Bonaly Country ParkSat 16 Nov
Local Event
Local event
Explanation of event types
Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport and Training events are non competitive and used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships. Virtual events are where there are no physical controls being used. Your presence at a control is registered using an App on your mobile phone, normally the free MapRun App.
Terrain type: Forest & Moorland
Results
Officials' Reports
Planners' Comments
Mid-November with frost in the weather forecast, but we were lucky enough to have a day that was dry, bright and not too cold to welcome a great turnout of orienteers. Thank you to everyone who came along, hope you enjoyed it. The addition of the area on the northwest side of Torduff Reservoir to the Bonaly map allows for some new challenges for those on Orange and above, including how to access the area. Blue and Long Orange enjoyed a very muddy steep path to get there, with the cobbled path on top of the dam being the route for other courses – hopefully everyone was refreshed by the bracing breeze off the reservoir. All courses involved a fair bit of uphill running, and I hope that challenge was enjoyed – even if only for the great views and the corresponding downhill sections!
White and Yellow followed a very similar route to each other, albeit in different directions, lots of beeping being the priority. The inclusion of quite a steep climb near the start and a stile halfway through hopefully added a little bit of extra excitement to Yellow. I personally liked the run down the gorse bush alley to the last control on White. The hillier nature of Orange seems to have counterbalanced the extra distance of Long Orange as these courses interestingly ended up with very similar finishing times. The Long Orange had a more challenging start loop than I really intended, especially the leg from control 5 to 6 – I hope everyone negotiated the gully safely. Green and Blue tended towards physical rather than navigational challenges, but I think both had a few legs where route choice was very important – the first and last legs on Blue in particular.
And who knew that golfers did so much hill-walking? Perhaps they don’t anymore, which would explain why the old golf course on the Torduff section of the map has been abandoned to the likes us to run up and down and round and round. The purists amongst you will note that golf courses don’t have charcoal burning grounds (as the control descriptions would have you believe) … hopefully everyone recognised this indicated old tees. Apologies to anyone affected by the mysteriously mobile control 203, which managed to jump across a tee from being stuck in the ground at one corner to being hung in a gorse bush in another corner all by itself!!
As always, these events are only possible with a large team of volunteers – it’s easy to get used to the usual slick teamwork involved prior to the event as well as on the day (setting up and running the start, finish, download, marshalling, enquiries, etc). Another great job done today - thanks and well done everyone. Thanks to those who still had some energy left to help collect controls and pack everything away. And we didn’t see any sheep, which is probably a good thing …
Michael McPhillips
Overview
Local event in this lovely Country Park in the North Pentlands just south of the Edinburgh City Bypass (A720)
Pre-event Information
Location Info
/-3.2623,55.8943,11/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNscGg3eGRlMjA0cm8yaW52aGhtY2lxZjQifQ.Lc483ZPI9QPGNrBpcqqywQ)
Near: Edinburgh Lat,Lng: 55.8943,-3.2623 OS Grid Ref: NT211675 Postcode: EH13 0PB What3Words: ///slug.shows.exit
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
Parking at the very top of Bonaly Road (past the Scout Centre) in the newly extended car park, What3words ///slug.shows.exit
Overflow parking on Torduff Road a 10-15 minute walk away (warm-up jog?). What3words ///front.pint.locked. Take care as the road up to the main car park is very narrow in places.
Edinburgh based orienteers are welcome to join the newly expanded ESOC car sharing WhatsApp group. Please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required for the joining link.
Public Transport Options
By Bus: Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey. Buses no 10 & 16 both stop within a 15-minute walk
By Bike: A variety of quiet cycle route maps throughout the city are available on the Edinburgh City Council Quiet Routes web pages. Cycles may be secured close the Registration while you run.
Map / Terrain
Terrain: Open moorland with patches of woodland on a steep hillside bounded by fences. Plenty of rock and contour detail and a moderate path network.
Map: Produced by Peel Land Surveys in 2022, based on a PG plot by Stirling Surveys. Minor updates in 2023.
Course maps will printed at 1:7500 or 1:4000 and 5m CI (TBC) on waterproof paper with control descriptions on the front, no loose descriptions on the day
Safety Notes
- Other Users: This area is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, cyclists, runners and children's games. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.
- Dogs: Competitor’s dogs are allowed and should be kept under very close control at all times.
- SAFETY NOTE RE DOGS: Please give any dog walkers you encounter whilst running on your course extra space ie don’t run too close, especially if their dog/dogs are off lead. This applies to all competitors, not just those running with a dog. We always need to respect other people's right to be there.
