John Muir Country Park SoSOL
Sunday 1 November 2026
© Woodland Trust
John Muir Country Park suffered terribly from Storm Arwen but, now that the fallen trees have been cleared, the woodland is recovering, the path network has been opened up again and a new map of the area has been professionally produced by Dave Peel.
We will be venturing into the dunes on either side of the protected tidal marsh. These dunes are covered by spiky marram grass with a good path network on the inland side. A visit to coastal Spike Island will provide a navigational challenge for some of the more technical courses.
With Storm Arwen thinning the trees, the bracken has spread and while we reckon most of it will be starting to die back by early November, the worst of it will be indicated by a green screen on the map so that you can make navigation decisions accordingly.
General information
Type of Event
Regional event in the South of Scotland League series incorporating the Junior Inter-area individual competition
Terrain:
- Paths for shorter courses with longer courses venturing into the sand dunes and onto Spike Island.
- Please observe any out of bounds areas.
Other users:
The area is very well used by the general public including dog walkers and families. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.
The area is well used by dog walkers so dogs are welcome to come with orienteers.
Catering:
Hot drinks and cake will be available in return for donations to Mary’s Meals. Donations can be made in cash, by card, or online direct to Mary’s Meals.
Toilets:
Toilets are available adjacent to the parking area.
Accessibility:
The area is generally quite flat but some of the paths are sandy in places. None of the courses cross fences or walls.
Location
Nearest Town: Dunbar
Grid Ref: NT652787
Nearest Postcode: EH42 1XF
Directions
Follow signs to Dunbar and West Barns from the A1. Turn left at the brown signs.
Public Transport
The X7 stops nearby.
Registration & Start Times
Registration
This will be online (and for newcomers at the car park) – look for the ELO flag and tent!
Please select an early start time if you think you might take a long time to complete your course.
There is a charge for parking. The reference number on the RingGo app is 21006.
Start and Finish:
You can start at any time between 11:30pm and 1:30pm.
The courses close at 3:00pm but if you think you may take a while we would advise starting nearer 11:30.
Start and finish are close to registration.
Courses Close:
The courses will close at 3:00pm so it is essential that you report to the Finish by then, even if you have not completed your course.
Entry Charges (TBC)
Entry is cheaper if you are a current 2026 member of a club affiliated to Scottish or British Orienteering.
Please ensure that your membership has been renewed for 2026.
| Entry Type | British Orienteering member | Scottish Orienteering member | Non‑member | Late Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seniors | £11 | £12 | £13 | +£2 |
| Juniors | £4 | £5 | £6 | +£1 |
| Pair of Seniors | £13 | £14 | £15 | +£2 |
| Pair of Juniors (no accompanying adults) | £5.50 | £6.50 | £7.50 | +£1 |
| Junior and Parent | £7 | £8 | £9 | +£1 |
| Family Groups (one or more children accompanied by one or more adults – we would generally encourage families to split up into pairs!) | £10 | £11 | £12 | +£1 |
| Second junior course (white/yellow/orange) | £1 | £1 | £1 |
Course Information
Map
The map is printed at 1:7500 with 2.5m contours.
Timing
SportIdent (SI) electronic timing will be used – we will have SIs for hire free of charge but there is a £30 charge if lost. Units, apart from start and finish, will be set for contactless punching.
Courses
There will be White, Yellow, Orange, Light Green, Short Green, Green, Blue and Brown courses.
| Course | Length / Ascent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| White | TBC | For competitive 9 year olds and 10-11 year old beginners. Follows paths with a control at each choice point. |
| Yellow | TBC | For competitive 10-11 year olds and 11-12 year old beginners. Follows line features with controls after choice points. |
| Orange | TBC | For competitive 11-13 year olds and beginner adults. Controls near paths or line features. |
| Light Green | TBC | For competitive 13-14 year olds and more experienced orienteers. More challenging navigation including some route choice and controls further from paths. |
| Short Green | TBC | For experienced orienteers. Challenging navigation including route choice and rougher terrain away from paths. |
| Green | TBC | For experienced orienteers. Challenging navigation including route choice and rougher terrain away from paths. |
| Blue | TBC | For experienced orienteers. Challenging navigation including route choice and rougher terrain away from paths. |
| Brown | TBC | For experienced orienteers. Challenging navigation including route choice and rougher terrain away from paths. |
More details about the colour coding is available on the Scottish Orienteering website.
Planner:
Jonathan Ellis / Andrea Davison
Safety and Risk
A comprehensive risk assessment (RA) has been carried out by the organisers, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.
You are advised to wash your hands after finishing your course to avoid the risk of infection and to carefully check for ticks. The full Risk Assessment will be available for inspection at Registration.
Please note: If you participate and are not a member of British Orienteering or Scottish Orienteering then you are not covered by their respective public liability insurance. In that case, by entering this event you acknowledge that you are taking part at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered.
Medical Conditions:
If you, or anyone in your group (including juniors), have a medical condition that first-aiders or health professionals should know about in the event of accident or illness during the course of the event please print off the Medical Form, complete it fully and bring it along to the event. You should complete a separate copy for each individual who has a medical condition. Please leave the completed Medical Form at Event Registration. If it is not in a labelled sealed envelope, it will be put in one and will be opened only in an emergency. It will be shredded immediately after the event if you do not claim it back.
Privacy
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We may also take photographs at the event for publicity purposes – please let us know if you do not want us to use your photograph in this way.
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