The ExchangeWed 11 Jun

The start and finish will be located on the north-west side of Exchange Square, off Lothian Road (near to Brewdog).

https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B056'50.5%22N+3%C2%B012'23.4%22W/@55.9473527,-3.2071537,146m

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Please try to walk, bike or use public transport, if at all possible.

Public transport:  

The event is well served by public transport with many different options. The 1, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 27, X27, X28, 30, X33, 34, 35, 36, 47, and 124 all stop adjacent to the start - for more information, see https://www.lothianbuses.com.

It is also only a short walk from the Trams and both Haymarket and Waverley stations.

Bike: It should also be easy to come to the event by bike especially if you live in the city or close to the city. A variety of quiet cycle route maps throughout the city are available on the Edinburgh City Council Quiet Routes web pages. It should be possible to find a place to lock your bike while you run.

The Exchange is a small but fiendishly complex area in the heart of Edinburgh. It consists of a mix of complicated multi-level areas around office and hotel buildings, and some contrasting Georgian terraces.

Mainly urban street terrain with many road crossings so all Under 16s must be accompanied.

Maps will be printed on non-waterproof paper.

A a new Sprint style map of the area mapped by Ben Brown in April 2025 using ISSprOM 2019-2. The newer multilevel symbols have been used to try and make this complex area understandable.

Please read this document which describes the various symbols in use to describe roads, bridges, and tunnels and in particular the symbols indicating out of bounds areas (olive green), impassable features which must not be crossed and artificial barriers.

The symbols can also be seen used at this year's JK Sprint: https://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#94&course=1.

• The busy Western Approach road dissects the area, and should only be crossed using one of the bridges over it. The road is marked on the maps with purple hashing. The pavements on either side can be used (they don’t have any hashing), but the road must not be crossed.
• Please take care when crossing any roads and obey the normal traffic conventions..
• The area has a mix of large paving stones and cobbles, and care should be taken on both if wet as they can be rather slippery.
• There is always a way using stairs/ natural slopes between controls. There is no need to jump between levels!
• There will be other people in the area and there are some narrow paths so please be careful watching out for people running in the opposite direction to you.
• Please avoid running close to local residents homes.
• 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.
• The area may be busy with 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 give any dog walkers you encounter extra space ie don’t run too close, especially if their dog/dogs are off lead

There will be two courses:

• Long (~4.5km) Scale 1:4000
• Short (~2.4km) Scale 1:3000

Distances are optimal, and subject to final tweaks. Long will have a 1:4000 map, and Short will have a 1:3000 map.

Both courses involve crossing of roads which can have significant traffic, so unfortunately any under 16s will have to be shadowed.

Please read all the safety notes above and this document which describes the various symbols in use to describe roads, bridges, and tunnels and in particular the symbols indicating out of bounds areas (olive green), impassable features which must not be crossed and artificial barriers.

The symbols can also be seen used at this year's JK Sprint: https://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#94&course=1.

SI will be used to record the Start and Finish and it is taken on trust that you have visited all the controls, marked at this event by red/white tape.

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Pre-Entry strongly advised: Entries will be open on RaceSignUp at 10:00 on Wednesday 4th June and close at 20:00 on Tuesday 10th June

If you miss this deadline send an email to email hidden; JavaScript is required to ask about a late entry. Entry on the evening of the event may still be possible but this is subject to spare maps being available, Payment by cash preferred, please bring the exact change if possible.

Remember all under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Either enter separately but run together or order an extra shadowers map for £1 if only the Junior is entered.

Fees: Senior £4, Junior (under 21)/Student £2. Shadowers map £1

Si dibbers are free to hire (via the entry form) but there is £30 charge if lost

Registration will be open shortly before the first start time at 6.30pm. Pre-entered competitors with their own dibbers can head straight to the start which will be close by.

START PERIOD: 6.30pm - 7.30pm.

COURSE CLOSURE: Courses will close at 8.30pm. If you are unsure about how long you will take to go around your course please come and start early.

FINISH AND DOWNLOAD will be close to Registration. It is essential to report to DOWNLOAD as a safety check that all competitors have returned.

• There are toilets available in the Brewdog but you may need to purchase food and drink to use them, and is also the unofficial post race meeting point.
• A first aid kit will be available at Registration