Monday 31st July 2023

Today is a middle distance event and a World Ranking Event for M/W21E

Darnaway West was last used for a major event in 2015 when it hosted the WOC relay and day 4 of Highland 2015.

The area will be a delight to compete on – it is varied with many broadleaf areas (mainly beech) and a varying density of conifers (some regrowth which is thick and some well spaced pine). Underfoot varies as well from reasonably clean forest floor through to short grass, long grass and then heather and bilberry.

There is excellent contour detail – a myriad of knolls and depressions – with some paths, tracks and roads crossing the area.

Photo © valenta (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Day 2 is a middle distance event which brings you to an area last used for Highland 2015 and the WOC Relay.  With kind permission of The Earl of Moray and Darnaway Estates we are avoiding the Capercaillie restrictions and heading to the north western portion of Darnaway Forest.

Darnaway West is an area of runnable beech and open woodland, full of contour features and with an extensive path network and clay pigeon and archery ranges (not in use on our day!)

Location


Gallery

A selection of images from the race area…

Image Caption: Darnaway map extract

Image Caption: Darnaway Forest cc-by-sa/2.0 - © valenta - geograph.org.uk/p/6143326

Image Caption: Darnaway map extract

Final Details

Important Information

Organising clubs:
Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) supported by Loch Eck Orienteers (ECKO).
Organisers:
Jonathan Molloy (FVO) & Rona Molloy (FVO).
Planners:
Fraser Purves (FVO) & Finlo Cottier (ECKO).
Controllers:
Lynne Walker (BASOC) & Ross Lilley (ECKO).
Parking:
Field adjacent to Darnaway Forest / C10E / C11E unclassified roads to Conicavel.
Directions:
If travelling from Forres: Follow the A96 west towards Nairn out of Forres. After 2.4 miles turn left onto an unclassified road (Whitemire / Conicavel). After 0.8 miles turn right onto an unclassified road (Whitemire / Conicavel). After 1 mile at junction continue into parking field as directed.
If travelling from Nairn direction: Follow A96 and once through Brodie take the first right after 0.5 mile across the A96 onto an unclassified road (Whitemire / Conicavel). After 0.8 miles turn right onto an unclassified road (Whitemire / Conicavel). After 1 mile at junction continue into parking field as directed.
Arena:
Adjacent to parking.
Starts:
Red and Blue starts are co-located 700m from the arena.
The WRE elite start is adjacent to the Red and Blue starts and is a silent start.
Green and White starts are co-located 400m from the arena.

Terrain:
Runnable beech and open woodland.
Safety:
Runners may encounter archery and clay pigeon shooting equipment in one part of the forest.
There will be a drinks station provided in the forest for WRE competitors only.
Junior Courses:
TD1 and TD2 courses follow white tape where the routes are less clear.
Maps:
Base map from Lidar data supplied by the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Original Survey & Cartography: DOLM & Stirling Surveys (2014 & 2015).
Event updates: Trailmaps 2022-23.
Finish:
The finish for all courses is in the arena.
There will be a separate final control and run-in for WRE competitors.
String and Off-string Courses:
100m from the Arena, taking the same, marshalled road crossing from the Arena as used for the Red and Blue Starts.
Special Information:
Day 2 is part of the UK Orienteering League series and is a World Ranking Event for elite competitors only, who must read the separate WRE final details.
BOF Registration Number: 81095

Final Course Lengths

Course Class Length (km) Climb (m) Map Scale Start
1 M10B W10B 1.0 15 1:7,500 White
2 M10A M12B W10A W12B 1.4 15 1:7,500 White
3 W12A W14B 2.3 20 1:7,500 White
4 M12A M14B 2.2 20 1:7,500 White
5 W75S W85 2.3 25 1:7,500 White
6 M85 W70S W80 2.3 25 1:7,500 White
7 M75S M80 W65S W75L 2.5 30 1:7,500 White
8 White 1.0 15 1:7,500 White
9 Yellow 1.4 15 1:7,500 White
10 Orange 2.2 25 1:7,500 White
14 Light Green 2.8 30 1:7,500 Green
15 Green 2.8 30 1:7,500 Green
16 W14A W16B 2.8 30 1:7,500 Green
17 M14A M16B 2.8 30 1:7,500 Green
18 M70S W55S W60S W70L 2.4 25 1:7,500 Green
19 M65S W50S 2.4 25 1:7,500 Green
20 M75L W45S W65L 2.8 30 1:7,500 Green
21 M60S W40S 2.9 30 1:7,500 Green
22 W18S W20S W35S 2.8 30 1:10,000 Green
23 M55S W60L 3.0 35 1:7,500 Blue
24 M70L W55L 3.3 35 1:7,500 Blue
25 M18S W16A W21S 3.3 35 1:10,000 Blue
26 M50S 3.4 40 1:7,500 Blue
27 M45S W50L 4.0 45 1:7,500 Blue
28 M40S M65L 4.0 45 1:7,500 Blue
29 M20S M35S W45L 4.0 45 1:7,500 Blue
30 M60L W40L 4.6 50 1:7,500 Blue
31 M21S W18L W20L W35L 4.9 55 1:10,000 Blue
34 M16A W21L 4.1 45 1:10,000 Red
35 M55L 4.5 50 1:7,500 Red
36 M18L M50L 4.7 50 1:7,500 Red
37 M45L 4.9 55 1:7,500 Red
38 M40L 5.4 60 1:10,000 Red
39 M20L M21L M35L 5.4 60 1:10,000 Red
40 W21E 4.9 55 1:10,000 Red
41 M21E 6.1 70 1:10,000 Red

Thanks to the landowners who have made today’s event possible…

Moray Estates, Berryley