Mourne Skyline 35k

Mourne Skyline is a 35km mountain race that starts and finishes at Donard Park in Newcastle, County Down, linking ten summits across the Mourne Mountains. The route follows the Brandy Pad trail up to Hare's Gap before climbing Slieve Bearnagh and then Slieve Meelmore, frequently handrailing the impressive Mourne Wall along the way. A descent brings runners to the aid station at Fofanny Dam, followed by a short road section onto the trail up Slieve Loughshannagh. From here the course heads eastward, dropping off Slieve Commedagh before a demanding final climb up Slieve Donard, the tallest summit in Northern Ireland, and a long descent back to the finish. The terrain is technical and rocky throughout, with around 2,700 metres of ascent, and this classic, largely unchanged route has been the signature race of the event since it began in 2014.