- Course Closure Time: All courses have a closure time of 3pm after which controls will start to be brought in . All competitors should be back at Download by 3pm..
- You must report to Download even if you do not complete your course, so we know you are back safely, and we don’t have to mount a search for you.
- Please check the weather forecast on the day and dress appropriately. The area can be exposed especially when windy and the grassy slopes slippery of wet, so please wear the most appropriate clothing and footwear for the course you are entering.
- There will be undergrowth (gorse), although the courses have been planned to avoid the worst if it, full leg cover is recommended. especially for the long courses.
- There will also be mud and fallen leaves making for slippery surfaces.
Course Information
This is the range of courses available with final details.
White, Yellow and Orange courses for newcomers, juniors and families, a Long Orange for improvers, older juniors and runners and Green and Blue for more experienced orienteers
| Course | Length | Climb | Scale |
| Blue | 5.6km | 280m | 1:7500 |
| Green | 3.8km | 260m | 1:7500 |
| Long Orange | 3.7km | 140 | 1:7500 |
| Orange | 2.8km | 170 | 1:7500 |
| Yellow | 1.4km | 100 | 1:4000 |
| White | 1.1km | 50 | 1:4000 |
Please note:
There are 2 types of out of bounds areas marked on the map
- permanent out of bounds (vertical black stripes), being the scout camp, the old water treatment works and a field that’s protected by an electric fence.
- In addition, in recognition of the sheep-tupping season, two large fields are marked out of bounds for this event (purple cross-hatches). Look out for a notice at the Start with the latest sheep forecast from the planner.
- A couple of the courses bring runners onto the road alongside the reservoir where they may encounter cyclists
Entry Details
Pre-Entry and pre payment via RaceSignUp are required for this event. Entries open on Tuesday 5th November and will close at 6pm on Friday 15th November
However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 8pm on Monday 11th November.
o create an account) you can view an entry list for all competitors and their chosen start blocks (scroll down to the Start List section). Please note that you can arrive at the start any time within your block.
Entry Fees: For 2024 we have a new range of Individual entry fees following membership restructuring by British Orienteering and increases in levy charges to support insurance cover for all competitors
| Category | BOF Members | SOA Members | Non Members |
| Seniors (26 and over) | £4.50 | £5.50 | £6.50 |
| Juniors/Students/Young adults (21-25) | £2.50 | £3.50 | £4.50 |
As well as individuals the entry system also allows pairs, groups or families who wish to go round a course together (sharing one map and dibber) to enter using a sliding scale of fees. Full details of how to enter pairs and groups (or as a Student) are on the RaceSignUp entry page. NB The RaceSignUp entry process for these categories has also changed for 2024
| Category | BOF members | SOA only members | Non members |
| 2 Seniors | £5.50 | £6.50 | £7.50 |
| 2 Juniors | £3.00 | £4.00 | £5.00 |
| 1 Senior + 1 Junior | £5.00 | £6.00 | £7.00 |
| 1 Senior + 2 Juniors | £5.50 | £6.50 | £7.50 |
| 2 Seniors + 1 Junior | £6.00 | £7.00 | £8.00 |
| 2 Seniors + 2 Juniors | £6.50 | £7.50 | £8.50 |
| 2 Seniors + 3 Juniors | £7.00 | £8.00 | £9.00 |
SportIdent (SI) electronic timing will be used.
We have SI dibbers for hire free of charge via the pre-entry system but there is a £30 charge if lost.
If you would like to buy your own SI-Card then a variety are available directly from SportIdent UK. The choice may be confusing and it may help you to know that the SI-Cards which ESOC hires out are very similar to the most basic model shown on the linked page - the SI-Card 8.
Registration and Start times
Registration: Will be open from 11:45 -13.15 (TBC) in a tent close to the exit gate from the car park.
- Entry on the Day (EOD) if maps are still available. Payment by cash, bank transfer or by card/contactless. Please try to have the correct money if at all possible.
- Collection of hired dibbers, White and Yellow maps:
- Advice and help for beginners
Start Times: From 12.00 to 13.30 with course closure at 3pm (TBC). You should be back at Download by 3pm as controls will start to be brought in by then so if you think you'll take a long time to complete your course please enter early so you can choose an early start time.
Facilities
There are toilets in the car park, but these are still closed.
Please use the facilities of supermarkets or shopping centres on your route
Dog restrictions
Well-behaved dogs on a lead or very close control are welcome.
Contacts / Officials
Advance enquires: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Entry enquiries: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Nearest A&E Hospital
Please see under Important Event Information in the side panel.
NHS Urgent care search