Ireland · Munster
Beara Way Ultra
Distance
161 km
Date
May 15, 2026
Entry fee
80 EUR
€ / km
€0.50
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
Rugged coastline, endless green in remote Ireland with some of Ireland´s best runners participating.
Elevation and Terrain
Total Meters
5500m
D+/KM
34.16m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
9.3%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-9.1%
Uphill gradient distribution
Route Profile
Analysed 2026-05-02Terrain breakdown
Terrain
Climbs
Top climbs
4.8 km · 446 m gain
starts km 24 · avg 9.3% · max 42.1%
3.1 km · 340 m gain
starts km 57 · avg 10.8% · max 27.9%
3.7 km · 307 m gain
starts km 43 · avg 8.3% · max 27.7%
Top descents
4.5 km · 333 m drop
starts km 60 · avg -7.4% · max -22.6%
2.5 km · 314 m drop
starts km 29 · avg -12.6% · max -33.7%
4.8 km · 296 m drop
starts km 155 · avg -6.0% · max -21.3%
161km Around the Beara Peninsula -- Ireland's Most Remote Ultra
Q: What is the Beara Way Ultra? A: The Beara Way Ultra is a 161km single-stage ultra following the Beara Way walking trail around the Beara Peninsula in West Cork, Ireland. Organised by IMRA Munster, the race gains 5,500m D+ with a 37-hour time limit and carries an IMRA difficulty rating of 10/10 Extreme -- the highest possible. The course mixes coastal paths, mountain bog, quiet roads, and farm tracks. It was first held in 2023, making 2025 the third edition. The race is part of the Irish Ultra Championships.
Course Profile -- Bog, Coast, 5,500m D+, and a Brutal Final 20km
Q: How hard is the Beara Way Ultra? A: Extremely demanding. The race carries an IMRA 10/10 Extreme difficulty rating and a ~37% DNF rate confirmed across editions. At 9.28% distance-weighted average uphill gradient, the climbing is sustained rather than extreme -- but boggy off-camber terrain, Atlantic weather (typically wet and windy in May), and 161km of accumulated fatigue make this significantly harder than gradient data suggests. The final 20km, with the finish visible from a distance, is described by finishers as psychologically the toughest section of the course.
0.50 EUR per Kilometre and Home-Baked Aid Stations -- the IMRA Value Case
Q: How much does it cost to enter the Beara Way Ultra? A: Entry is approximately 70-80 EUR (0.50 EUR/km). The 2024 official IMRA page listed 70 EUR; the DTR Airtable database records 80 EUR, possibly reflecting a more recent edition. IMRA league events typically open registration only a few weeks before race day. Monitor the IMRA events page (imra.ie/events) for the next edition announcement.
Who Should Run the Beara Way Ultra?
Q: When does the Beara Way Ultra take place? A: The race is held annually in May -- the 2025 edition ran May 15, 2025. Start is from Castletownbere town centre, Co. Cork. The time limit is 37 hours, with a finish deadline on Saturday evening. Check the official IMRA page at imra.ie/events for exact 2026/2027 dates when announced.
Race files
Logistics
Nearest airport
Cork (ORK)
Notes
Start: ~2–3 hrs drive (remote) / Public transport: Not realistic / Accommodation: Limited (small towns); book early; logistics-heavy
FAR
It’ll possibly take 3+ hours from the closest large airport to arrive. Plan your adventure accordingly, take an extra day for those after-race beers or Curranz.
