Binn Hill

Event Summary

Binn Hill - Local Event

With our thanks to the landowner, Edward Tennant, welcome to our second local league event of 2026, which will be taking place on Saturday 7 March.  Following the success last year, we will be back at Binn Hill.  The routegadget is linked here: 2025-02-16 Binn Hill Local Event.

Binn Hill is a relatively small hill located to the east of Lossiemouth and to west of Kingston-on-Spey.  It comprises a mixture of coniferous forest, open land and a path network. It has some lovely contour features and a number of mountain trails.  Parking will be in a field close to the start with a £3 charge. 

Three courses are on offer:

  • Yellow: 2.5 km, 75 m climb. Relatively easy, shorter course. Ideal for novice and younger orienteers.
  • Orange: 3.5 km, 100 m climb. Moderate technical difficulty (TD). Slightly longer course than yellow.
  • Light Green: 5 km, 155 m climb. More technically difficult and longer course, suitable for experienced orienteers

Please note that courses close at 1:30 pm.  You must report to download by this time, even if you retire and do not complete the course.

Cross country
Local
SI AIR
1000-1130 hours
1030-1200 hours
1330 hours
88001
On Leads
Online
SiEntries

Directions and Parking

Directions.  From the West, take the A96 east from Elgin towards Llanbryde and past the Threaplands Garden Centre.  After approx.1 Km, turn left at the junction signed Urquhart and Maverston Golf Course.  Continue to a crossroads and turn right towards Garmouth.  On entering Garmouth, continue on 'Station Road' and then turn sharp left on Innes Road (just before the High Street).  Continue on Innes Road for approximately 3 km to the parking field (which will be a left turn and signed).  

From the East, please turn right at the A96/Urquhart T-junction east of the Threaplands Garden Centre and follow the directions above.

Parking.  Parking will be in a field at the following location: w3ws:///tweeted.sideburns.rigid.  There will be a £3 charge for parking and laying of track matting, so please have your change ready at the field entrance.  Due to recent wet conditions, the field will be unsuitable for campervans - sorry!.  Track matting will be put down at the field entrance.  

Registration/Assembly.  Registration and assembly will be in the parking field.  All yellow course competitors must collect their maps from registration before heading to the start.  

Toilets:  No toilets.  Please use nearest public facilities in Lossiemouth.

Start and Finish

Start.  The Start is approx 400 m from the Parking field.  Please follow the tapes.  The route will involve walking approximately 200 m westwards along Innes Road.  Though the road is usually quiet, there may be traffic.  The route will have 'caution runner' signs to warn road users.  Please be aware of vehicles as you walk along the roadside.  After 200 m, turn right across the road and into woods.  

Finish.   The finish is close to the start.  Please follow the tapes back to download in the parking field.  The route will follow the reverse of the route to the start.  Please be mindful of traffic as you walk the 200 m eastwards along Innes road.  

All courses will have a punching start and a punching finish.

At registration

Courses

Three courses:

  • Light Green - 5 km and 155 m of climb.
  • Orange - 3.5 km and 100 m of climb.
  • Yellow - 2.5 km and 75 m of climb.

Terrain

Binn Hill is a relatively small hill located to the east of Lossiemouth and to west of Kingston-on-Spey.  It comprises a mixture of coniferous forest, open land and a path network.  It has some lovely contour features and a number of mountain bike trails, so please be observant for any mountain bikers using them during the event, as the area will not be for the exclusive use of orienteering.  Please note that whilst all mountain bike trails have been mapped, new ones may appear, while undergrowth may mask older ones.

Binn Hill is covered by a mixture of coniferous and deciduous woodland, with some rough open areas with scattered young trees.  Some areas have recently been replanted with conifers.  To the north of the area is a north west-south east trending ridge which forms a steep escarpment dropping down to the Lossie forest. All courses run along this ridge at some point, but do not drop down to the Lossie Forest.  The woods rise to 85 m above sea level near the finish, from where there are extensive views out over the Moray Firth.  The terrain is undulating, with many broad re-entrants.  There is an extensive path and forestry ride network throughout the area.  The area is used by mountain bikers and dog walkers, so please take care, particularly near path junctions.  Recently replanted areas are rough underfoot and slow going.

Motocross and Mountain Bike Tracks

Please note that Binn Hill is regularly used by motocross and mountain bike riders, with new tracks created as a result.  These new tracks are unlikely to be mapped and, in some cases, could obscure actual mapped paths.   

1:7500, 5m contours.

Entry Details

Entries are online via SI Entries only.  

  • Entries open online from Saturday 14 February 2026 and will close at 23:59 pm on Wednesday 4 March at normal prices.  Online entries can also be edited/changed/cancelled until this closure, subject to map availability. 
  • Limited Entry on the Day subject to an additional £1 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 members of the public and other competitors on the courses and take care to avoid collisions. 
  • Participants are advised that the route to the start and from the finish will involve walking along Innes Road which has no pavement.  Caution runner signs will be displayed to warn road users of participants.  Please be observant to traffic.  Participants are also advised that marshals will be present at the crossing point of Innes Road to monitor traffic.
  • Please be aware of trip hazards (including tree roots, stony and broken ground, kerbs, steps and fallen branches/logs), slopes and steps, slippery paths, uneven surfaces, litter and dog fouling, and low branches near control sites 
  • Participants are advised that the area is popular as a venue for mountain biking and there are several mountain bike trails which may be in use on the day.  Please be observant and take action to avoid collisions with mountain bikers and other members of the public.    
  • Participants are advised that some fresh mountain bike paths may be unmapped and could obscure actual mapped paths.
  • Participants are advised that there is a steep escarpment running along the north east of the area.  
  • Participants are advised of slippery slopes and dense vegetation in some of the wooded areas and recommended to wear full leg cover and gripped shoes, respectively. 
  • Participants are advised of tick hazards and to check after participating.
  • Please dress appropriately for an event in the North of Scotland in early March.

Event Officials

Bill Young
Peter McLuckie
Bi11young@hotmail.com
Andrew Campbell

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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