Figgate ParkSat 20 Jul

The event base will be the 1143 (Portobello) Squadron Air Training Corp Hut, Hamilton Terrace, EH15 1NB, close to the park entrance at the junction of Hamilton Drive and Hamilton Terrace. Please park considerately as this is a residential area.

Please come by public transport, bike or walk if you possibly can.

By Bus: Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey. 

• Lothian buses 12, 21 and 49 have stops on Brighton Place.
• Lothian buses 19 and 26 stop on Portobello High Street

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.

Figgate Park is a scenic park with a large pond, picnic tables, walking paths & wildlife, including swans & otters, located in Portobello. The terrain is largely open, with short grass and extensive paths. Figgate Burn runs through the centre of the park and can only be crossed using the bridges and so runners should consider their route choice when crossing the burn is required on a leg.

There are small patches of woodland, may of which have brambles, nettles and other undergrowth. Runners might want to consider their route choices to avoid these. There are some areas of the park where new wildflower planting has taken place and some smaller paths added in these areas which are not mapped.

The park is popular with families and dog walkers and runners should take care around other park users.

The surrounding area includes a network of smaller, residential streets.

Based on a 2011 map by club members and Peel Land Surveys (urban section). Map scale is 1:5000.

Course maps will be printed at A4 on waterproof paper with control descriptions on the map, no loose descriptions will be available.

The maps for the 3 longest courses will be printed double sided ie with a map flip part way round.

General notes - please also read the Course specific notes below

• Other Users: Figgate Park is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, 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 4pm after which controls will start to be brought in . All competitors should be back at Download by 4pm.
• 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, and although the courses have been planned to avoid the worst if it, full leg cover is recommended.

Please read and respect the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct.

There is a range of courses for beginners, improvers and experienced orienteers, which will include a street orienteering element as well as being in Figgate Park. This means under 16s must be accompanied by an adult to run these courses.

White & Yellow courses do not leave the park boundaries and there are no road crossings or risks from vehicles on these course. The courses will use the network of paths around the pond and burn, which are largely unfenced. A wooden walkway crosses the pond, which has some missing boards and the water level in the pond is currently very high. Very young children should be accompanied if they want to explore this.

The Orange course crosses a quiet residential street and enters a second park area. While the road is unlikely to be busy, care should be taken.

Courses Light Green, Green and Blue will all leave the park boundaries and enter the residential areas surrounding the park. Courses do not cross any major roads, but runners should take care when crossing streets. In the area to the north-west of the park there are some new play areas that have been built that are not mapped, but the layout of the surrounding roads has not changed.

Preliminary Course details, subject to final revision

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Pre-Entry and pre payment via RaceSignUp are required for this event. Entries open Monday 8th July and will close at 6pm on Friday 19th July

However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 8pm on Monday 15th July

Entry on the day (EOD): Entry on the day will be available at Registration as long as maps on waterproof paper are available, thereafter maps on "normal" paper will be available.

On the RaceSignUp page 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.
- number of maps left, ie entry limit-no of entries in the Courses box, from 3pm on Tuesday 9th April

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

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 the Squadron Air Training Corp Hut, close to the entrance to the park at the junction of Hamilton Drive and Hamilton Terrace.

• 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 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.

There are toilets at Registration in the Air Training Corp Hut, but also in local area at

• Morrisons, Portobello Road, EH8 7EF
• Aldi, Portobello High Street, EH15 1DW
• Public Toilets, Portobello Promenade, EH15 1BR (10am – 6pm)