Carnaween

MAY
23
2026
Take on Carnaween, a scenic mountain race in County Donegal offering long and short route options with steep climbs across open farmland. Limited to 61 runners and part of the Ulster Championship, it promises a rugged, rewarding challenge.
Sat 23 May 2026
8 kilometers

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Carnaween : event details

Carnaween is an IMRA mountain race in County Donegal. The long course is 7.80 km with a climb of 514 m. A short course option follows the same route as the long course and turns back at about 2.5 km; the listed short course distance is 0.00 km. The event difficulty is classified as 5 (Easy Terrain, 200 m - 500 m ascent, 6 km - 10 km). Race marking is limited to only major junctions and the use of GPS is not allowed. The event is included in the Ulster Championship and the North West League. The race field is capped at 61 competitors.

Course and safety

The open mountain section crosses private sheep farmland; runners must respect land access rules and no dogs are allowed on the course. There are several fences on the route; runners should follow route markings and use stiles where provided. The summit section is steep with loose rock. Random kit checks may be carried out and failure to have required items may lead to denial of entry or disqualification.

Logistics and kit

Start, finish and car parking are at Letterbarrow Football Club, located about a 15 minute drive from Donegal Town and about a 10 minute drive from the village of Letterbarrow. Mandatory kit (Level B - Standard) includes a waterproof jacket, hat or buff, gloves, whistle, a charged mobile phone with the emergency number stored, and a foil blanket or bivvy bag. Registration and prizegiving take place at Letterbarrow Football Club; prizes include Top 3 male/female on the long course and first male/female juniors. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

8 km
Long Course