Daily news will be posted on the website. Fabian4 will be used to email any very urgent messages
Day Parking
Please adhere strictly to road signs and to one-way systems where in operation.
All cars must be in the car parks by 12:30pm each day and no cars will be allowed to leave before 12:30pm.
Event Arenas
The Arenas will have an information tent, traders, toilets, first aid and Download.
Rubbish
Please take all rubbish away with you.
Dogs
Dogs are permitted in the parking areas, on shuttle buses, and arena provided they are under control, on a lead and cleared up after.
On Day 1 dogs may not be taken down to the forest (ie on walk to start/finish) from the parking area as the landowner has pheasant covers adjacent to the track.
Photography
There will be photographers in the area. If you do not want your photograph published please speak to the officials in the information tent. If you have concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography please report it to any event official.
Covid Guidance
For us to run the event safely, it is essential that all competitors comply with any rules and guidelines laid down by the Scottish Government in respect of COVID-19 which might include rules on face coverings, self-isolation, travel and quarantine.
General Health Information
Accident and Emergency: Dr Gray’s Hospital, Elgin, IV30 1SN
For non-emergencies you can contact NHS24 (dial 111) or visit www.nhsinform.scot for details of GP practices, pharmacies etc. in the local area.
Ticks are common in the competition area. Check carefully after each day and remove any ticks with a suitable removal tool. Lyme disease does occur in the area: if you develop a rash at the site of a bite, we advise you to seek medical advice.
E-coli O157 may be found where farm animals have been grazing in fields used for Parking and Arenas. We recommend that you wash your hands thoroughly before eating.
Water
Avoid dehydration: If the weather is hot, drink plenty of fluids.
Please bring your own water - water will only be provided on WRE courses on Day 2.
Please avoid taking disposable water bottles to any of the start locations.
Saturday Event Centre
Forres Town Hall will be open on Saturday 29th July from 2:00pm until 5:00pm for you to collect commemorative coasters, printed programme, race bibs, any hired dibbers, pre-ordered merchandise (ie no sales), and training maps.
Orienteering kit/equipment trader(s) will also be present.
Information Tent
The Information Tent will be open from 9:00am until 4:00pm each day in the Arena for collecting maps; collecting hired SI dibbers; complaints/protest forms; merchandise collection/purchase; social programme tickets; lost property; coasters; unclaimed maps from previous day(s); and certificates.
Colour Coded Course Entries
Entry after 30th June 2023 will only be available for colour-coded courses (adults or juniors), and TrailO entries. These are subject to map availability. This limited entry can be made online up to 5pm the day before each of the individual days. If there are still maps available on the morning of a particular day, entry can be made at the Information Tent from 9:00 until 12:00 for colour-coded courses or at the Enquiries Point for TrailO (in Roseisle).
String Courses
Each day will have a String Course and Off-String course.
As we are required to have details of all participants for insurance purposes, a one-off pre-registration (free via Fabian4 for those who are not running competitively) is strongly recommended to avoid queues, especially on Day 1.
Minibuses and Coaches
If you are planning to bring a minibus or coach please contact coordinator@scottish6days.com to discuss arrangements.
Training Maps
Training courses will be available in Quarrywood, Elgin and Altyre, Forres. Controls will be hung from 24 July.
Maps can be bought at the event centre or downloaded from the BOF website via Go Orienteering at a cost of £2.
Technical Information
Race Numbers (bibs)
Bibs can be collected from Forres Town Hall on Saturday 29th July from 2:00pm until 5:00pm and after that from strings next to the Information Tent.
If you do not wear a bib you will not be allowed to start.
Write medical/ contact information on the back (using template). Please bring safety pins to attach your bib to your clothing.
Amendments
Changes to SI card number will remain free unless it includes hiring an SI dibber when the hire fee will be charged.
White and Yellow maps
White, Yellow, M/W10B, M/W10A and M/W12B maps must be collected from Information Tent before going to the Start.
A copy of each will be on display in the Arena.
