Tayside Orienteers

Navigation

Tayside Spring 1 2026

Image of the The Hermitage map

Open Local event

Sat 07th Mar 2026

Last updated: 12th Jan
Type of event: Local
Type of terrain: Forest
Read more about the mapped area

Info

This is first event in the Tayside series for 2026

Location

Nearest town: Dunkeld

Pre event information

Full body cover and a WHISTLE required.

NOTE - TAKE CARE - The River Braan in the south of the area can be dangerous. There are dangerous crags and some dangerous areas of tree brashings left after felling. Do not climb on any timber stacks. 

LOST - Go south until you reach the R Braan, follow down stream until you reach the Hermitage car park. Follow signs from A9 entry to event parking. 

Club risk assessment has been completed. Prepare a personal risk assessment.

Parts of the area, especially around the Hermitage Falls and the Pine Cone path are very popular with the public – walkers and mountain bikers. Please be aware of others and maintain your distance. Give way to members of the public on narrow paths and at gates or stiles. 

The terrain is very varied and rough in places.

Directions / Parking

Getting there -

The National Trust Hermitage area of the A9 past Dunkeld.if travelling north.

Parking is located in a field to the north of The National Trust for Scotland Hermitage Car Park, Dunkeld.

Please only use the designated field for parking.

From the South from Dunkeld continue north along the A9 from Dunkeld and the Hermitage car park is signposted on the left. 

From the North Approach towards Dunkeld on the A9 before reaching Dunkeld you will cross the Jubilee bridge and approximately 2km after the Jubilee Bridge, The Hermitage will be signed on the right and there is a lane for crossing. 

Once in the Hermitage turn immediately right and head up the hill towards the upper car park. Continue through the upper car park up the forest track for approximately 500m towards the FLS car park. Once at the top of the hill the car parking field is located on the left. £2/car will be collected at the gate.

Registration & Start Times

Registration - in the car park - for any on the day entries, picking up yellow course maps and hired dibbers.

Si dibbing will be used including electronic dibbing.

Anyone who has not got a dibber can book to use a club dibber at entries. These will not be electronic.

Course Information

The Hermitage is a very scenic varied commercial coniferous forest which is very popular with the public, please respect other users of the forest and stay alert for mountain bikers, dogs and traffic, particularly around the car parks. It is rough in places, but most of the overgrowth has died back

Explanation of colour courses

  • White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
  • Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
  • Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
  • Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
  • Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
  • Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
  • Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
  • Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Si entry on line ....

Entries open ........ Entries close 

Fees Senior - BOF £8. Junior/Student £4  SOA £9/ £5 Non-members £10 / £6

Contacts / Officials

Organiser Bill Melville 07365 436036 or 01350 727048

Planner - Carl Selmer Duguid.

Dogs allowed?

Dogs can be walked or left tied/in car at the car park

Safety and Risk

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

Keep It Clean campaign - Forestry Commission Scotland

Our forests are at risk from tree pests and diseases. These can dramatically affect the health of our trees, upsetting the delicate ecosystem balance and devastating large areas of woodland.
Pests and diseases hitch a ride in mud and debris on shoes, paws and tyres, ending up in new forests. Here, they can spread rapidly in environments with no natural resilience.
Read more about this on the FCS website.

Privacy

When entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports.
Read our privacy policy to see how we look after your personal data.