BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//6.6.4.4//EN TZID:Europe/London X-WR-TIMEZONE:Europe/London BEGIN:VEVENT UID:0-839@lvo.org.uk DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260808T063000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260808T200000 DTSTAMP:20260718T073628Z URL:https://lvo.org.uk/allfixtures/the-original-mourne-seven-sevens-challe nge-walk-2026/ SUMMARY:The Original Mourne Seven Sevens Challenge Walk 2026 DESCRIPTION:8th August 2026\nEntries Open: Saturday 14th February 2026\nEnt ries Close: Monday 27th July (or when full)\n\nVenue: Shimna Integrated Co llege The Lawnfield\, King Street\, Newcastle\, Co Down\, BT33 0HD\n\n\n\n FINAL INSTRUCTIONS can be downloaded here\n\nIt is important to note that this site is for the Challenge Walk only. If you want to enter the mountai n race which is run as a separate event then you should consult the Northe rn Ireland Mountain Running Association (NIMRA) website.\n\nParticipants m ust have the skills\, fitness and experience to complete a walk of this le ngth in the high mountains. Navigation skills are essential in poor weathe r.\nPreparation\nEquipment\, food and water\nThe event is not supported al ong the route. Participants must carry all the equipment and supplies they need for the day. Participants must have the following minimum kit which will be checked at registration:\n\n hiking boots/shoes or fell shoes (no trainers)\n waterproof coat with hood\n waterproof trousers\n hat\n f ood and drink sufficient for a long day hiking  (water is not provided en route)\n 1:25\,000 map of the Mourne Mountains ¹\n\n compass &\; wh istle ¹ ²\n First Aid kit ²\n survival bag (a foil bag is good but no space blankets) ²\n\nNote 1 - Smart phones must not be used as the only means of navigation.\nNote 2  - If walking in a group - the map\, compass \, whistle\, first aid kit and survival bag may be shared between up to 3 people. Groups will need to do kit check together and then stay together t hroughout the day.\n\nThese items are required regardless of the weather f orecast as mountain conditions in Britain and Ireland can change dramatica lly with little warning. Anyone failing the kit-check at registration will not be allowed to start. The Organiser's decision will be final and there will be no recompense for this decision.\n\n Participants should be fami liar with the dangers and signs of hypothermia and hyperthermia and what a ction to take. Please read these FRA leaflets for more info – Hypertherm ia  and  Hypothermia. \n Ticks &\; Lyme disease - are another haza rd in our uplands. Be sure to check yourself carefully after the walk and have a removal card or tweezers to hand. For more info click here.\n\nDogs \nDogs are not allowed on the walk\, since large sections of it cross land grazed by sheep.\nOn the Day\nParking\nParking is available in Donard car park\, Newcastle. Parking is free. Follow signs &\; tape from the sout h end of the car park through to Shimna College. Please do not drive direc tly to the venue.\nToilets\nToilets are available at the north end of Dona rd car park and in the venue.\nRegistration\nRegistration opens on Saturda y morning at 06:00. You will need to hand in the Registration Form with de tails of your car registration\, walking companions (if any)\, contact det ails\, etc. These details will only be used for event admin or emergencies on the day and will be securely disposed of after the event. (Please prin t out and complete this in advance so as to minimise queuing time). DOWNLO AD FORM HERE\nTiming\nYou will be given an electronic timing chip (aka dib ber) on a lanyard. Please look after this -  the replacement cost is £30 . You will also receive a numbered tag to attach to your rucksack.\n\n\n\n \nHow to use the electronic timing gear...when you are ready to start your walk\, go to the start marshals who will activate the timing chip (dibber ). At each summit you will find an electronic SI Control Box on a post wit h an orange and white flag. Insert your dibber into the hole in the SI box and wait until you hear a beep. The dibber will now have recorded the tim e you arrived at the top. Click here for more info on the timing system.\n Start\nStarts are open between 06:30 and 08:00. The start of the walk will be a short distance from Registration. \nMarshals\nThere are six marshal led positions along the route in cols between summits where you will be re quired to give your participant number. N.B. The NIMRA 77s race starts at 10am and uses the same checkpoints. Runners will be wearing race bibs\nRou te\nThe 2026 route is anti-clockwise around each of the seven summits whic h must be visited in the order stipulated below plus the marshalled checkp oints (MCPs). This challenge walk is not guided or way-marked along the ro ute. Navigational skills will be required\, especially if weather conditio ns are poor so participants must have the ability and experience to use bo th map and compass. Navigation using only a smartphone app is not allowed. \n\nPlease do not walk on the Mourne Wall. This is to protect our national treasure from damage. Stiles should be used to cross the wall where avail able or if necessary the wall can be climbed over with care where it is st urdy.