SI punching system will be used
All versions of SI card are accepted, including SI-Air cards. Only course 41 (M21E) requires a Series 9 card or above which holds more than 30 controls.
It is essential that all competitors visit the download tent by course closing time whether or not they have finished their course.
Control Codes
Will be displayed on the SI punch box only. Please ignore any other coding you may find at the control site.
Mapping Standard
All the main Day event maps are prepared to the current ISOM 2017-2 spec.
The Darnaway map is prepared at 1:15,000 with the correct symbol sizes. All the other day maps are prepared at 1:10,000, but using the 1:15,000 symbol size. This means that the symbol sizes for these maps will be smaller than the standard. This is required to clearly show the micro-relief detail in the sand dune areas.
The Forres sprint map is prepared at 1:4000 using the ISSprOM 2019-2 standard.
Course Closure
For the main days, all courses close at 4:00pm.
Finish and Download
Both the Finish and Download must be punched (not contactless).
For Elite classes, scoring is based on cumulative time over the week, i.e. competitors need to complete every day.
For all other classes, points are awarded for each day’s result: Class winners receive 1 point, 2nd placed competitor 2 points, and so on. Competitor’s overall score will be the sum of their best 4 scores of the week.
In the event of a tie between 2 or more competitors, the competitor with the lowest individual day score will win; if that is the still the same, it will be a tied position.
Competitors who fail to finish, do not start or are disqualified will be awarded a points score which is higher than the total number of active competitors in that class.
Prizes
Prize giving will take place at 3:00pm on the last day (including TrailO).
There will be medals for the top 3 overall in each class (M/W10-85 A/B or E/L/S) with certificates for places 4-6 in M/W10-16 A/B.
Junior Certificates
Certificates for 1st-3rd place on M/W10-16 A /B. These can be collected on the following day from Information tent. Day 5 certificates can be emailed out after the event.
Complaints, Protests and Appeals
Complaints should be made to the Day Organiser either orally or in writing via the standard Complaints/Protests form available from Information tent up to 4:30pm on the day of the competition.
There is no fee for a complaint. The Day Organiser is the adjudicator of a complaint. A protest can be made against the Organiser’s decision, in writing to the Controller.
Protests and appeals will be handled under Rule 16 British Orienteering Rules v3.10 2023.
Courses
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Course
Class
Length (km)
Climb (m)
Length (km)
Climb (m)
Length (km)
Climb (m)
Length (km)
Climb (m)
Length (km)
Climb (m)
Map Scale
Start
1
M10B W10B
2.5
15
1.0
15
2.1
40
1.7
20
1.6
5
1:7,500
White
2
M10A M12B W10A W12B
3.3
20
1.4
15
2.4
50
2.9
35
1.9
5
1:7,500
White
3
W12A W14B
3.3
30
2.3
20
2.6
55
3.3
50
1.8
10
1:7,500
White
4
M12A M14B
3.7
40
2.2
20
3.4
65
3.6
50
2.0
15
1:7,500
White
5
W75S W85
2.0
20
2.3
25
1.6
50
2.1
40
1.4
30
1:7,500
White*
6
M85 W70S W80
2.4
30
2.3
25
2.0
55
2.2
40
1.5
25
1:7,500
