Lauriston Castle and Cramond ForeshoreSat 12 Apr

The event will be based in the Lauriston Castle estate in NW Edinburgh with parking in the surrounding streets. Postcode for the event is EH4 5QD and What3words for the main gate is ///mops.guard.fend

There are plenty of options for getting there. Please use public transport or share cars if at all possible.

By Car: Head for Cramond Road South. Parking for the Lauriston Castle event will be in the surrounding streets; such as Lauriston Farm Road or Barnton Park, both off Cramond Road South just south of the main entrance to Lauriston Castle. Please don't park in the small car park within the grounds. When parking in residential streets please be considerate of local residents.

Car share: Edinburgh based orienteers are welcome to join the newly expanded Edinburgh Orienteers - Car sharing WhatsApp group. Please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required for the joining link.

By Bus: Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey, the number 47 stops right outside.. Other Lothian and out of town bus services, such as Stagecoach, run along Queensferry Road and these could be more convenient. Get off at the stop nearest to Quality Street to walk to the event.

By Bike: A variety of quiet cycle route maps throughout the city are available on the Edinburgh City Council Quiet Routes web pages. It will be possible to lock your bike close by Registration while you run and there will be a tent to leave bags.

Terrain: This is a particularly good area for beginners. Beginners courses will be in the castle grounds which include some woodland and a small pond. Please note that the Japanese garden and the croquet lawns are out of bounds (these are marked as such on the map). The courses for experienced orienteers will also use the pavements adjoining the castle grounds to get to the Cramond Foreshore area. There are no major road crossings so no age restrictions but please take care on the pavements.

Course Maps: ​These will be printed on waterproof paper and control descriptions will be printed on the map. No loose control descriptions.

• Other Users: The Lauriston Castle and the Cramond Foreshore areas are very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners and bikers. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.

• Please respect the Out of Bounds areas in the Castle and Lauriston Farm grounds.

• 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 (before it gets dark. 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. This event is mostly in the grounds of Lauriston Castle although some of the courses go out outwith the estate on pavements and grassy slopes, so please wear the most appropriate footwear for the course you are entering. It can be very cool and windy on this area, even on a fine Spring day, due to proximity to the Firth of Forth.
• There is only one pedestrian entrance and one exit to Lauriston Castle grounds during the race. Please be mindful of other runners and users while using it.

As usual at ESOC events there are courses to suit all abilities

• White, Yellow for young juniors
• Orange and Long Orange (aka Red) for improvers and runners
• Courses for more experienced orienteers

White and Yellow courses stay within the Castle Grounds, all other courses leave the grounds through a small side gate and visit the Cramond Foreshore. No road crossings so no restriction on juniors.

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Pre-entry using RaceSignUp will be required for this event. Entries will open at 10am on Monday 31st March and will close at 6pm on Friday 11th April

However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 8pm on Monday 7th April.

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 vehicle entrance to the Castle.

• Entry on the Day (EOD) if maps are still available. Payment by cash or 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 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.

• Coffee and cake at Lauriston Castle courtyard, courtesy of Mimi's Bakehouse Mon, Wed- Fri 9:00 - 4pm (10am - 4pm weekends).
• Toilets near to the Café - follow the estate signs
• Alzheimer Scotland have a support centre and garden in the Lodge near the entrance which may be open on the day.