Category Archives: Trail

Provisional Calendar 2026

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Provisional calendar for the Hill & Dale Series and Slieve Donard Race:

Date Start Time Event
Thursday 16 April 2026 19:30 Castlewellan
Thursday 23 April 2026 19:30 Tollymore
Thursday 30 April 2026 19:30 Slieve Martin
Thursday 7 May 2026 19:30 Binnian
Thursday 14 May 2026 19:30 Hen & Cock
Thursday 21 May 2026 19:30 Luke’s
Saturday 30 May 2026 11:00  Slieve Donard Race
Thursday 4 June 2026 19:30 Millstone
Thursday 11 June 2026 19:30 Loughshannagh
Thursday 18 June 2026 19:30 Meels
Friday 26 June 2026 19:30 Drinnahilly

Races are subject to permit. Further details, including how to enter, will be available soon.

Martin McMullan Completes Lakeland 100

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Well done to Martin McMullan who completed the Lakeland 100 in the last weekend of July. The Lakeland 100 actually covers 105 miles (because 100 wasn’t enough!) and 22,493 feet of elevation.

Described as the most spectacular long distance trail race which has ever taken place within the UK. The circular route encompasses the whole of the lakeland fells almost entirely of public bridleways and footpaths. The route starts in Coniston and heads South before completing a clockwise loop which takes in the Dunnerdale fells, Eskdale, Wasdale and Buttermere before arriving in Keswick. From here the route heads to Matterdale and continues over to Haweswater before returning via Kentmere, Ambleside and Elterwater to the finish at Coniston. The event is continuous in nature, competitors don’t have to stop or sleep on the route. Continue reading →

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 10, Drinnahilly and Series – Results, Report and Photos

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Crutchley & Wilton Sparkle in the Glorious Mid-Summer Weather 

Reported by Bogboy on behalf of the race directors, Older Brother & Younger Brother Brannigans... 

All photos courtesy of Paul Fegan on Flickr 

Traditionally the Drinnahilly Race is an evening of celebration mixed with a tinge of sadness that it is the 10th of the 10-race series that started back in early April in Castlewellan when the evenings were just about bright enough for the final runner to get home before dark. 

The race is the shortest, designed to get everyone home in time for the post-race feast in O’Hare’s Lounges which arrived as requested on the dot of 8:45pm opening the mike for the evening’s and series’ results announcements and the presentation of trophies.   Continue reading →

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 7 – Millstone Results, Report and Photos

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Dog Friendly, Cat Friendly, Twin Friendly – A Race for All

Scribed by participant and long-time Hill & Daler Bronagh McInerney

Millstone delivered in style – and then some

It was one of those rare nights where everything aligned – blue skies, sunshine, puffy clouds, dry grippy trails and a record-breaking Millstone turn out of 294 runners! Entrants were all herded in style by Sam, Debbie & Kerry who ran registration and barcode scanning at O’Hare’s like seasoned professionals. The car park filled up early, the buzz was high, and runners were warming up everywhere from the promenade to the forest, and the grassy patches in between – the pre-race buzz was almost festive! Continue reading →

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 3 – Slieve Martin Results, Report and Photos

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Slieve Martin Report
Thursday past saw the race action head to Rostrevor for the Slieve Martin race. Big changes this year as race directors Hicks and McConville made the bold decision to reverse the direction of the race for the first time ever. Judging by the positive feedback afterwards this proved a welcome change as runners climbed to the summit on the hard stone path before descending on the softer grass of the open mountain. However, after heavy rainfall earlier in the week this left conditions under foot treacherous in places.

Continue reading →

Hill & Dales 2025 – Race 2 – Tollymore Results, Report and Photos

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Cowboys and ‘Barrel’ Racers descend after three (not) wise men and a Prophet leave their mark in Tollymore.

In the famous words of Whitesnake, “here I go again …..”; the second race of the Hill and Dale series, which just seems to be growing exponentially (or getting bigger and bigger in old money!)  2024 witnessed 295 avid Hill and Dale runners complete the course with an increase of 107 more “lunatics” in 2025 – a record 402 took to the line for a trip around Tollymore and a jaunt up a mountain with no name. At the finish, a few names were suggested for the aforementioned hill, but none could be printed.   Continue reading →