White*
7
M75S M80 W65S W75L
2.7
30
2.5
30
2.2
60
2.4
40
1.7
25
1:7,500
White*
8
White
2.5
15
1.0
15
2.1
40
1.7
20
1.6
5
1:7,500
White
9
Yellow
3.3
20
1.4
15
2.4
50
2.9
35
1.9
5
1:7,500
White
10
Orange
3.3
30
2.2
25
2.6
55
3.3
50
1.8
10
1:7,500
White
14
Light Green
3.7
50
2.8
30
3.4
75
3.5
55
2.2
40
1:7,500
Green
15
Green
4.6
90
2.8
30
4.2
95
4.5
70
2.6
50
1:7,500
Green
16
W14A W16B
3.7
50
2.8
30
3.4
75
3.5
50
2.2
40
1:7,500
Green
17
M14A M16B
4.9
90
2.8
30
4.4
80
4.5
75
2.9
70
1:7,500
Green
18
M70S W55S W60S W70L
3.5
70
2.4
25
3.2
80
3.4
70
2.2
40
1:7,500
Green
19
M65S W50S
4.0
70
2.4
25
3.4
90
3.7
65
2.4
35
1:7,500
Green
20
M75L W45S W65L
4.3
80
2.8
30
3.6
90
4.2
80
2.4
50
1:7,500
Green
21
M60S W40S
4.7
90
2.9
30
3.9
80
4.3
70
2.4
35
1:7,500
Green
22
W18S W20S W35S
4.6
90
2.8
30
4.2
95
4.5
70
2.6
50
mixture
Green
23
M55S W60L
5.0
100
3.0
35
4.4
100
4.7
80
2.9
45
1:7,500
Blue
24
M70L W55L
5.4
130
3.3
35
4.7
100
5.2
110
3.0
50
1:7,500
Blue
25
M18S W16A W21S
5.6
150
3.3
35
4.9
100
5.2
75
3.1
60
mixture
Blue
26
M50S
5.7
160
3.4
40
5.2
100
5.5
105
3.2
85
1:7,500
Blue
27
M45S W50L
6.0
155
4.0
45
5.5
100
5.6
90
3.4
40
1:7,500
Blue
28
M40S M65L
6.2
130
4.0
45
5.6
105
5.8
120
3.8
65
1:7,500
Blue
29
M20S M35S W45L
6.3
120
4.0
45
5.7
120
5.8
130
3.5
75
1:7,500
Blue
30
M60L W40L
6.9
150
4.6
50
6.0
110
6.4
125
3.9
100
1:7,500
Blue`
31
M21S W18L W20L W35L
7.4
155
4.9
55
6.5
120
6.7
130
3.9
80
1:10,000
Blue
34
M16A W21L
7.5
205
4.1
45
6.6
125
6.8
130
4.2
90
mixture
Red
35
M55L
7.6
180
4.5
50
7.1
120
7.1
125
4.1
110
1:7,500
Red
36
M18L M50L
8.9
220
4.7
50
7.9
130
7.9
140
4.6
65
1:7,500
Red
37
M45L
8.8
220
4.9
55
8.4
135
8.5
140
5.0
110
mixture
Red
38
M40L
9.3
225
5.4
60
8.9
130
8.7
140
5.2
115
1:10,000
Red
39
M20L M21L M35L
9.5
265
5.4
60
8.9
145
8.8
140
5.2
115
1:10,000
Red
40
W21E
9.2
310
4.9
55
8.5
140
8.7
150
5.2
115
1:10,000
Red
41
M21E
11.8
350
6.1
70
11.2
155
10.9
190
6.6
145
1:10,000
Red
* Green start on Day 5
Start Procedure
When you leave the arena, volunteers will remind you about wearing a bib (no bib, no go), having a dibber and compass, and collecting white and yellow maps.
Full leg cover is mandatory for all forest days.
If the Organiser has declared cagoules compulsory (through Daily News, notices in Arena) this will also be checked.
It is competitors' responsibility to start at their allocated times; there will not be a name call-up and the minus 4 clock will be prominently displayed with times called out.
Latecomers, those with split starts and helpers should speak to an official at the start.
Remember to clear and check (SIAC test also available) before entering the correct minus 4 box for your course, which will be labelled with the course number or colour-coded course name.
Minus 4 is individual boxes. You will be asked to dib a manually-held check box.
Minus 3 is one large box with loose control descriptions: odd courses on the left and even on the right.
Minus 2 is one large box with blank maps. Note there may be different scale maps depending on which courses are at this start.
Minus 1 is one large box. There may be safety information/reminder given.
At 10 seconds to go you may step over the line then go on the long beep.
Remember to punch the start unit.
