Nessie News - Day 5
Welcome to Glen AffricSouth - Friday 7th August
PDF download of Nessie News for Day 5
Information for Day 5
Starts 3km, mostly easy walking across fields and on tracks but not suitable for buggies. There are two Starts adjacent to each other. There is a White start and a combined Red/Blue/Green Start. There will be limited toilet facilities close to the Starts. Routes to the starts and from the finish leave the parking field on the river side, about 150m east of the Arena area. The route to the string course leaves the parking field on the other side – you will have passed the string course on your way to the field.
Map 2014 extension and revision by DOLM of 1999 map used for Day 4 of Highland ‘99
Terrain Mostly commercial forest with pockets of delightful native species, and with several deep-sided ravines. Crags at stream edges are well mapped and can be avoided with ease. Runnability has been reduced by recent windblow, most of which is shown on the map by a vertical green screen. Courses for youngest juniors are not affected.
Safety Information All routes to the Starts have a section along the track being used by event traffic. Please take care, both when driving in to the event, and when walking to the Start. Some very high crags near one ravine will be marked with yellow/black tape. All courses cross a minor, unmetalled, public road, however there is little traffic and it moves slowly.
String Course The String and Off-string courses are 200m from the main car park, and adjacent to the routes to the Starts. The route to the String courses crosses a rough field, not suitable for buggies, and crosses the track being used by event traffic. The crossing will be marshalled. Children should be accompanied by an adult when walking to or from the String course. Day 5 string course will open 1 hour later than normal.
Special Info Course 4. M12A M14B . After control 2 do not cross the Yellow/Black tape marking edge of uncrossable marsh. Follow along the tape , keeping it on your left until control 3(213).
Course 41 M21E To SW of control 19 (156) there is extensive impenetrable windblow. The maps at start will show this area – course maps will not.
Finish The 6-Day finishes are on the south side of the river, after finishing all competitors must follow directions to download in the Race Arena. There are 3 Finishes. One for the short, technically easy, courses from the White Start (1 km from Download), one for the shorter technically difficult courses (1.5 km from Download) and one for all the other courses (400m from Download). Classes 5, 6 and 7 will pick up a map at their finish showing the route to Download, which proceeds past the finish being used by the less technical junior classes. Routes from the other finishes are signed and marked with red/white tape.
Day 5 of the 6 day event is sharing parking and Arena facilities with WOC, whilst using a totally separate forest. You will get to run in the WOC forest tomorrow! The Day 5 forest is on the south side of the river and this creates some inconvenience – for you the competitor and for us the organisers. Please understand and bear with the less than ideal situation. On the plus side you will have an opportunity to spectate at the WOC Long Race and run in the Long Race forest tomorrow.
Wildlife Some areas next to the river, the Abhainn Deabhag, have been taped off and are Out of Bounds, to minimise disturbance to wildlife.
Club Tents must be removed after Day 5 to allow taping for the Day 6 run in. They can be stored in the equipment tent overnight.
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the following landowners and their agents for the use today’s areas: Forestry Commission, FCS Community, Recreation and Tourism Officer, Jack Mackay. Nigel Fraser, Alex Grigg Willie Birnie.
Also the Royal Engineers for bridge construction.
Thanks to Walkers shortbread for today’s string course prizes.
Information for Day 6 : Glen Affric North
IV4 7LY
ELITE BIBS Elites collect new bib for Day 6. Bring your own pins!
From Inverness follow A82 14 miles alongside Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit. Turn R on A831 12 miles to Cannich. Follow minor road and tracks (O signs) 5 miles to Tomich and Wester Knockfin.
Parking As on day 5. Rain has affected our plans. Please be patient with our volunteer parking marshals.
On the way to all Starts on Day 6 competitors will have to cross the main track used by S6D traffic on their way to the parking field. This crossing will be marshalled and all competitors and drivers must comply with the Marshal's instructions.
Day 6 bus drop off is 2.2k from the arena. Everyone must go to Arena to access Starts. Car drivers pleas allow time for this.
About Darnaway
Day 5 you pass by Guisachan House ruins so here is a wee bit about it - Guisachan House was built in the 1850s by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks, later Lord Tweedmouth.
