Angus Munro Hill Race

Venue: Start and finish at Glen Clova Hotel – (GR NO327730), Angus, 30 miles north of Dundee and 18 miles north of Kirriemuir follow signs for Glen Clova.
Entry: on the day only.
Accommodation:

Race requirements: Navigation skills are essential in this race, it is well known for getting lost and you are entering an area of wild land. You will require full waterproof body cover and gloves and hat may be necessary on race day. Be warned we have been caught out with bad weather in the past.

Course: Controls must be visited in the order below.

Controls: Start Glen Clova Hotel NO327730
1. Green Hill NO 348757
2. Wester Balloch NO 342790
3. Lair of Alderarie NO 312781
4. Red Craig NO 296760
5. Braedownie NO 287757
6. Dreish NO 271736
7. Hill of Strone NO 287729
8. Cairn Inks NO 305725
9. Finish NO 327 730 In field Opposite hotel

One of the toughest on the Scottish race scene this is a classic race over rough terrain with few or no mountain paths, rough heather moorland plateau and peat hagg with two large climbs which will sap your energy. Water is plentiful on the first half of the course but there is very little on the second half after the crossing at Braedownie farm. In the event of severe bad weather there is an alternative race option.

The start of the race uses a path up toward Loch Brandy through some birch woods before breaking out onto the hill. There are several paths which split and it is important to keep both burns on the right initially before crossing the first burn about 1 km into the race. Then keep on the path and bear right to cross the next burn below the loch before the long hard climb past up onto the brow of the hill toward the summit cairn, the right hand one as you approach it! The ground flattens out on the summit and bears slightly west of north across peat haggs and gradually down to a river crossing, Burn of the Longshank (wayward golfers!) and then up and over numerous peat haggs toward checkpoint 2 - Wester Balloch which is another rounded summit almost indistinguishable from other summits in the mist. It can be easy to veer off to the north and miss this checkpoint and there is nothing but moorland beyond. The views take in Lochnagar and the Cairngorms, as well as the other Angus Munro’s to the west.

The run over to Checkpoint 3 – Lair of Alderarie at 832m, is blessed with more peat haggs and high summit heath all over 750m.

Checkpoint 3 summit is a very flat one and the checkpoint is on the highest point, which is almost indiscernible but this will be marshalled. The run over to Checkpoint 4 - Red Craig is not obvious for route selection but probably best head under the summit of Cairn Derg and down to Red Craig, which has a small mast on it. The descent to Braedownie and the road crossing is infamous, very rough, steep and tussocky with some scree to negotiate. Avoid the crags by bearing west initially on the border with the forestry fence, which runs down to the road and checkpoint 5 – Braedownie, where food and drinks will be available.

From Braedownie, follow the tape to the old bridge across the river and up toward Corrie Farchal following the burn, which pours down, into the glen. This is an arduous climb, especially difficult through deep heather and some bog. The best route is up through the corrie as the cliffs are impassable in places if you try to shortcut toward Dreish too soon. At the col above Corrie Farcal bear right, almost due west toward checkpoint 6 - Dreish at 947m. Retrace your steps to the col and then bear south east for a gradual climb toward Checkpoint 7 - Hill of Strone, another rounded top, before the gradual descent to checkpoint 8 at Cairn Inks. There are several false summits along this section before you reach Cairn Inks. The final descent is rough especially if you take the direct option and there is a high risk of ending up in the crags. Therefore run down the ridge to the south east for about 1km and then bear left, north east toward the finish. The final section hits the road, before taking you into the river and out into the field for the finish.