Day Information
Day 1
Organising clubs:
Inverness Orienteering Club (INVOC) supported by Roxburgh Reivers (RR), Solway Orienteers (SOLWAY) and St. Andrew’s Orienteering Club Glasgow (STAG)
Organisers:
John Tullie (RR) & Marsela McLeod (INVOC)
Planners:
Iain Shepherd (INVOC) & Jon Shepherd (INVOC)
Controllers:
Clive Masson (TAY) & Graham McFadyen (STAG)
Parking:
Milltown Airfield, Lossiemouth, IV30 8NE.
Directions:
If travelling from Forres: Follow the A96 east to Elgin and then through Elgin as if travelling towards Aberdeen. On leaving Elgin carry on straight ahead at Barmuckity roundabout (Elgin Services/ Travellodge) and then take the first left onto the B9103 signed for Lossiemouth. After 2.8 km turn right onto an unclassified road (Urquhart / Milltown / HGV Test Centre). After 0.4 miles turn left into Milltown Airfield. If travelling from East of Elgin: drive west on A96 towards Elgin, after you pass Lhabryde continue to the Barmuckity roundabout (Elgin Services/ Travellodge) go right round the roundabout and return along the A96 until the B9103 signed for Lossiemouth. DO NOT attempt to turn right across the A96. After 2.8 km turn right onto an unclassified road (Urquhart / Milltown / HGV Test Centre). After 0.4 miles turn left into Milltown Airfield.
Arena:
Adjacent to parking with a 1.5 km walk to the forest entrance. A clothing dump and some toilets will be located at the forest entrance.
Starts:
Red, Blue and Green starts are co-located 1.2 km from the forest entrance (2.7 km flat walk in total from Arena).
White start is 600m from the forest entrance (2.1 km flat walk in total from Arena).
Terrain:
Intricate dunes in the coastal strip with runnable mature pine, heathery clearings and denser areas of natural regeneration and a flatter area inland with a myriad of paths, heather understorey and varied visibility.
The White Start courses use the inland area only. There are many extraction lanes throughout the area that are not mapped. Only the most significant gorse thickets have been mapped.
Safety:
A large pond near the Red Start is mapped as Out of Bounds. It is not taped on the ground.
The ruins mapped within the coastal strip are flat concrete areas which are largely grassed over.
Runners may encounter some wire and wire mesh near the WW2 military installations (particularly near trenches, pits and pillboxes) on the coastal strip. Please take care to avoid tripping on these wires.
Junior Courses:
TD1 and TD2 courses follow white tape for one leg where the route is less clear.
Maps:
Base map from PG plot (originally) and Lidar data supplied by the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Original Survey & Cartography: 1996 to present by DOLM, Trailmaps, David Ritchie, & GISamap
Event updates: DOLM, 2022-23.
Finish:
There is a single remote finish which is 300m flat walk from the forest entrance which is 1.5 km from the arena (with a clothing dump and toilets) .
String and Off-string Courses:
Adjacent to the Arena.
Special Information:
Day 1 is part of the Scottish Inter-Club Championship.
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 slient 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.
Interlopers Orienteering Club (INT) supported by Grampian Orienteers (Gramp)
Organisers:
Robin Galloway (INT) & Max Carcas (INT)
Planners:
Tim Griffin (GRAMP) & Zoe Griffin (GRAMP)
Controllers:
John Emeleus (KFO) & Colin Eades (INT)
Parking:
Field east of Burghead adjacent to the B9040, IV30.
This parking is not suitable for any campervans or motorhomes whatever their size – it is the ground clearance and weight which means that they will not be permitted to park at the Burghead field.
All parking for campervans is at Forres Academy Car Park, Burdsyard Road, Forres IV36 1FG with bussing from there.
