Important Information

Organising clubs

Forth Valley Orienteers (FVO) & Clydeside Orienteers (CLYDE)

Organisers

Dave Coustick (FVO) & Rob Truswell (FVO)

Planners

Ben Stansfield (FVO) and Klaas Wynne (CLYDE)

Controllers

Roger Coombs (MAROC) & Chris Low (MAROC)

Directions

There are 2 car parks, A (west) and B (east). Campervans over 5m, EVs and any car with a passenger aged 70 and over or aged 11 and under should use car park A which is approximately 300m before the arena. Priority parking for helpers and those with special needs will be in the arena. All other cars should use car park B which is approximately 1.8 km from the arena. Competitors can go directly to the start from Car Park B but must report to download even if they do not finsih therir course.
The bridge over the River Dee at Aboyne is closed.
If approaching from the west (e.g. Ballater, Braemar) leave the A93 Deeside Rd at Dinnet, turn right across the bridge and then continue east along the B976. Shortly after passing the closed bridge turn right for 2 miles (3km) for car park A or continue straight on for a further 3 miles (4km) before turning sharp right for car park B.
If approaching from the east cross the river Dee at Potarch (unless you are already south of the river). Then travel west on the B993 for 2.5 miles (4km) and turn right onto the B976 for a further 0.5 mile (1km). Turn left and follow signs for car park B or continue for a further 3 miles (4km) before turning left to follow signs for car park A.
If you are coming from Aboyne by car you should initially travel west on A93 for car park A, crossing the Dee at Dinnet then following instructions as above. From Aboyne to car park B travel east on A93 to Potarch and then follow instructions above.
If cycling from Aboyne cross the Dee and turn left for 300m then follow signs to car park A and continue past there to the arena. We DO NOT recommend walking along this road as it is very narrow and will have a lot of orienteering traffic.
Competitors will not be allowed to arrive after 12:30 or leave before 13:00.

Parking

Car Park A
GR: NO 543 963
W3W: yell.blockage.cube
Post Code: AB34 5DB
Car Park B
GR: NO 557 970
W3W: feasting.swimmer.neutron
Post Code: AB34 5BY

Arena

120m from car park A, 1.8km from car park B

Starts

For all starts leave the arena and follow the minor road east for 800m. Turn off the road and follow a wide track for 100m, then the routes diverge with the White Start being 100m (40m total ascent) up another track, and the Green, Blue and Red starts 200m (50m total ascent) up a separate track. There will be a separate warm-up area for elite classes near the Red Start.

Maps

Previous maps by Deeside Orienteering and Leisure Maps (DOLM) based on photogrammetric plot by Stirling Surveys. Revised for Royal Deeside 2025 by DOLM 2024/25. © MAROC.

Courses 1E to 6 use a scale of 1:10,000; and all other courses use a scale of 1:7,500.
View old map on Routegadget

Terrain

Largely runnable, varied, plantation forest with some rough open ground. Several complex contoured areas. Parts of the plantation forest have been recently thinned, with much evidence of the workings being visible. There are many unmapped extraction lanes. There may be deep heather and bracken on some courses. Recent storm damaged windblown trees have been mapped with an orientated dark green uncrossable symbol.

Finishes

The Finish is in the arena.

String and off-string courses

Adjacent to the arena

Safety

Forestry operations have been taking place recently. Any machinery, log piles or other articles of work must be avoided. The forest is used by mountain bikers and their trails will be crossed by most courses. Occasional mountain bikers may be encountered on the day. Please give them a wide berth. A dry stone wall approaching the finish is only crossable at marked crossing points.

Junior courses

Courses 22 and 23 follow distinct paths, tracks, walls and rides with some taping between controls. There is also a taped section on course 21.

BOF Registration No.: 84584

Special Information

Day 4 is a World Ranking Event for elite classes who will run a middle distance course. View IOF Bulletin 2.
Because of the distance from Car Park B to the arena please give club tents to someone who is allowed to park in Car Park A. If this isn’t possible please contact the organisers for permission to park in Car Park A.