Our pre-Six Days tune-up event took place at Bennachie on Weds 26th July. After a wet day (which the planner can vouch for, as he was setting out the controls in the rain!) the sun came out and the evening finished with immaculate blue skies and a terrific sunset.
The circular maps were a novel training exercise for more experienced orienteers. The maps had 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. If you have any thoughts on this format, maybe you could let us know, or add a comment to this post.
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
Event Centre
As a special treat, the Bennachie Centre kindly agreed to extend it’s opening hours and was open for the event. So we benefited from all the facilities there:
- Displays on the flora, fauna and history of Bennachie,
- Hot drinks, cold drinks, sandwiches and snacks,
- Ice Cream for sale !!
The registration desk was in a dry and midge-free zone inside the centre! And there are very good toilet facilities there too. What more could we ask for.
Our grateful thanks to Forestry Commission Scotland, Aberdeenshire Council, the Bennachie Centre Trust and to the manager and staff at the Bennachie Centre, for letting us use the forest for this event, and for providing the excellent facilities at the Centre.
Planner/Organiser: Rob Hickling