Directions:
For cars Only: From Forres at Findhorn Roundabout on A96 take the B9011 towards Kinloss. After 1.8 miles in Kinloss continue straight onto the B9089. Follow the B9089 for 5 miles. After Roseisle Distillery turn left following the B9089 for a further 1.3 miles. At the junction turn left onto the B9013. After 0.1 miles turn right onto the B9040 (Hopeman / Cummingston). After 0.5 miles turn left into the parking field. For Campervans and Motorhomes: Parking is in the car park at Forres Academy, Burdsyard Road, Forres, IV36 1FG with additional bus transport to the arena. From the Findhorn Roundabout on the A96 take Victoria Road into Forres driving past Grant Park. Take South Street on your left (at the end of Grant Park before Andersons Primary School). At the roundabout take the second exit and immediately turn left onto Sanquhar Road and follow Sanquhar Road for 0.3 miles. Please follow the marshals’ instructions for parking.
Arena:
1km from parking (playing field, Burghead adjacent to B9013).
Starts:
All starts are co-located 500m from the arena.
Terrain:
Complex contours in forested dune
Safety:
Runners may encounter cyclists, dog walkers and horse riders. The starts are near a commonly used track and there is a network of paths through the forest.
There are no water points on the courses.
Longer courses go near a steep-sided watercourse (with marked crossing-points) and a forest carpark where runners may encounter slow-moving traffic.
Junior Courses:
White tape will be used where routes are unclear
Maps:
Roseisle was originally mapped in 1999, and has been regularly updated since. The current version was prepared by Jon Hollingdale in 2018, based on Lidar data supplied through SOA. This map was updated by DOLM in 2023 for Moray 2023.
Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club (ESOC) supported by Clydeside Orienteers (CLYDE), Kingdom of Fife Orienteers (KFO), East Lothian Orienteers (ELO) and some members of Bristol Orienteering Klub (BOK)
Organisers:
Margaret Dalgleish (ESOC) & Jayne McGregor (ESOC)
Planners:
Simon Gregersen (ESOC) & Sabine Oechsner (ESOC)
Controllers:
Alan Halliday (MOR) & Peter Halling (ESOC)
Parking:
Snab of Moy, Kintessack, IV36 2TG
This parking is not suitable for any campervans or motorhomes whatever their size – it is the ground clearance and weight which means that they will not be permitted to park at Snab of Moy.
All parking for campervans is at Forres Academy Car Park, Burdsyard Road, Forres IV36 1FG with bussing from there. From the bus stop in Kintessack follow the tapes and marshals’ guidance to the Arena which is a 1.2 km walk.
Directions:
For cars only: From Forres: Follow the A96 west out of Forres. After approximately 3 miles (just before Brodie Countryfare) turn right, over the railway, onto an unclassified road. Continue straight on for 1.1 miles then turn right at the T-junction onto another unclassified road. Follow this road for approximately 2 miles until the turn-off to Snab of Moy farm which is on the left. For Campervans and Motorhomes: Parking is in the car park at Forres Academy, Burdsyard Road, Forres, IV36 1FG with additional bus transport to the arena. From the Findhorn Roundabout on the A96 take Victoria Road into Forres driving past Grant Park. Take South Street on your left (at the end of Grant Park before Andersons Primary School). At the roundabout take the second exit and immediately turn left onto Sanquhar Road and follow Sanquhar Road for 0.3 miles. Please follow the marshals’ instructions for parking.
Arena:
Adjacent to parking.
Starts:
Red, Blue and Green starts are co-located 3.5 km from the arena.
White start is 2.0 km from the arena. The walk to the starts is on paths and tracks and is almost flat.
There is a clothing dump (at your own risk) roughly 1.7 km from the arena and there are toilets on the way to the Red/Blue/Green starts.
Terrain:
Complex contours in forested dune.
Safety:
You may encounter walkers, dogs, cyclists and possibly even horses on route to the starts and also whilst on your course. Please take care.
The Finish is remote, please ensure you have planned for this with your juniors.
On the route to the Green, Blue and Red starts, shortly after passing the turn off to the White start, please give way to junior competitors who are competing on their course.
Junior Courses:
Junior competitors will, on a very short section of their course, encounter people heading to their starts.
Maps:
Base map using public access LiDAR data from https://remotesensingdata.gov.scot/.
