Heart of Granite
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Heart of Granite
Heart of Granite is a circular mountain race in the Galloway hills that starts and finishes at Caldons old campsite in Glen Trool, Newton Stewart (DG8 6SU). The course covers about 32 km (20 miles) with 1850 m of ascent and passes named features including Lamachan, Curleywee, the Axe Head stone checkpoint on the Southern Upland Way, Craiglee, the Rig of Jarkness, the Murder Hole, the Old Grey Man of Merrick and Bruce's Stone.
The route leaves Caldons campsite, follows a valley to Lamachan, gains the ridge to Curleywee, drops to the Axe Head checkpoint for food and water, then climbs to Craiglee and traverses a plateau before a long descent along the Rig of Jarkness. The route continues through the heart of the Galloway hills, past the Murder Hole, up to the summit of Merrick and then descends to Bruce's Stone before returning along the valley to Caldons for the finish where soup and cakes are provided.
The event is for people aged 18 or older and is intended for those with fell running experience and navigation skills, as it may be run in winter conditions. Galloway Mountain Rescue marshalls the course, provides first aid cover and manned checkpoints. The race holds a permit from Scottish Hill Runners and is run under SHR rules. Mandatory kit includes a map, compass, whistle, waterproof top and bottoms with taped seams, a head torch, hat and gloves. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
