Carnethy Virtual Winter Challenges 2020-21
This page is being archived as things are getting back to normal! Look out for the night runs over the winter.
Glencorse Skyline 20th Oct – 10th Nov 2020
Full Skyline 10 Nov – 1 Dec
12 Hills of Xmas 1 – 18 Jan 2021
A Tale of 2 Esks 25 Dec – 31 Jan
Strava Smackdowns – finished
Bucket List Challenge – 22 Feb-15 Mar – report here
Bucket List Challenge
We are embarking on another challenge with our brother club, HBT. This round is a bit more, as some may say, ‘playful’.
We are inviting everyone to take part in the ‘Bucket List Challenge’. This challenge will also be recorded using a google doc. So, as you complete check points, and provisos, please record it in the google doc along with your running total: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d-QLzcb0GlmnGigV_LRqCxJi53tzR6kBqLU1hTUhf3M/edit?usp=sharing
For each checkpoint you visit you will be awarded 5 points, and if you complete the proviso task you will get an additional 10.
For example, if you visit Portobello you will get 5 points, if you go for a dip while visiting you will get 15.
The challenge will run from Monday the 22nd of February until the Monday the 15th of March.
We are looking for small video clips and pictures of your travels which will be complied into a video at the end of the challenge. If you could please email them to dicksonkirsty@hotmail.com, or message me to send them over WhatsApp, I would be grateful.
Good luck and have fun tackling the Bucket List!
Kirsty Dickson
Strava Smackdowns – every Thursday for one week – roundup
See the news page for details of each weeks’ segments which will also be circulated by email.
For this we have TEAMED UP WITH HBT who will also be running the same segments (its not a competition… but let’s hope Carnethy win)
We hope that this will provide some stimulation for your brain and aerobic system.
On a side note- It may also be a nice time to ensure you smile as you pass other people on your exercise outings – you never know what they could be going through and it may just make their day a lil easier
Please ensure you also look out for friends, family and yourself ❤
We look forward to seeing every attempt- so run, walk, ski or crawl your way through the segments. It’s only ever showing up that counts!
Kirsty Dickson
Google sheet – view all the results
The 12 Hills of Xmas 1st Dec – 18th Jan
Results
PDF map download. Time your uphill sprints and enter the times on the Googlesheet; you can group your hills – the starts are placed so that you don’t always need to retrace your steps. Allermuir on Xmas day at 11am for a distanced meet up and toasts. Any queries to d.maass@btinternet.com
Detailed notes:
PDF notes download
1 Spittal Hill. Start at the Font Stone. May contain enough change for the bus home. Follow the trod up and around the ridge line, up Green Hill, down and through gate and follow fence line to Spittal Hill top, which is a bit vague and on the wrong side of the fence, so the fence junction is the finish. Route is a reversed part of ‘SpittalMonk’ from the AltC5 of 2017. Scroll way down the page for a map, Park at Nine Mile Burn or bus.
No 2 West Kip. Start at The Borestane which is by a clump of pines. Go east a few metres to meet the signed drove road to Carlops (which you probably arrived on, unless already lost). Continue E on boggy and annoying trod by left side of wall. Cross the wall where it takes a left turn at a vague high point and make a beeline across rough heathery and tussocky ground to the Drove Road, turn r and then ascend West Kip. Map & compass vital. Rough and remote country.
A good long circuit would be to park at 9 Mile Burn. Do No1 Spittal Hill; drop down to N Esk Reservoir; cross and turn R on track to Borestane. Then from West Kip either return by the same path (lovely fast descent) or find the one that passes Cap Law and Braid Law plantations above Eastside and descends nr Quarrel Burn Reservoir. Parking at Carlops or bus.
No 3 Scald Law. From Charlie’s Loup find the best way to the contouring trod round Grain Hill and below Silverburn quarry. Continue a short way up the wide track after the quarry to find the trod up the SE ridge of South Black Hill. At top continue around right to Scald Law trig point. Part of the route on The Carnethy 3. Combine it with Carnethy if you still have the energy.
No 4 Hare Hill. Follow the prominent track rising from Green Cleugh. Out of the valley leave the track and find the best way to the top. You can’t see the top from the track – navigation needed! Practice your compass skills to cross the pathless ground to a small pile of stones in the heather.
No 5 Carnethy. Start at Charlie’s Loup. Follow a trod along left side of wall to the stile. Bear left and descend slightly over muddy col then follow trod left towards col between Carnethy and Turnhouse. Turn left and go up to highest possible point. Easily combined with Scald Law route.
No 6 Turnhouse. Start by the front wall of the café and take the shortest route to the highest possible point. The cows should have been moved by now!
No 7 Black Hill has an inconspicuous top. There’s a few stones and a scoop in the peat (if I remember right) but it is findable, unlike my photo of it.
No 8 Bell’s Hill. From the stile by the small water building. There are trods all the way. May be very soggy. A dispiritingly steep section up out of the valley (especially if you are doing the Skyline). Why is it called Bell’s Hill? Pentlands Place names
No 9 Castlelaw route. Keep left of range fence and don’t enter even if flags are not flying. Finish at flagpole and salute it, ideally with a nip. See Whisky Chaser 2012 for full instructions. Sadly the wee sentry box has gone.
