Heart of Granite
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Heart of Granite
Heart of Granite is a circular mountain race of 32 km / 20 miles with 1850 m of ascent held in the Galloway hills. The route runs from Caldons old campsite in Glen Trool, Newton Stewart (DG8 6SU), and passes named features including Curleywee, Rig of Jarkness, the Murder Hole, the Old Grey Man of Merrick and Bruce's Stone.
The course heads up the valley to Lamachan, follows a ridge to Curleywee, then drops to the Axe Head stone checkpoint on the Southern Upland Way where runners receive food and water. The route climbs to Craiglee, crosses a plateau and descends along the Rig of Jarkness to a manned checkpoint. It continues past the Murder Hole to the base of Merrick, includes a climb to the summit of Merrick, then descends to Bruce's Stone before returning through the valley to Caldons for the finish and a bowl of soup and cakes.
The event is intended for people aged 18 or older who have fell running experience and navigation skills, as it may be run in winter conditions. Mandatory kit that must be carried or worn includes a map, compass, whistle, waterproof top with integral hood and taped seams, waterproof bottoms with taped seams, head torch, hat and gloves. The race is fully marshalled and supported by Galloway Mountain Rescue, operates under a Scottish Hill Runners permit and SHR rules, and donates all profits to Galloway Mountain Rescue Team. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