Original Survey & Cartography of current map, produced for event: Jon Hollingdale, 2022-23
Finish:
There is a single finish which is 2 km from the arena. The walk back to arena is on mostly on paths and tracks and is almost flat.
String and Off-string Courses:
Adjacent to the Arena.
Special Information:
Mapping notes: Areas of deep heather in white forest are indicatively mapped as vegetation slow running (vertical green lines). Thinning lanes in green forest are mapped with a thin white line. Many shallow (<1m) knolls are mapped using small form line shapes (<1.1mm long); larger/steeper knolls use ‘small knoll’ symbol.
See below for more details.
For many controls the feature should strictly be described as “middle”, especially for re-entrants and spurs, because there is so much detail in the circle. We have often used instead what seems to be a more informative description, where there are perhaps two similar features near the centre of the circle – disregarding others at the edges.
Day 4 is part of the UK Orienteering League series.
Mar Orienteering Club (MAROC) supported by Badenoch and Strathspey Orienteering Club (BASOC) and Tayside Orienteers (TAY)
Organisers:
Fran Getliff (MAROC) & Maire Convery (TAY)
Planners:
Ali Robertson (MAROC) & Alistair Duguid (TAY)
Controllers:
Brian Bullen (FVO) & Chris Low (MAROC)
Parking:
Snab of Moy, Kintessack, IV36 2TG
This parking is not suitable for any campervans or motorhomes whatever their size – it is the ground clearance and weight which means that they will not be permitted to park at Snab of Moy.
All parking for campervans is at Forres Academy Car Park, Burdsyard Road, Forres IV36 1FG with bussing from there. From the bus stop in Kintessack follow the tapes and marshals’ guidance to the Arena which is a 1.2 km walk.
Directions:
For cars only: Follow the A96 west out of Forres. After approximately 3 miles (just before Brodie Countryfare) turn right, over the railway, onto an unclassified road. Continue straight on for 1.1 miles then turn right at the T-junction onto another unclassified road. Follow this road for approximately 2 miles until the turn-off to Snab of Moy farm which is on the left. For Campervans and Motorhomes: Parking is in the car park at Forres Academy, Burdsyard Road, Forres, IV36 1FG with additional bus transport to the arena. From the Findhorn Roundabout on the A96 take Victoria Road into Forres driving past Grant Park. Take South Street on your left (at the end of Grant Park before Andersons Primary School). At the roundabout take the second exit and immediately turn left onto Sanquhar Road and follow Sanquhar Road for 0.3 miles. Please follow the marshals’ instructions for parking.
Arena:
Adjacent to parking.
Starts:
Courses 5‒7 use the Green start, 2.1 km from the arena, which is co-located with the Red and Blue starts.
Be aware the route out to the Red/Green/Blue start partly follows a narrow path through thick heather.
The White start is only for courses 1‒4 & 8‒10 and is 1.2 km from the arena.
Terrain:
Complex contours in forested dune.
Safety:
You may encounter walkers, dogs, cyclists and possibly even horses on route to the starts and also whilst on your course. Please take care.
The Finish for green/blue/red starts is remote, please ensure you have planned for this with your juniors.
Maps:
Base map using public access LiDAR data from https://remotesensingdata.gov.scot/.
Original Survey & Cartography of current map, produced for event: Jon Hollingdale, 2022-23
Finish:
The finish for courses 1‒4, 8‒10 and 36‒41 is in the arena.
The finish for all other courses is 1.7 km from the arena.
String and Off-string Courses:
600m from the centre of the Arena.
Special Information:
Please note the special arrangements for those courses which usually start at the White Start.
Mapping notes: Areas of deep heather in white forest are indicatively mapped as vegetation slow running (vertical green lines). Thinning lanes in green forest are mapped with a thin white line. Many shallow (<1m) knolls are mapped using small form line shapes (<1.1mm long); larger/steeper knolls use ‘small knoll’ symbol.
See below for more details.
Forres Academy Car Park, Burdsyard Road, Forres, IV36 1FG.