No 10 Capelaw. Take the shortest route from gate at Bonaly parking and finish at the metal post, scene of many a Carnethy photoshoot (and one infamous photo).
No 11 Caerketton. From the park sign to the top. Basically the uphill part of the Caerketton race.
No 12 Allermuir. From the park sign at Swanston parking by the shortest route to the top. Do this on Xmas day if you want to do distanced drinkies at 11am. Well that’s in normal times. Look out for invite on FB group if it’s on.
A Tale of 2 Esks 25th Dec – 31st Jan
Length: at least 27.5 miles 44.3 km gpx file
This run takes place in Midlothian. Increased Covid restrictions mean that it is legal to travel between areas only for personal exercise ie:
“Local outdoor informal exercise such as walking, cycling, golf, or running (in groups of up to 6 people, plus any children under 12, from no more than 2 households) that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area)”
Dalkeith is 2.5 miles from Edinburgh.
Organised reccies will not be possible unless all participants are from Midlothian, with a limit of 8 people. And this may change.
This run idea is for the long distance runner. Normally at this time of the year we have the social Eskapade which follows the North Esk from Musselburgh to Carlops. This combines this route as far as Penicuik (or see shorter version) then goes across country to return by the South Esk, which is probably much less familiar, but follows some lovely river valleys through Arniston and Gore Glen. Theoretically it could be extended by including Gladhouse reservoir and returning from there, but an off road route is speculative and unreccied. Also the logical start would be the ‘Meeting of the Waters’ in Dalkeith Country Park, but as you are supposed to buy a permit to access the Park, and it’s some distance from buses and parking, I’ve not included it.
Notes: The steps down into Ironmills park are still closed so there’s no neat way through Dalkeith. Any starting point in Dalkeith would be fine though I’m assuming the usual exit from Dalkeith Country Park. First part is normal Eskapade route to Penicuik. Then quiet country road past Mount Lothian. Turn left to go through Fullarton Farm to Edgelaw reservoir. Start point, with bus info. Sherrifhall park and ride is just up the road, or find parking in Dalkeith and start/finish at a convenient point.
The footpath sign to Fullarton has gone. A report that people are unwelcome to pass through (though you have a legal right – Midlothian Ranger Service confirm it is a core path). Report any difficulties to us please and we will pass them on to the rangers.
For more information on Midlothian paths generally Midlothian core paths map is a useful source, but not all the paths shown seem to be viable. eg it shows a few paths between Edgelaw and Temple that are actually inaccessible due to deer fencing and new planting. The route on the map has been reccied (apart from through Fullarton Farm).
The footbridge over Redside Burn is a river crossing to gladden any Carnethy’s heart. I did it on hands and knees but a steadier nerve could walk it. The wide ascending track south of the bridge is a bit gorsey. It’s getting overgrown – I think the ‘bridge’ might be putting people off. Take secateurs!
I’m not sure if the path on the N side which would avoid the “bridge” continues through to Carrington Mill and the road. Needs a recce.
At Lothian Bridge the path on left of river is probably nicer than the high one on the right (go 100m past pub to entrance to high path) – look for dry mill lade a short distance after weir; cross it stepping up to find path by river. After Newbattle Bridge either side of river is nice.
A slightly shorter version of 24 miles 39 km avoiding Fullarton Farm is shown. It leaves Roslin Glen as you emerge onto the railway walkway and takes quiet minor roads to Edgelaw reservoir.
Download file for GPSThe Pentland Skyline Challenge 10th Nov – 1st Dec
Start/finish will be at gate near top of ski slopes.
The route off Hare Hill is marked in the race, but obviously won’t be for the challenge. Take a line off the top to meet the large track that contours around Hare Hill and leads down into Green Cleugh, east and south of the normal race route. Please use the above maps as they differ slightly from the ones on the race page. Right click to download.
Post your times on the Googlesheet. There’s a tab for each challenge. You don’t need to sign up first as you are essentially solo. Any new members whose names are not on the sheet contact webteam@carnethy.com to be added.
The Glencorse Skyline 20th Oct – 10th Nov
Mark’s route is shorter than the Skyline but still a big undertaking. NB it’s very important to follow the instructions about the route at Logan House and Cottage. Both Logan House and Logan Cottage have name plates on their drives – don’t enter! Don’t go straight up Bell’s Hill; follow the path up the cleugh to meet the Skyline route between Black Hill and Bell’s.
It’s also very important not to climb any gates or fences. We rely on the goodwill of the farmers for the running of the actual races and this is a sensitive issue.
Post your times on the Googlesheet. There’s a tab for each challenge. You don’t need to sign up first as you are essentially solo.
Reports…
Glencorse Skyline Challenge
Having done two recces last week in fabulous conditions I’ve been scuppered by mist today and so had to post my recce time. I’ll do it again though as v much enjoyed the route!
Some pics from a fantastic day last week, thanks again for virtual races!
Jennifer Misak
Nicola Innes’ gallery: