North Berwick Law
Saturday 9th September 2023
Sadly, Ian Rowland, today’s planner couldn’t be present in person. His courses each provided a tough challenge on a very hot afternoon and his Green course squeezed every drop of variety out of a small area.
Thanks to all who came to run and to help. See you in three weeks at Yellowcraig when we will be back in our regular ‘last Saturday of the month’ slot.
Event Report
After an enforced summer break it was good to have a strong turnout for today’s club event at Berwick Law. The routes took runners up and down the slopes, through woodland, and along lochans. Memories of the day include the sweltering heat, the ponies repeatedly knocking down the Start banner, the ponies failing to break into the lush community allotment – and ice lollies at the finish. Thanks to Ian Rowland for planning the courses, to all the helpers beforehand and on the day, and to the catering team who raised £67 for Mary’s Meals.
Planner’s Report
It’s always a bit tricky putting out controls on courses planned by someone else – “Am I putting this control on the same feature which the planner envisaged?”. Ian couldn’t be with us today but his courses won many compliments. If any controls weren’t perfectly placed the blame is with me. Pete Younger
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
Advance Information
Type of event:
Local event in the East of Scotland Orienteering Association (ESOA) series
North Berwick Law is a conical hill which looms over the town and reaches 187 metres above sea level. The Law is a volcanic plug similar to Arthur’s Seat and the top has the remains of an Iron Age hill fort as well as the ruins of military buildings used by lookouts in time of war. A replica whale jawbone atop the Law provides a distinctive backdrop to the town.
Orienteers of all abilities are welcome to join us on the day when we will have a range of courses to suit everyone. There should be enough maps for Entry on the Day.
Terrain:
- All today’s courses include the physical challenges of appreciable ascent and descent.
- The slopes of the Law get generally steeper and rockier as they approach the summit. Around the base there is open ground with ponds and marshes.
- Fences that should not be climbed over are marked as such. Crossing points are marked as compulsory on the map, including one temporary stile.
- Gorse cover is hard to map accurately. Gorse spreads rapidly but is trimmed by the Ranger service and some thickets become hollowed out as the ponies use them for shelter in poor weather.
- Some ascent paths which suffer from erosion are marked on our map as OOB. Do not cross the orange mesh fences used to close these paths.
- Please observe any out of bounds areas.
Safety Information:
- There are dangerous cliffs and high crags which must be avoided by all competitors. Solid purple OOB lines above cliffs and high crags must not be crossed.
- Some controls on the Green course are on or near steep slopes where a fall would be potentially serious. If you suffer from vertigo or are unsteady in such circumstances you should not attempt this course.
- The extensive marsh on the north side of the Law is becoming wetter and deeper due to wildlife management measures. Green course goes around this area but competitors must not attempt to enter or cross the marsh itself.
- The path network is generally good but does have steep sections so appropriate footwear with good grip is needed.
- There are now ticks in the woods so remember to check yourself after the event.
- Ground conditions are very dry this summer. There are some nettles, thistles and brambles but they are not densely developed, so long socks may provide sufficient leg cover.
- A group of ponies grazes the Law. They do not pose a threat to the public but should not be approached and must not be fed.
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.
Dogs
The area is well used by dog walkers. Dogs can come with orienteers but must be kept under control, particularly where the ponies may be encountered.
Toilets
There are no toilet facilities at the assembly area.
Toilets are available at North Berwick Sports Centre, which is 500m from assembly area.
Accessibility
Due to the steep nature of the Law and its surrounds none of the courses are accessible by buggies or wheelchairs.
Catering
Cake and hot drinks will be offered in return for cash donations to Mary’s Meals.
Location
Nearest Town: North Berwick
Grid Ref: NT 552 842
Nearest Postcode: EH39 5NX
Directions
Please do not park at the Law car park as it will be in high demand from members of the public. There is a car park at North Berwick Sports Centre which is a 500 metre walk from Assembly, Registration and Download which are all at the Law car park. There is also on-street car parking within a few hundred metres to north or to the west of Assembly. What3Words : illogical.wolf.packages
Public Transport
If you’d like to come by public transport, it’s a 20 minute walk from the rail station (trains from Edinburgh are roughly every hour on Saturdays) or a 5 minute walk from the 124 bus stop at North Berwick Sports Centre. There are pavements and a footpath all the way.
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.
Start and Finish:
Start times will be from 1:30pm to 3:00pm. We won’t be allocating start times; start when you are ready.
The Start and Finish locations are close to Law car park within 100 metres of Registration.
Courses Close:
The courses will close at 4:00pm, so if you have not completed your course by then, you should stop and return to assembly.
You must report to the Download point, whether you complete the course or not, so that we know you are not lost or injured somewhere on the Law.
Course Information
Map
The map is printed at 1:5000 with 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 and Green courses.
| Course | Length / Ascent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1.5km / 40m | |
| Yellow | 2.1km / 90m | |
| Orange | 3.1km / 135m | |
| Green | 4.2km / 200m |
More details about the colour coding is available on the Scottish Orienteering website.
Organiser:
Saartje Drijver
Planner:
Ian Rowland
Entry Charges
Entry is cheaper if you are a current 2023 member of a club affiliated to Scottish or British Orienteering.
Please ensure that your membership has been renewed for 2023.
| British/Scottish Orienteering member* (Pre-entry) | Non‑member & late entry | |
|---|---|---|
| Seniors | £4 | £6 |
| Juniors | £1.50 | £2.50 |
| Pair of Seniors | £5 | £7 |
| Pair of Juniors (no accompanying adults) | £2 | £3 |
| Junior and Parent | £2.50 | £3.50 |
| Family Groups (one or more children accompanied by one or more adults) | £6 | £8 |
*Members of any orienteering club will receive a discount for advance entry only (usually by the Monday before the event so we can order maps).
Safety and Risk
A comprehensive risk assessment 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.
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
When entering our events your name will appear in the results section of this website and may appear in newspaper reports.
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.
Read our privacy policy.