Falkirk Wheel - Scottish Score ChampsSun 19 Oct

Please approach from the East only. The entry point to the car park is on the B816, Tamfourhill Road. Follow signs for the Falkirk Wheel from Glenfuir Road, Falkirk.

Please use the car parks on the right as you approach the Visitor Centre. The top car park on the left is used by Camper Vans staying overnight. The Canal Trust charge £4 for a day ticket. The are pay points at the Visitor Centre.

Start/Finish/Download/Enquiries are < 100m from the car parks and clearly visible as you head towards the main visitor centre.

If you are staying overnight at the on-site camper van parking (additional charges apply) then please remember that the whole competition are including the car parks is embargoed! Overnight you can use the main paths between the camper van car park and the Visitor Centre only. Play Fair. Follow the Competition Rules.

All maps are single-sided A4 1:10,000 scale, 5 m contours; mapped in 2024 by Alistair Pedley.  They include new terrain which was not on the previous map - however, you can get a general feel for the area here https://www.fvo.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#87

The map uses the standard IOF out-of-bounds hatching (  ## ), out-of-bounds route (  X ) and out-of-out of bounds line ( – ) markings.  These are not shown on the ground but should be obvious to competitors.  In addition, Historic Environment Scotland are trying to encourage biodiversity and have a number of marshes / ponds which they are trying to “develop”.  These are mapped as crossable, because they physically are, but please respect the signs HES have erected.  

They can all be easily passed and are unlikely to make any difference to route choices.

TUNNEL

Some courses will have the option to use the Roughcastle Tunnel. This is a 180m long tunnel; the land at the surface above the tunnel is also part of the courses.  The ISOM mapping standard does not include the runnable on two levels concept found on Sprint maps, and so it has been mapped using the crossing route symbol ] [ which is elongated to show the full length of the tunnel.  On the ground, the entrances/exits to the tunnel are obvious as they form part of the canal tow path - the tow path is on the EAST side of the canal.  The tunnel has a good surface underfoot, is reasonably well lit and has a fence to separate users from the canal.  Be aware of runners coming the other way.  The tunnel can also be popular with cyclists.  Please keep to the left.  You can run at surface level, including crossing the crossing route symbol.

Most of the fences are either barbed wire or electric fences even if marked as crossable.  Electric fences will NOT be active during the event.  You can cross these fences with care, but less agile or confident competitors may wish to avoid that.  All controls can be reached without climbing any barbed wire or electric fences.  One particularly tricky fence will be provided with a safer crossing point which is marked on the map with the IOF ) ( crossing point symbol.

Out-of-bounds areas and crossing symbols will be marked on the blank maps in start lanes.

There are variations on the Score course control subsets, which means competitors in different age classes, even with the same run duration, may not be on the same course.  The courses will be labelled A, B, C, D, E, F.  Please ensure you are on the correct course for the age class you have entered. 

Juniors who are not confident on TD3 courses are encouraged to run the Yellow course.   Well-behaved, well-controlled dogs are welcome on this course.   This course is not suitable for buggies.  If you wish to shadow someone on that course, you must complete your own run first.

Eligibility to be a Scottish Score Orienteering Champion is based on the usual Scottish Championship Criteria (https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/wpfd_file/scottish-championships-eligibility-2022-12/). 

SCORE VALUES (The following information is not relevant to the Yellow course)

Each control is labelled in the field with a three-digit number.  The final digit also indicates the number of points allocated to this control.  That is, the number of points equals the final digit of the control number times 10, e.g. control 183 is worth 30 points, control 194 is worth 40 points and control 207 is worth 70 points etc.  Controls vary between 10 and 70 points.  They have been assigned scores, which will make you carefully consider your optimal route to collect the maximum points in the available time rather than simple weighting the scores by distance from the start.

On the Score courses, the control locations are labelled on the map with the three digit control number.  The control descriptions show both the three digit number and the points value.  The table of controls is sorted by score to make it easier to identify the higher scoring options.   Loose control descriptions ARE NOT provided.  The size of the numbers used to label the control circles on the map will be smaller than typically used for linear orienteering courses to reduce clutter.  The numbers have a thin white outline to help readability. 

A penalty will apply for anyone who is not back at the finish within the allotted time for their course (remember your watch!) - that penalty will be 10 points for each 30s or part of 30s that you are over time.  

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Entries have now closed but details are here

Entry on the Day - we have a few spare maps for Yellow and Score Course E. This has no road crossings so is suitable for adults and juniors.
There are NO entries on the day for Championship courses.

The Start will be organised with a queue system from 11:00 - 12:15. 
( With some flexibility for those needing split times or returning to shadow Juniors. We may allow early starts as soon as the planner confirms we are cleared for take off.)

The start officials will call waiting runners into the -4m pre start box as space allows for each course ( not class).

Remember to manually punch the Start Unit before collecting your map. Check you have the correct map before you leave the Start.

NOTE: Yellow maps can be collected from registration before going to the start.

In addition to the wonderful orienteering experience, the Canal Trust Visitor Centre will be open. Facilities include Toilets, Cafe and Gift Shop and the world's one and only rotating boat lift.

All car parks are out of bounds to everyone whilst competing.  A number of fields which commonly have livestock in them are marked out of bounds.  Cows may wander into other areas too - stop running if your presence appears to concern them.  Our landowner permissions do not allow dogs to be taken on any of the Score courses.  They are acceptable within the grounds of the Falkirk Wheel, and on the Yellow course.

Courses for over 16’s may cross a road with fast-moving traffic.  There are two acceptable crossing points - a marshalled road crossing at the location with the best sightlines - marked with the crossing point symbol ) ( , and the 180m long Roughcastle tunnel (marked with the elongated crossing route symbol ] [ see below).  Crossing the road anywhere else is not permitted.

Courses for M/W16’s may cross quiet roads within the Falkirk Wheel campus, which have relatively slow-moving traffic and good sight lines.  

Courses for M/W14- and the Yellow course should not have any reason to cross roads. 

Courses generally avoid the canal, but please ensure children are supervised near water when not competing.

Basic first aid will be available at Download tent.  The nearest hospital if Forth Valley Royal, in Larbert.