Queen Maeve's

Sligo, Ireland

Expected August 2027

Our best guess from a single past year. We'll firm it up when the organiser confirms.

Choose your distance

4 mi

Distance

6.5km

Climb

Mountainous·340m

Start Time

10:00

Terrain

Trail

From last year's edition. Details may change once confirmed.

Overview

A marked mountain race on Knocknarea in County Sligo on 9 August 2026, featuring a 6.5 km route with 340 m ascent and an approximate 4 km short course. Level B mandatory kit is required and GPS is not allowed.

Summit cairn of Knocknarea
Tourist path and subsidiary trails
Rathcarrick trail finish

The practical side

Start / Finish

Start

Knocknarea tourist carpark

Finish

Knocknarea tourist carpark

Terrain

Mountain trail

Route

This route will take you on a couple of climbs of Knocknarea and will be fully marked. The first climb takes runners from the tourist carpark at the back of the mountain up the normal tourist route. However, once through the gate and onto the open mountain the runners take a path to the right of the tourist path which crosses the mountain to the north side where it meets a wall with great views out over Strandhill and Coney Island. From here you run along the wall for 200m until you turn left for the first climb to the summit. Running around the front of the Cairn runners take a path just to the right of the main tourist path which leads to a descent down a gulley. Reaching the bottom there is a fence and runners turn right here and head towards the warriors run upper climb but from the opposite direction. After a couple of minutes running it's time to climb again and runners follow the warriors climb first steeply before traversing the grassy heathery bowl and reaching a stone wall. Here it's all the way up until the cairn becomes visible again. Past the cairn you keep the wall on your left hand side and then the descent retraces the initial climb route. There is a slight variation at the finish: at the end of the tourist trail the route turns immediately onto the adjacent Rathcarrick trail for 200 meters. This is to move any sprint finishes onto a safer surface!

Good to know

What to bring

Waterproof jacket

Hat or buff

Gloves

Whistle

Charged mobile phone with emergency number stored

Foil blanket, bivvy bag or equivalent

What you get

Food after the finishPrizegiving and refreshments at the finish area

On the day

Marshals on course

First aid on course

Parking · FreeMain Knocknarea tourist carpark. Find in Google maps as 'Knocknarea Hill Walk Carpark'. Follow signs for Strandhill and then Knocknarea.

Public transportRace starts and finishes at large main Knocknarea Tourist (tarmac) carpark. Find in Google maps as 'Knocknarea Hill Walk Carpark'. Follow signs for Strandhill and then Knocknarea.

Course markingYes, the course is fully waymarked. GPS use is not permitted.

Before you enter

Minimum ageYes, the short course (approx. 4 km) is also the junior route.

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Queen Maeve's

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

What is the date of Queen Maeve's?

Will there be refreshments after the race?

Where can I find the most up-to-date information?

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