Bush EstateSat 12 Jul

The Bush Estate (including the Edinburgh Technopole science and business park) can be reached by heading for the Edinburgh City Bypass at Straiton Junction for the A701 and at Lothianburn Junction for the A702, both of which will take you to close to Bush Estate.

Parking will be available on hard standing within the Bush Estate, signed from the entrance to the Estate at NT247 638 on the minor road linking the A701 at Gowkley Moss to the A702 near Easter Howgate. What 3 words ///throat.leaps.student

By Bus: Lothian bus number 15, hourly service using the A701, passes close to the Bush Estate as does Lothian bus number 37, a half hourly service to Penicuik using the A702, but not on Saturdays, so you need to change onto the 141 in Loanhead.

Parkland and woodland with many paths and tracks and masses of summer vegetation

The map (updated in 2025), will be printed on waterproof paper, control descriptions will be printed on the map (no loose control descriptions) and the map scale is 1:5000, except for White which is 1:3000

• Traffic. Competitors will have cross quiet Estate roads during the event. Please be vigilant for traffic.
• Other Users: The Estate is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners, families out for a walk, bikers etc. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.
• Please slow down to a walk and give plenty of room if passing off-lead dogs and stand still if an off-lead dog is agitated.
• Well behaved dogs welcome within the rules of the park
• .Take care when running along or crossing the estate roads, although quiet there may be traffic.
• All courses are in the confines of the park. There is no requirement to leave the park as part of the event.
• You must report to Download even if you do not complete your course, so we know you are back safely (and don't need a search party). Please return to Download by 4pm.I
• It may be muddy so we strongly recommend that competitors on all courses wear studded or grippy shoes if they have them, as the steep slopes can be slippery in both wet and dry conditions.
• Whistles are strongly advised, and we require full leg cover for all competitors, as per standard rules.
• Poor weather. In the case of rain please ensure you wear an appropriate clothing..

Please also read the safety notes in the Courses section

As usual at ESOC events there will be courses to suit all abilities

• White, Yellow and Orange
• Long Orange for improvers and runners
• Light Green for those ready to move up the difficulty scale from Orange
• Green course for more experienced orienteers

Please note:

• All courses cross quiet estate roads but there may be slow moving cars, the White and Yellow courses will have marshals at the road crossings.
• There are water features to avoid.
• The Green course, and Light Green courses have a map-flip (double sided map) ie turn map over part way through
• Most courses will encounter masses of summer vegetation, some of which will be prickly.
• There are steep slopes which will be slippery when wet

Course lengths below are provisional

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Pre-entry using RaceSignUp will be required for this event. (direct link will be added nearer the time). Entries will open at 10:00 on Monday 30th June and will close at 18:00 on Friday 11th July.

However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 20:00 on Monday 7th July

On the RaceSignUp page (first time users will need to 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:

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

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: Will be open from 12:45am -2.15pm in a tent close to the entrance to the advertised parking

• Entry on the Day (EOD) if maps are still available. Payment by cash 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 1.00pm to 2.30pm with course closure at 4pm. You should be back at Download by 4pm as controls will start to be brought in by 4pm 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.

Download will be adjacent to Registration

• There are no toilets available but there are numerous options for calling in at a supermarket or shopping centre on your way to the event.