The story is told that he bought the estate for a relative pittance after the previous owner, part of the Fraser clan, announced at a dinner party: “If anyone gave me £60,000 for Guisachan, I would sell it tomorrow.” His offer was accepted and he had to sell. At least two Prime Ministers – Disraeli and Churchill – are known to have spent holidays there, but that’s not the ruin’s claim to fame.
Rather, it’s a breed of dog that has that honour. The Golden Retriever was first bred there by Lord Tweedmouth: the breed itself was recognised in 1911 and is a cross between a wavy-coated retriever and a Tweed water spaniel. This is the ancestral home of the Golden Retriever and people make pilgrimages/ to stand in awe before the Guisachan House ruins the origins of one of today’s most beloved breed of dogs the world over. So it is that in 2018, Golden fanciers will celebrate the 150th anniversary of this magnificent breed. And there is little doubt that many will make the trek to Guisachan to savor the aura of this very special site. A new brass statue commemorating the Golden Retriever was unveiled in Tomich Village last year and can be seen as you drive through the village.
As you made your way to Strathfarrar /Glen Afric you may have noticed a yellow church with a large lizard climbing up its front. This is Kilmorack Gallery, one of Scotland’s most successful commercial art galleries. Throughout the Scottish Six Days we are running a temporary mixed exhibition of work by our gallery artists, before we hang our August show (preview on the 11th August.) Kilmorack Gallery is a very special place. Further details can be found at www.kilmorackgallery.co.uk.
If you return via Drumnadrochit try a visit to:
- Loch Ness Monster attractions at Drumnadrochit.
- Highland Pony Trekking centre further up the road from Plodda at Cougie
- The Magnificent 13th century Urquhart Castle ruins just outside Drumnadrochit
- Corrimory RSPB reserve and Chambered Cairn just off the A831 on their way back towards Drumnadrochit.
- Jacobite cruises on Loch Ness.
- Glen Affric itself which has plenty of waymarked walks and magnificent hills for the more energetic.
- Eat lovely homebaking and delicious soup at the Bog Cotton Café at the Cannich Campsite.
Things to Do West of Inverness
Congratulations and Celebrations
Hedwig Haas (Nybro OK) is 19 today. Kür hårt.
Paul and Barbara Beckett married in Inverness on 4th August. Good wishes from HAVOC.
Happy 1st birthday to Iona Macpherson of Clydeside Orienteers
Congratulations to Rod and Sarah Mansel who celebrate their 22nd Wedding Anniversary today.
Happy 35th wedding anniversary to Anita and Dave Kingdon of Saxons Orienteering.
Welcome to Harpenden Arrows runners Tim Cochrane, Emma Cochrane, Brian Yates and Janice Nisbet.
Friday Social Events
Tonight - Final night Hoolie!
Hear traditional music with a fresh twist and get those tired feet tapping to local young musician and BBC 2 Music Awards winner Craig Irving and his upbeat Scottish folk band (guitar, fiddle, small pipes)
Bught Park Campsite Marquee 8.30pm
Tickets £4/2 (18 and under) at Information Tent or on the door.
ELITE JUNIOR CLINIC. With WOC Medallists. 7:30 tonight at Eden Court. Ask about it at Information.
Notices
TICKS and LYME disease. Ticks are still with us
Non-runner any day and want a map? Ask at Information
Lost Bib?? You will have to buy a replacement from Entries, and there may be a wait.
Lost turquoise Brooks jacket. If found bring to Info Tent.
Antony Squire and Janine Inman. Please call Janice on 07827 329796
SCOTJOS fundraising quiz. Last entries must be in by 3pm today. Winners will be contacted on Saturday. Thanks to Really Awesome Coffee Co for a prize.
Junior Certificates and Cloth Badges. First three in class on a day please enquire from Information about Certificates. Badges based on the week’s results (bronze, silver, gold) can be ordered and purchased at Information.
S6D Merchandise although there is no Scottish 6 Days clothing left for sale, orders for merchandise are now been taken and will be sent out by post. Anyone wishing to order merchandise can do so at the Event Merchandise tent at Days 5 and 6.