sanquhar

Event Summary

Update Friday 9 January 2026.  Due to the icy conditions, particularly around Sanquhar Loch, the event has been postponed to Saturday 17 January 2026.  We are sorry for any inconvenience caused, but feel that this is the best decision for everyone's safety and enjoyment.  If you have already entered and wish to receive a refund (minus the booking fee), an email has been sent out with the details.  If you can make the re-scheduled date, then you do not need to do anything.  Online entries have re-opened with a closing date of 1159 pm on Thursday 15 January 2026.

Update Thursday 8 January 2026.  There will be a course inspection tomorrow to see the condition of the woods.  A decision will be taken then as to whether the event will go ahead or postponed to a later date.  

Welcome to our first event of 2026.  This time, we will be at Sanquhar Woods, where we last orienteered four years ago.  Michael Bishenden has planned three great courses for you to kick start the 2026 local league: yellow, orange and light green.

Cross country
Local
SI AIR
1000-1130 hours
1030-1200 hours
1330 hours
88002
On Leads
Online
SiEntries

Directions and Parking

Registration.  The event registration will be adjacent to the car park at Forres Academy.   

Directions and Parking:  From all directions, travel to Forres and proceed to Sanquhar Road (by the Royal British Legion).  Continue south along Sanquhar road and into the Forres Academy car park on the left. There will be plenty of room for vehicles.

Toilets.  There are toilets at Grant Park and at Forres Tesco.  

Start and Finish

Start and Finish.  The route to the start will be signed and approximately 600m from registration, whilst the finish will be next to the Loch (across the road from registration).

First Aid.  At Registration.

At registration

Courses

Three Courses:

  • Yellow - 2.1 Km, 12 Controls, 35m Climb.
  • Orange - 2.8 Km, 14 Controls, 90m Climb.
  • Light Green - 4.1 Km, 21 Controls, 125m Climb.

Terrain

Notes from the Planner

  • The forest varies in runnability- some parts are clean underfoot and really fast running.  Other parts are full of dead bracken/brambles and harder to get through.  There is some windblow which is not mapped. 
  • The Yellow course avoids a main mountain bike track in the woods.  The Orange and Light Green courses however may encounter riders. 
  • Rivers and marshes should be avoided and should only be crossed at bridges. 
  • The Light Green course has a route-choice leg which involves crossing a really quiet road. 
  • There are various slopes in the area, some of which are quite steep.
1:5000, 5m Contours

Entry Details

Entries open via SIEntries from Sunday 21 December 2025 and will close at 23:59 hours on Thursday 15 January 2026.  Entries can be edited/changed/cancelled until this closure again, subject to map availability.

Limited entries on the day will be subject to an additional £1 charge and map availability.

Entry Fees: 

  • Senior (21 and older) BOF Member - £6.00.
  • Senior SOA-only Member - £7.00.
  • Senior Non-Member - £8.00 
  • Junior (20 and younger) and Student BOF/SOA Members - £4.00.
  • Junior/Student Non-Member - £5.00.

£1 discount if using own SI-Card. 

SiEntries

Final Details

Safety Information

  • Competitors take part in this event at their own risk.
  • Competitors must be aware of, and take care to avoid, other path users on the courses.
  • Please be aware of trip hazards, slopes and steps, slippery paths (ice), uneven surfaces, litter and dog fouling, and low branches near control sites. 
  • Participants are advised that paths in open land and open areas of the forest may be icy underfoot, but passable with care and picking the right line.  If so, please slow down in these areas and take extra care to avoid slipping.
  • Participants are advised to be mindful of vehicles whilst crossing Sanquhar Road on the way to the start and back from the finish.  
  • Participants are advised that Sanquhar has water hazards which are out of bounds and must not be entered or crossed.
  • Please be careful and avoid collisions with members of the public and other competitors.
  • Please dress appropriately for an event in the North of Scotland in January.

Event Officials

Ben and Elizabeth Holmes
Michael Bishenden
embrocke100@gmail.com
Rob Parkinson

Ticks and Covid

Ticks

Risk Awareness:   Please be aware that ticks are common across many of the areas we run in and can carry infections such as Lyme Disease and Tick-Borne Encephalitis.  Ticks are active in the UK primarily from March to October, but year-round vigilance is recommended.

Prevention Strategies:   

  • Wearing full leg and abdomen cover in the forest.  
  • Applying insect repellent to exposed skin and clothing.
  • Checking yourself for ticks after your run.  Common areas for ticks include behind the knees, underarms, hairline, and any pressure points.
  • Considering vaccination against TBE, if visiting high-risk areas in Europe or Asia.

Tick Removal and Symptoms:   Consider using a tick removal tool to ensure the tick is removed quickly and completely.   If a tick has attached, it should be removed as soon as possible.

Health Action:  If symptoms develop, such as a rash or flu-like symptoms, individuals should seek medical advice promptly and mention the tick bite, as not all doctors may be familiar with the conditions.

Key Resources:

 

COVID-19 Guidance (Updated March 2025)

If you have symptoms of COVID or have tested positive to COVID, then do not attend the event or activity to help avoid spreading infection.  

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