\nOrder of Summits for 2026 (approx 32km\, 2600m)\n\n\n\nCheckpoint\n Grid Ref *\n\nMarshals / Timed\n\n\nStart – Shimna College\nJ 373 301\nS tart Control Box\n\n\nSlieve Donard 853m\nJ 357 276\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCo l Donard-Commedagh\nJ 349 279\nMarshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Commedag h (summit) 765m\nJ 345 286\nControl Box\n\n\n\nHares Gap\n\nJ 322 286\nMar shalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Bearnagh (corner in wall – south side) 7 39m\nJ 312 280\nControl Box\n\n\n\nSlieve Meelmore (summit cairn - west si de of wall) 687m\nJ 305 285\nControl Box\n\n\n\nCol Meelmore-Meelbeg (stil e)  Cut-Off 13:00\nJ 303 281\nMarshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Meelbeg (summit - east side of wall) 708m\nJ 300 279\nControl Box\n\n\n\nBen Crom Dam (NW end) Cut-Off Time 14:00\nJ 313 256\nControl Box + Marshalled Check Point\n\n\n\nSlieve Binnian (south summit) 747m\nJ 320 233\nControl Box\n \n\n\nCol Binnian-Lamagan (path junction) Cut-Off Time 16:30\nJ 320 255\nM arshalled Check Point\n\n\nSlieve Lamagan (summit) 704m\nJ 328 260\nContro l Box\n\n\n\nCol Donard-Commedagh (stile)\nJ 349 279\nControl Box + Marsha lled Check Point \n\n\n\nFinish – Shimna College\nJ 373 301\nFinish Cont rol Box\n\n\n\n*  N.B. 6 figure grid references refer to the bottom left corner of a 100m square. Click here for more information on grid reference s and some other navigational tips.\nCut-off times &\; Retirements\nThe re are three checkpoints with cut-off times: Meelbeg-Meelmore Col\, Ben Cr om Dam and Lamagan-Binnian Col. These are to ensure walkers complete the r oute before dark and that our marshals can also safely get off the mountai ns. Walkers missing a cut-off will be retired from the event and should re turn directly to the event centre in Donard Park. N.B. Retirements are mar ked RTD on the results with no times and no certificate issued.\n\nN.B. Co ntrols in each section of the course will be taken in shortly after the cu t-off time for the section.\nTime and Distance\nIf you look at previous ye ars' results you will note that the Ben Crom dam is consistently half way around the course for most people\, regardless of their finish time. Slow or leisurely walkers take up to 14hrs to finish the course. If you fall in to this category you need to be starting no later than 7am in order to rea ch the dam by the 2pm cut-off. The Meels Col is also consistently 2/5ths ( 40%) of the circuit and the Lam-Bin Col is 2/3rds (66%) of it – so you s hould do the maths for your own particular walking pace and work out a sta rt time.\n\nRetirees at any stage of the event must report as soon as poss ible either to a marshal or via text to base and return directly to the ev ent centre to return their dibbers and register that they are safely off t he mountains.\n\nFinish\nDownload At the finish and hand in your dibber. Y ou will receive a print out of your progress around the route with split t imes for each summit plus a certificate of completion. Finish times will b e published online.\nFacilities\n\n Refreshments will be available at the finish from 2pm. Please state any dietary preferences on the entry form.\ n Showers - Available\n Toilets - Available\n\n\nDisclaimer\nHillwalking is an activity with a danger of personal injury\, death and loss of or da mage to property. Participants must be be over 18 years old and must be a ware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions an d involvement. Neither Lagan Valley Orienteers\, nor any of its individual members\, can be held responsible for any injury\, loss or damage (to ind ividuals or to property) howsoever sustained by participation in the event . The club reserves the right to refuse entry to the walk to anyone deemed unprepared for the event on the day and to force retirement from the even t of anyone breaching either the rules of the event or the NI Countryside Code.\nPrivacy Policy\nIn order to organise this event we need to ask you for some Personal Data. Please read our Privacy Policy here before enterin g the event.\nEntries\nThis event accepts online entry only and there will be no entries on the day. The entry fee is £50 (includes £5 non-refunda ble deposit). Minimum age 18 years old on the day.\n\n\n\nCancellations &a mp\; Changes\nYou may cancel your entry via the SI Entries up until Friday 31st July\, and refunds will be offered as follows\n\n Up to Saturday 2 3rd May - £45\n Up to  Tuesday 30th June - £40\n 1st -  31st July - £30\n No Refunds after Friday 31st July\n\n\n\n \;\n\nSubstitution s and start time changes can also be made via SI Entries (at no charge) bu t please be sure to amend all the required details. You remain the owner o f any entries even if you have swaped yourself out.  You can now also "se ll" your entry to a friend which alleviates you of all responsibility for it. No changes allowed after 31st July.\n\n\n\nOr email us at:\n\n\nEvent Cancellation\nIf we are forced to cancel the event we will refund the entr y fee less £5 to cover our non-recoverable costs. We will not be liable f or any incidental costs incurred by the Participant\, including (but not l imited to) travel\, accommodation\, food or equipment.\n\nCommunity Suppor t\nLagan Valley Orienteers are always grateful for the support we get from local communities when we hold events in their area. For this event we ar e pleased to be able to donate some of the proceeds each year to local cha rities. Previous beneficiaries have included:  Womens Aid NI\, Mourne Her itage Trust and the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team.\n\nMore Information\n\n For more info and tips -see our FAQ Page\n For past results - see our Fin ishers Archive\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://i0.wp.com/lvo.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/ Mournes-7x7s-Home-1.png?fit=1680%2C720&ssl=1 LOCATION:Newcastle - Donard Park\, Donard Park\, Newcastle\, BT33 0HL\, Nor thern Ireland GEO:54.2061229;-5.893984600000067 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=Donard Park\, Newcastle\, B T33 0HL\, Northern Ireland;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE=Newcastle - Donard P ark:geo:54.2061229,-5.893984600000067 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London X-LIC-LOCATION:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT DTSTART:20260329T020000 TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR