Following the deferral of the new Kong Mountain Marathon from 2020 to 2021, we have had numerous conversations with the landowners, National trust for Scotland and NatureScot.
The isle of Arran and specially our event area in the Arran Northern Mountains and Arran Moors is a unique geological and natural habitat. The area is internationally important for its breeding Hen Harriers. Around 5 percent of the UK breeding population of Hen Harriers are found on Arran. In addition the area is nationally important for Red-throated Divers, Golden Eagle, Peregrine falcon and Short-eared Owl. Furthernore there is an important resident red deer population that live on the open hill land within the Arran Northern Mountains.
Taking this into further consideration, we have been asked by NatureScot and the National trust for Scotland to move the date from June to August to avoid the key bird nesting and deer calving period and we have received permission from the landowners for the last weekend of August. The weekend of 27/28th August is of course the bank holiday weekend in England, but not in Scotland.
We have spend many weeks now on Arran planning for the event and the natural beauty of the island keeps surprising us. We cannot wait to show you the island and hopefully the weather will be even better in August (although there are no guarantees of course in Scotland).
We apologise for any inconvenience of yet another date change, but we hope you understand that we have to ensure we don’t cause damage to this beautiful environment.
We hope to see you on the startline in August!