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Bennachie – Weds 26th July

Our next event in the summer series summer series takes place this coming Wednesday evening, 26th July.  Come and tune up your skills, and enjoy a training run ahead of the Scottish Six Days.

Parking and Registration

Parking is at the Bennachie Centre, at grid reference NJ698217.  Access is on minor roads, either from Chapel of Garioch to the north, or Blairdaff/Kemnay to the south.  Link to a map is here.  Charges apply for parking (£2 for 3 hours, £1 for 1 hour) so please bring suitable change for the ticket machines.

Register inside the Centre building from 5pm (note: slightly earlier than normal).  Last starts at 6.45pm.  Courses close at 8.00pm.

Courses

• Easy  –  2.2km   70m climb
• Medium  –  2.2km   90m climb
• Short Technical  –  2.7km  90m climb  –  CIRCULAR MAP
• Long Technical  –  4.1km  170m climb –  CIRCULAR MAP

The circular maps are novel training exercises for more experienced orienteers.  The maps have no magnetic north lines, and no indication of which way is north!  Ideally you should do the courses without using a compass, by simply reading the map, identifying the features, using good attack points, and staying in close map contact.  A few traditional maps are available on the Short Tech course for those who don’t feel confident enough to handle the circular map exercise.

Event Centre

As a special treat, the Bennachie Centre has kindly agreed to extend it’s opening hours and will be open for the event till 7pm.  So we’ll benefit from all the facilities there:

• Displays on the flora, fauna and history of Bennachie
• Hot drinks from the vending machine
• Cold drinks
• Snacks and Ice Cream for sale !!

Registration desk will be in a dry and midge-free zone inside the centre!  And there are excellent toilet facilities there too.  What more could we ask for.

Our thanks to Forestry Commission Scotland and the manager and staff at the Bennachie Centre for providing these facilities.

Planner/Organiser:  Rob Hickling