’s a long but gradual climb to the final summit, Scawt Hill (CP5). 

From the scenic Scawt summit, it’s practically all downhill to the shoreline, initially on fell, before joining a rocky tractor path (CP6) and onto the coast road at ‘The Half Way House’, a hotel/restaurant owned by legendary Irish boxer Dave Boy McAuley.  From this point,  it’s a flat run back to the School (start/finish), passing Ballygally Castle (reputed to be the oldest occupied building in Ireland) enroute to finish line.

In terms of marking, this in NOT a marked route. ONLY the road junctions will be signposted and the private farmers paths/fields will have minimal marking, to prevent trespassing or damage to property. 

Some flagging will be used to guide runners along a safe route between CP1-CP2 and CP5-CP6.

* Please make yourself aware of the essential kit list required to participate in a fell running race prior to entering. This will include: Hat/buff, gloves, waterproof jacket with hood (taped seams) , waterproof bottoms (taped seams), foil blanket, fully charged mobile phone, route map, compass, emergency food. 

View the Event Disclaimer / Terms and Conditions.

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