Race details
7.5 miles, with 3,000 feet of ascent. The race starts at 1pm, at the Ben Venue Car Park, on the side of Loch Achray.
See the main event page (click here) for entry details, prices, entry forms and so forth.
Profile
Map
Click here to download a detailed and annotated map (PDF) of the course.
Course notes and description
The route is a mixture of paths & open ground. You will require the ability to navigate on the open hill. There will be marshals at key points around the course and the paths on the lower section will be marked.
To give the more experienced hill runners the scope to choose their own route across the hill, it has been decided to have 4 compulsory checkpoints, at the following obvious locations
- NN 474 052 – gate at forest edge
- NN 477 061 – 727m summit cairn
- NN 466 049 – fence at top of descent
- NN 483 050 – path/landrover track junction
Between these checkpoints, you have the freedom to choose whatever way you want to go! However, the detailed map shows a suggested route.
The race starts at the Ben Venue Car Park, before a short path section joins up with the tarmac water board road (Grid Ref 500 068). After approx 500m on tarmac, the route crosses the new bridge across Achray water, before climbing the excellent new walking paths through the forest up to Grid Ref 474 052.
- Forest Paths
After the gate, turn right and climb the shoulder to reach the summit of Ben Venue.
Follow the eroded muddy path along the ridge, heading generally westward, passing the cairn marking the walkers route down (Grid Ref NN 468 062).
Continue on the ridge following the old fence line, until tape/arrow/marshals will indicate the way down (Grid Ref NN 466 049), about 100m after the fence is met by a landrover track.
Descend across the open hill for 2km to the forest edge. Note that the forestry marked on the map is a mix of old & very young/small trees. There is a high fence, which can be avoided by the gate at Grd Ref NN 474 049, which then leads onto a rather overgrown path down to the landrover track at Grid Ref NN 483 051.
Follow the track for 800m heading back towards the walkers path that was used for the climb up through the forest. Follow the route back down through the forest to the race start.