Turkey Trot

The course is basically a clockwise circuit of Slieve Meelmore, 7.5 km in length with a height gain of 400m. The race will start in the field behind Meelmore Lodge and  follows the lane from the Lodge to the gate in the wall giving access to the hills (GR 308 301). Once through the gate veer left and climb south-east following rough paths to the marker at the ford on the Trassey Track (CP1 314 296) below the Spellack cliffs. From there climb to the col between Slieve Bearnagh and Slieve Meelmore (CP2 309 282) then onwards to the higher col between Slieve Meelmore and Slieve Meelbeg (CP3 303 281). This section of the course will be marked with taped canes. From there a fast descent of the Happy valley leads to a marshaled marker close to the style at the bottom of the valley (CP4 grid ref 294 294). You must run around this marker. The final section follows the Mourne way back to the top of the lane leading back to Meelmore Lodge and the finish line. N.B. The fields and road to the north of the boundary wall are out-of-bounds.