Carntogher 1st November 2025

The 2025 Long Distance Championships will return to Carntogher mountain in the east Sperrins. The event is less than 1 hour from Belfast via the M2 / A6.

Although only a few miles from Glenshane Pass the terrain here is completely different and as you can see below it features a wealth of subtle contour detail. In addition to the natural features, the area has a network of unusual earthbanks which add landscape interest and linear features for the less technical courses. The east-facing slopes feature rich contour detail. This year the courses will visit some new areas of hillside and will all finish through some fields with interesting line features.

In recent years the local Community Association has been instrumental in establishing car parking, access, and walking trails which explore the history of this unique landscape and we will make good use of these for our event.

Parking

Parking will be at the An Carn Community Centre and Cafe. A shuttle bus service will take runners towards the mountain start. There then will be a further 20 minutes uphill to an exposed start.

Enquiries

Enquiries, hire dipper pick up and car key drop will be at the An Carn Centre.

SI Air / Beacon Mode

The controls will be SI Air enabled (beacon mode), but the start and finish must be punched in the traditional fashion.

Bus to Start

A shuttle bus will take competitors to the start and from the finish. This will leave adjacent to event enquiries. It will take 10 minutes to drive to the drop-off. There is then a further 20 minute uphill walk to the start.

Weather / Safety 

The start for all courses is at 800 feet (240m) and the area rises to over 1500 feet (460m). So low visibility, high winds and exposed conditions are possible. Should severe weather be forecast we will postpone the the event.

The carrying of a cagoule is strongly recommended and may be required on the day – so please ensure you have one with you. Whistles are compulsory. There will be a small tent at the start.

The finish is adjacent to the bus pickup point on the access road.

Please read the map notes and hazards at the foot of the page. This is an unusual area and rock and water features require extra care.

Toilets

There are toilets in the An Carn Centre.

Entry Fees

• Juniors £12 (NIOA/BOF/IOA members £10)
• Full-time Students £12 (NIOA/BOF/IOA members £10)
• Seniors £25 (NIOA /BOF/IOA members £20)
• Family multiple individual runs £62 (NIOA /BOF/IOA members £50)

Event Query

Start and Finish

First start 11:00 – last start 13:00.

Courses Close at 15:00.

Map

All courses will use a 1:10,000 map. This has been surveyed by Peel Land Surveys spring 2022.

Course Details (approximate):

Course	Length	Climb	Classes
1	7.8	290m	M21L
2	7.4	290m	M35, M40
3	6.3	280m	M45, M50, M20, M18, W21
4	5.7	210m	M55, M21S, M16, M60
5	4.6	225m	W20, W18, W35, W40
6	4.1	185m	M65, W45, W50
7	3.5	165m	M70, W55, W21S, W16, W60
8	3.2	150m	M75, W65, W70, Green
9	2.2	120m	W75, M80, M85, M90, W80, W85, W90
10	2.9	150m	W14, M14, Light Green
11	1.7	105m	M12, W12, Orange
12	1.3	65m	M10, W10, Yellow

Yellow, Orange, Light Green, and Green colour courses are also available. These are pre-entry only.

Mapping Notes

The higher areas of Carntogher has many old peat cuttings which in places is complex. To best represent this the mapper has modified the steep bank symbol by reducing the length of the tags and in places removing the tags all together. In the terrain these are most commonly a 1m drop and fairly easy to cross, though in places they are even smaller than this but always distinct features in the terrain. Sometimes the cuttings face each other and are too close to map so here the wet ditch symbol has been used to represent the line of cuttings. However in other locations the symbol can be a traditional ditch often with flowing water.

There are many patches of gorse across the area and in most cases these have been shown as Vegetation Fight but occasionally when younger Vegetation Walk. Only the most distinct trees and bushes are represented.

Knoll symbols are used to indicate not only very small hills as we would expect in Ireland, but also to indicate high points on hills.

The unusual geology/hydrology of the area results in water channels cutting below the surface vegetation in places. This makes small streams more difficult to see and indeed you may hear water courses (or linear marshes) before you see them! Extra care is required.

The marsh symbol tends to be a better guide to vegetation type than the actual wetness of the ground. By Irish mountain standards, the area is relatively dry (probably because of the unusual hydrology mentioned above).

Planning Notes

We are using a high start which is up a track to the east of the map. This will provide all competitors with some new terrain but will also reduce the climb for courses 9 – 12. A minibus will transport all competitors towards the start but there will be a 20 minute walk uphill to the start from the drop off point. The start has been selected to suit courses but is awkward for the organising team.  Please arrive on time and co-operate with the officials. If the weather is wet then cagoules will be strongly recommended and may be compulsory.

Courses 1 – 8 will get over to the complex terrain on the west of the map. This area is covered in stone and rock. We have decided that it is safer for competitors to climb up this area rather than run down through it. This will result in some climb on all these courses towards the end of your course.

Courses have been planned slightly shorter than normal to allow for the climb. Thank you for supporting our event. We hope you enjoy your run.

Cafe

There is a good cafe in the An Carn Centre providing meals, snacks and coffee. Please support this community enterprise.

Dogs:

No dogs are allowed in the competition area.

Hazards:

• The area is open, exposed and mountainous.  Please bring a cagoule which you may be required to carry if weather conditions are poor.
• Some of the faster hillside areas contain many small rocks. Please exercise care, particularly while descending.
• Be aware that the unusual hydrology of the area results in some small sinkholes and linear trenches forming in the surface peat.
• Most of the competition area is over 800 feet so low visibility is very possible. Ensure you carry a compass and be prepared to lose height to the SW should you need to retire.
• Whistles must be carried.

All participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety