Darnaway Regional Event

Event Summary

Moravian Regional Event 

By kind permission of the Earl of Moray and Moray Estates, Moravian Orienteers welcomes you to the beautiful Darnaway Forest for some excellent orienteering.  The area will be Darnaway East.  It was last used for a major event in 2020 when it hosted the first SOL of that year (routegadget here: Darnaway SOL 1 2020-02-16 (routegadget.co.uk)).

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

The Assembly and Finish will be located in the Darnaway Castle Walled Garden, where Club Tents are welcome.  

Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Assembly Arena.  No dogs are allowed on any of the courses.  Please ensure you pick up and take home any mess.  Please note no dogs (or humans!) are allowed behind Whitemire Farm, where the car parking will be, due to pheasant release pens in the area.

The Scottish Score Championships will be held on Sunday 10 September at Anagach Forest, near Grantown-on-Spey, hosted by INVOC.  Event details can be found here: INVOC - Home .  Please come and support both events. 

Cross country
Regional
SI AIR
1030-1200 hours
1100-1300 hours
1500 hours - You must report to Download by this Time
82402
On Leads
Online
SiEntries

Directions and Parking

Directions.  The event will be signed at a junction of the A96 and a minor road heading South (signed Whitemire and Conicavel). This junction lies 1km East from Brodie, grid reference: NH987573. 

Follow this minor road South, to a crossroads, turn right, then 1st left and continue for approximately 2 km to Whitemire Farm, grid reference: NH987544; https://w3w.co/innovate.promoted.elbowed.

Parking.   Moray Estates have kindly allowed us to park at Whitemire Farm, grid reference: NH987544. https://w3w.co/innovate.promoted.elbowed 

There is a 1.5km walk from the car park to the Assembly arena which is in the Darnaway Walled Garden. This walk is along quiet estate roads.  All children must be accompanied by adults.

Assembly.  Assembly will be in the Walled Garden to the south west of Darnaway Castle.   There will be a tent in the Assembly Arena where bags and clothes can be left while competing 

Toilets.  Chemical Toilets will be available in the Assembly arena.

Registration and Download will also be in the Walled Garden. All competitors MUST report to Download, even if they have not completed their course. Failure to do so could result in a search for them being instigated. Please check that your children have also reported to Download.

Start and Finish

Start.  The start will be located approximately 550m from the Walled Garden (from the West entrance).  Loose control descriptions will be in the start lane for all courses.  

Start Times.  Start times will not be allocated in advance. However, please go to the Start during the Early (1100-1140 hrs), Middle (1141-1220 hrs) or Late (1221-1300 hrs) window you indicated in your entry if possible.  You will then be given a start time by our team of volunteers.  

Finish.  The finish will be located in the Walled Garden.

At registration

Courses

The following courses will be on offer:

  • Brown 7.7km, 220m climb.
  • Blue 5.9km, 200m climb.
  • Green 3.8km, 135m climb.
  • Light Green, 3.1km, 100m climb.
  • Orange, 2.4km, 70m climb.
  • Yellow, 2.3km, 50m climb.
  • White, 1.5km, 30m climb.

SI dibber (SI Air enabled) punching will be enabled on all courses.  SI hire is free, but please note there will be a charge of £40 for any lost hired dibbers. 

White and Yellow course maps must be collected from Registration.  

Results and Routegadget.  Results and Routegadget will be available on the MOR website (Results for Moravian Events | Moravian Orienteers) shortly after the event.

Terrain

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

Around the start and finish is undulating beech forest which is a fantastic area of fast running; although some paths and tracks can be partially obscured by leaves.  White, Yellow and Orange courses use a variety of well-defined tracks and paths.  Longer courses visit some rougher terrain which impedes fast running.  This includes areas of new tree growth, bracken (and other undergrowth) and broken ground.  All TD4 and TD5 courses will encounter areas with wind-felled trees, some of which are significant, particularly on the longer courses.  There are two out of bounds areas marked on the map, but not on the ground.  One out of bounds area is close to the start and finish and contains the family cemetery which should be avoided as a mark of respect.  The other area is in one of the clear-felled open areas, which is an active sand/pebble quarry.  Only the Brown course goes near this quarry and is planned to avoid it.  All machinery and workings should be avoided for safety reasons.  

Bio-security. Tree diseases and pests are posing an increasing threat to our forests and can be spread very quickly from forest to forest on muddy tyres, boots or paws.   We believe everyone who loves spending time in the forest will want to help if they can to reduce the risk of spread of disease. Please clean all footwear, tyres and paws before your next trip into the forest.

All maps will be at 1:7,500 scale.

Entry Details

Entries are open online via SI Entries.

Online entries will close at 2359 hours on Thursday 7 September 2023.  Online entries can also be edited/changed/cancelled until this closure, again subject to map availability.  

Entry on the Day will be very limited and only available subject to map availability.  An additional £1 fee will be charged for Entry on the Day.  

Entry Fees

  • Seniors BOF/SOA Members on Green to Black - £14
  • Seniors non-BOF/SOA members on Green to Black - £16. 
  • Seniors BOF/SOA Members on White to Lt Green - £7.
  • Seniors non-BOF/SOA members White to Lt Green - £8. 
  • Juniors BOF/SOA Members - £7. 
  • Juniors non-BOF/SOA Members - £8. 

There is no charge for shadowing juniors.

Please note that the information you provide when entering the event will be stored on computer and will be used solely for the purposes of the event.  Event results will be published on the internet.  By entering the event, you are authorising the use of the information you provide in this way.  Information will not be made available to parties not directly involved with the event other than as detailed above. 

SiEntries

Final Details

Darnaway Final Details (228.02 KB)

Safety Information

  • Competitors take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.  Whistles should be carried.  Six short blasts indicate a competitor in trouble, anyone hearing this signal is asked to offer assistance.
  • While the ground should be generally soft and dry, participants are advised to take care on any wooden bridges which can be damp and extremely slippery - use the areas covered by chicken wire.
  • Please note that Darnaway Forest is a popular venue for walkers and cyclists.  
  • The area could have ticks which may cause Lyme Disease, if not promptly removed.  Competitors are strongly advised to check themselves afterwards for ticks and remove them ASAP. 
  • Competitors are advised that the area has some steep slopes.
  • First Aid will be available at Assembly.  The nearest A&E hospital – Dr Grays Hospital, Elgin  

ABOVE ALL, Moravian hopes that everyone thoroughly enjoys themselves in this beautiful area.

Event Officials

Morag McLuckie
Peter McLuckie
Andrew Campbell
moragmcluckie@yahoo.co.uk
0797 432 0106
Ewart Scott

COVID-19

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.  

Results (190.34 KB)
Route gadget