Directions:
From the Findhorn Roundabout on the A96 take Victoria Road into Forres driving past Grant Park. Take South Street on your left at the end of Grant Park before Andersons Primary School. At the roundabout take the second exit and immediately turn left onto Sanquhar Road. Follow Sanquhar Road for 0.3 miles driving past Forres Academy to the car park located to the rear of the school on the right of Sanquhar Road.
Arena:
200m from parking.
Starts:
Start times will be from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.
The start for the Senior courses (1‒5) is 1.0 km from assembly.
The start for the Junior courses (6‒7) is 300m from assembly.
Terrain:
Urban town area with patches of parkland.
Safety:
Be aware of the traffic as there will be lots of moving cars in the area, especially when crossing the High Street.
Junior Courses:
This will be focused around Sanqhuar Loch, so forest orienteering shoes recommended.
Maps:
Base map from OS & Lidar data supplied by the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Original Survey & Cartography: 2008 to present by Trailmaps, Scott Fraser, Euan McCarthy, David Ritchie, Mike Rodgers, Jon Hollingdale & GISamap.
Event updates: Trailmaps 2022-23.
Finish:
There is a single finish which is 200m from assembly.
Courses close at 5:00pm
Special Information:
There will be artificial barriers out in the terrain which are marked with tape or flour and trestles with signs, and a marshal. There will be an example of this in the arena. You must wear your bib from the other days.
The Sprint race is part of the UK Urban League and the Scottish Orienteering Urban League series.
Roseisle Forest Public Car Park, NJ 104 656 (please note that pay and display charges apply: £4 per day by cash or card).
The car park is likely to be busy so please plan to car share and follow the marshals’ instructions for parking.
Directions:
From the Findhorn Roundabout on the A96 take the exit for Findhorn / Kinloss / B9011. Follow the B9011 for 1.8 miles. In Kinloss continue straight through onto the B9089 for 3.7 miles. Turn left onto the road signed for Roseisle Forest and continue along that road for 1 mile to car park.
Arena:
Registration and some EOD will be at the northeast end of the car park.
Public toilets will be available for competitors to use.
Starts:
Start times will be from 10:00am until 12:00 noon (or until all competitors have started)
At registration you will collect your control card and a dibber (if you have indicated that you need to borrow one).
The control card should be folded down the middle and you should punch through both parts at each control.
Follow the red/white tapes from the Registration tent to the timed control waiting position (100m), from which you will be called up for this control.
Terrain:
Complex contours on forested dunes.
Maps:
Base map from Lidar data supplied by the Scottish Orienteering Association.
Original Survey & Cartography: 1975 to present by Harvey Map Services, Stirling Surveys, DOLM, Peel Land Surveys, Jon Hollingdale & GISamap
Event updates: DOLM 2022-23
The scale is 1:4000 for pre-O, and 1:2000 for the timed control.
Finish:
Courses close at 2:30pm.
Make sure you punch the SI Finish unit and return your control card to Registration.
At the finish one half of the card will be returned as a record of your answers.
Special Information:
Results will be posted on the TrailO Results page of the 6 Days website as soon as possible after the event.
You must wear your bib from the other days (or pick up a bib at registration).
The course is a classic PreO, with one timed control followed by 19 controls. The control card will be issued at Registration. The map for the PreO section will be issued at the PreO start, just beyond the timed control. The course follows forest roads and paths throughout.
Timed Control
The timed control will have six kites in the terrain, A to F, and two problems. Answer Z is not an option.
There will be a time limit of 60 seconds to give your answers. A warning will be given at 50 seconds.
Any problem not answered within the time limit will be deemed incorrect.
There will be a penalty per incorrect answer of 30 seconds.
Pre-O
The PreO course is 2km without significant climb.
There will be SI Clear and Start units at the PreO start.
You must keep to mapped paths and not cross any red/white tapes across paths.
One point is scored for each correct answer on the course.
The time limit for the course is 117 minutes.
The course decision points are marked 1, 2 etc on a post but are not marked on the map. You must identify the position of each decision point on your map.
