Granite Peaks Ultras 2027

Rising straight from the Irish Sea, the Mourne Mountains are Ireland’s wildest granite range: jagged summit tors, wild open moorland, hidden valleys, and the legendary Mourne Wall, a century-old stone wall built by hand over fifteen summits. This is the landscape said to have inspired C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. For one weekend in April, it’s yours to race.

Now in its third edition, Granite Peaks Ultras has already hosted the Irish team selection race for the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. For 2027, we’re going bigger than ever, with three UTMB Index races across completely redesigned courses.

100K · 6,500m ascent
50K · 4,000m ascent
25K · 1,800m ascent

Why Granite Peaks?

• Three UTMB Index races in one of Europe’s most underrated mountain ranges
• Proper mountain terrain: rugged, remote, and unforgettable
• An independent race, run by mountain runners for mountain runners
• About an hour from Belfast and two from Dublin, with flights from across Europe
• A small field, a warm Irish welcome!

Places are limited. Join us in April and be part of the Mournes’ biggest race weekend yet.

RACE INFORMATION

100K · 6,500m ascent

• Date and start time: 16th April 2027, 6pm
• Start and finish: Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle, Co. Down
• Time limit: 28 hours
• Halfway cut-off: you must leave Rostrevor (53.4km) by 08:00 on Saturday
• Aid stations: 7
• Drop bag

50K · 4,000m ascent

• Date and start time: 17th April 2027, 6am
• Start and finish: Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle, Co. Down
• Time limit: 14 hours
• Aid stations: 3
• Drop bag

25K · 1,800m ascent

• Date and start time: 17th April 2027, 8am
• Start and finish: Shimna Integrated College, Newcastle, Co. Down
• Time limit: 7 hours
• Aid stations: 1

NAVIGATION

The courses cross open mountain, often away from paths. The route is partially marked, and all runners must be able to navigate using the GPX file on a watch or phone. Mist and low cloud are common in the Mournes, so we strongly recommend recceing the course before race day.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum age on race day: 20 years old (100K and 50K), and 18 years old (25K)
• 100K: you must have completed an ultra of 50K or more with +2000m of climbing within the last 3 years
• All runners must be experienced and self-sufficient in mountain terrain

YOUR ENTRY INCLUDES

• A spectacular, fully redesigned mountain course
• 7 / 3 / 1 aid stations with food and drinks
• A unique Granite Peaks finisher medal
• Race T-shirt
• GPX course files
• GPS tracking for your safety, and so friends and family can follow along
• Mountain first aid and safety cover
• Hot food and drinks at the finish
• UTMB Index results

MANDATORY KIT

All runners must carry the following. Kit checks may take place at registration and on the course.

ALL RACES
Footwear suited to the race terrain
Waterproof jacket with hood and taped seams
Waterproof trousers with taped seams
Warm base layer, hat and gloves
Foil bivy bag
Elastic adhesive bandage (at least 100 cm × 6 cm)
Whistle and compass
Fully charged mobile phone, switched on, with the race emergency number saved
Map of the route, and the GPX loaded on a watch or phone
Tracking device (supplied at registration)
Collapsible cup
Emergency food and drink

100K AND 50K
Minimum 1.5 litres of water carrying capacity
Headtorch, minimum 200 lumens, with spare batteries

100K ONLY
A second headtorch, minimum 200 lumens, with spare batteries

25K
Minimum 1 litre of water carrying capacity

COLD AND HOT WEATHER KIT
Depending on the forecast, we may also require cold or hot weather kit. We will tell every runner before registration opens.
Full kit list: https://granitepeaksultras.com/kit/

A CUP FREE RACE

We don’t hand out disposable cups at any aid station. Please carry your own collapsible cup. It’s on the mandatory kit list, and we’ll be checking for it.

CUT-OFFS

Each aid station has a cut-off time, published in full on https://granitepeaksultras.com/aid-stations/. If you miss a cut-off your race ends there. You’ll hand in your number, and we’ll get you back to Newcastle.

WITHDRAWING

If you stop for any reason, report to the nearest marshal point before you leave the course. If you use your phone instead, call the race director first and follow their instructions. Walking off the mountain without telling us triggers a search. Every runner must report to the finish line, whether they complete the course or not. If you’ve registered but decide not to start, please tell us.

GETTING HERE AND STAYING

• Newcastle, Co. Down is about an hour from Belfast’s airports and two hours from Dublin
• Parking is available at Donard Car Park
• Accommodation: Newcastle and the surrounding area offer hotels, B&Bs, hostels and campsites. We recommend booking early.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

You can enter as Female, Male, or Non-binary. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe at Granite Peaks, and we have a zero-tolerance policy towards discriminatory behaviour.

PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD

If you, or your partner, become pregnant between entering and race day, or you’re adopting, having a child through surrogacy, or going through IVF or fertility treatment, you can choose a full refund or a deferral to any race in the next 2 years. This also applies if a pregnancy does not go to term. Email [email protected] with your name, which category applies, whether you’d like a refund or deferral, and supporting paperwork (kept strictly confidential). Full policy: https://granitepeaksultras.com/policies/pregnancy-and-parenthood/

CONTACT

[email protected]
Instagram: @granitepeaksultras
Website: www.granitepeaksultras.com