Discussion: Looking for tips from our Scottish readers

I'm going to be in Edinburgh for a conference in the week 12-16 July, and have a free weekend in Scotland the weekend before.

I'm sure that some of you out there have your favourite classic spectacular exploring-the-Scottish-Highlands runs, so if you've got any advice for what might be worth doing, please let me know. (I'll have a car on the weekend so can go just about anywhere within reason, as long as it's close enough to get back to Edinburgh by 7pm Sunday, to (a) return the car and (b) watch the World Cup final). I'm not looking for something super-extreme (i.e. something that you can actually run) and anything up to 2-2.5 hours is a reasonable distance.

Also, if there are any midweek evening events (or training sessions) in Edinburgh that week which would be accessible without one's own transport, I'd be interested to know about it. (The conference is at the University of Edinburgh and I'll be staying close by).

There are likely to be some Edinburgh orienteering types headed for this quality Wednesday evening fell race (won last year by Murray Strain).

I would have thought it should be possible to find a lift if the race profile at this link does not put you off.....
http://scottishhillracing.co.uk/RaceDetails.aspx?R...

That looks fun!

would have thought it should be possible to find

Verb forms in English: not for the faint of heart.

Aviemore is a good place to head to. It's about 2 1/2 hours driving from Edinburgh up the A9 with some good views on the way.

For low level forest running either Rothiemurchus and Loch an Eilein or Abernethy Forest. For an easy mountain run either Bynack More from Glenmore Lodge or the hills above Inshriach.

If you want more details or to borrow maps let me know.

Cheers, Dave

If you're not averse to running up / down hills then you'll have no problem finding nice runs ....just allow for the weather!

To find if /where / when there are any Orienteering events try:
http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/event/findev...

If you make it to Aviemore area, then you can usually pick up map packs for good semi-permanent orienteering courses to do nearby (from the national orienteering centre at Glentress) See: http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/natcen/

I'd also say, it would be a shame to come to Scotland and not give Mountain Biking a go. "7 stanes" at Glentress is a good bet (1.5 hrs south of Edinburgh). http://www.7stanes.gov.uk/
If you end up near Aviemore, then try Wolftrax at Laggan. http://www.laggan.com/wolftrax.htm
And if you want near as possible to Edinburgh it has to be Carron Valley (c. 45 mins drive). http://www.forestry.gov.uk/carronvalley
All of these places have great single track, skills areas, bike hire, and most importantly (usually) have a wee cafe or snack shack nearby for post ride refueling !!!!!

How about where the Scottish Champs was Rannoch , or the Trossachs WRE - you should be able to get hold of the race maps for either of these? Some of the guys above should be able to help with that?

If it's runs rather than orienteering you're after then you should ask Kitch

Trossachs map here
Rannoch map here

Thanks for all the advice. Would definitely be interested in running on either the Trossachs or Rannoch but I guess it might not be that easy to get hold of a map (unless it's possible to do a reasonable-quality print off the web, which is doubtful).

My last foray into mountain biking ended up with a broken hand, so I might give that one a miss :-).

the trossachs map is 1:15 and the quality isn't too bad - map is tiny when printed.
Most fun i've had orienteering all year - it is pretty physical though

I could post you my map from Rannoch if I can a) find it b) have a hotel address for you before you head up there? c) get it in the post before heading to JWOC first thing in the morning! I have no idea how good quality those links above are. I bet someone has some pristine maps left from the races though - just need to work out who.
Rannoch was the nicest orienteering I've done all year, I didn't go to the Trossachs but it is a brilliant area.

the trossachs ranks in my top 5 orienteering areas in the world. its just so unbelievably epic!! after 2 hours navigating around that place, you get back to your car feeling like you have been on an adventure on another planet! highly reccomended!!

Blair, I organised Trossachs and have some nice M21E litho printed maps at home - you are welcome to one if you tell me where to send it. The only possible problem is that the bracken might be getting a bit high.....

But still - park at Ben Venue car park (WRE finish area), do the M21E course, get some ice cream/lunch at the Trossachs pier just up the road, warm down with a (approx 3 hour) walk up and down Ben Venue with fantastic views, finish off with a trip to Mhor Fish in Callendar. Perfect day!

I ran at Rannoch yesterday, there are still some race maps lying around in Edinburgh.

Bracken is right up compared to the actual race, but it's only in a few areas and doesn't spoil the orienteering at all. You can maybe tie it in with a run up Schiehallion.

I can see the headlines already...

Ozzy Orienteer collapses in Conference
-Its believed he attempted to race 2 WRE's, MTB all the trails and get in as many classic hill routes as possible between meetings. Causes are believed to be extreme dyhydration but is stable and is slowly recovering

I can get you a brand new Rannoch map if you want (my dirty one got given to the provost).

Very enjoyable course and forest - not as physically tough as the Trossachs.

Go the Trossachs - the only area I've run off the map 3 separate times in the same race.

Thanks for all of this. I'm flying into Edinburgh Airport late Friday and picking up a car there, so if there's someone on that side of Edinburgh en route to either area (and both sound good) I can drop in to get a map.

I'm on the south side of Edinburgh about 10mins from the airport (although the wrong way for the areas). You're welcome to drop in for maps on Friday evening or early Saturday morning. I've not got this years WRE map for the Trossachs but have plenty of earlier ones .

Sounds like a plan. Will follow through further by e-mail.

Edinburgh City Centre is mapped to Sprint standards, as are the University sites at Pollock and King's Buildings. Perfect for a 20 minute runaround during the conference. Sent by email. In my opinion I have the copyright, but not everyone agrees so please eat the files once you're done with them.

I know you're a hard man, but running in the Trossachs straight after an intercontinental flight is, um, brave.

The Trossachs were indeed ferocious, but I don't think I can blame jet lag for that (in any case natural selection has bred a tolerance-of-intercontinental-travel gene into Australians and New Zealanders).

How seasonal is the bracken? It was ferocious where it existed (which, unfortunately, was on most of the less-steep bits that might otherwise have made decent route choices). I find it hard to imagine that anyone could get under 10 min/km on the area in the condition that it's in at the moment.

Did you get the Rannoch map from Hollie too and did you get up there?

bracken is why we don't have many big events in the summer in scotland! 10min/km is hard to reach even with good conditions underfoot in the trossachs... only the top 13 men managed it at the WRE there when there was much much less bracken. http://fvo.org.uk/Events/2010%20WRE/Results/m21e.h...

shame you're not here for any of the INT urban series which is every 2nd wednesday
http://sites.google.com/site/interlopersurbanserie...