There will be up to 5 kites (A-E) at each control. If you think none of the kites is in the correct position, answer Z.
Note that if the correct answer at a control is Z, there should be no flag closer to the correct position than 3m.
Pin punches for recording your answer on the control card are placed within a few metres of decision points.
Solution Maps
Solution maps (showing the positions of all kites on the course) can be collected from the registration tent after the last starter has completed the timed control and started the PreO course.
Scoring
The score for the whole course is the number of correct answers on the PreO course less any penalty for exceeding the time limit (one point per 5 minutes or part of 5 minutes). The time taken to answer both problems at the timed control, plus any penalties for incorrect answers, will be used as a tiebreaker.
Etiquette
It is against the rules of TrailO to communicate with other competitors while on the course, although discussions after completing the course are fine provided no-one yet to start is within earshot.
Please understand that many people on the course will be competing seriously and we ask you to respect their need for concentration, not to discuss controls within earshot, and above all do not leave the path and wander around control sites.
Saturday Event centre
29th July from 2:00pm until 5:00pm at Forres Town Hall
From 2:00pm until 5:00pm you can collect commemorative coasters, printed programme, race bibs, any hired dibbers, and pre-ordered merchandise (ie no sales).
There is plenty of parking in the town car parks (no charge) with access via the front door on the High Street.
There will be O-kit traders in attendance and training maps for sale. Tickets for the social events will also be available.
All of these will also be available at the Information Tent in the arena on race days.
There will be no course registration at the Saturday Event Centre. Colour-coded courses can be entered/changed online until 5:00pm the day before each race, or at the information tent on the race days, subject to map availability.
Directions to Saturday Event Centre: There is plenty of parking in the Forres town car parks (no charge) with access to the Town Hall via the front door near the east end of the High Street.
Social Programme
Monday 31st July at 6:00pm Kinloss Abbey Fish traps and Abbey tour
The tour will be led by Dr Timothy Finnegan from the Kinloss Abbey Trust and last around 90 minutes. The Abbey was the largest Cistercian Monastery in the North of Scotland and has many fascinating stories to tell. This tour includes a visit to the Fish Traps or yaar. Although the tour is free, donations to Kinloss Abbey Trust are welcomed.
Tuesday 1st August from 7:30pm until 11:00pm Ceilidh
We will be holding a traditional Scottish ceilidh with The Andy Thornburn Ceilidh Band and ‘caller’ so everyone can join in whether you know the steps for The Dashing White Sergeant or not. Forres Town Hall – parking as Saturday Event Centre. Bring your own drinks and snacks. Tickets: £12 (Under 12s: £6). This event is supported by Findhorn Coastal Rowing Club.
Wednesday 2nd August at 2:00pm Kinloss Abbey tour
The tour is led by Dr Timothy Finnegan from the Kinloss Abbey Trust and will last around 60 minutes. The Abbey was the largest Cistercian Monastery in the North of Scotland and has many fascinating stories to tell. Although the tour is free, donations to Kinloss Abbey Trust are welcomed.
Thursday 3rd August at 8:00pm Traditional Scottish music ‘session’
Local musicians invite you to join them in an evening sharing tunes whether with fiddle, song, guitar, ‘box’ or whistle/flute/pipes. There may be instruments available to borrow. Tickets: £5 to include complimentary drink on arrival. You are welcome to bring your own refreshments as well. Venue: Rafford Hall located on B9010, 3 miles SE of Forres. Continue through Rafford and a short section of delimited speed restriction before entering another 30mph area with the hall a few hundred metres on the left with a post box on the low wall. Parking at Rafford Hall – with overflow through the car park. Please do not park on the road.
Please note that tickets are required for all the above events (even the free ones). They can be bought at Forres Town Hall on 29th July or in the arena, subject to availability.
Sadly, there is no organised whisky (or gin) tasting evening planned as the cost has risen enormously. However, there are many Moray and Speyside Distilleries with visitor centres offering tours.