Hogs Earth (Borrowdale)

Back to Lodore we go(I thought hogs earth was a place down Borrowdale I hadn't been, turns out it's just Lodore.). I know, I know, some people said the last one might have been a touch on the tough side. Apparently, a 1hr:10min winning time on the short course is considered "Character building". Well, with all that character you folk gained from last time, you can spend some of it on this weeks wild and whacky twist: It's Contour only! That's right folks, in an area pock-marked by crags, boulders, paths and streams, we took 'em all away (Some of the more lethal crags remain, for safety reasons). Honestly, when I was told it was contour only, I was a bit peeved.

Turns out, we were dead wrong. After planning on the stripped-down map, me and Chris went for a tentative recce, fully expecting to have to fall back on the backup map at any moment. Not only did we not need it, but we were taken aback by just how well the course works. Because there are no features on the map, you just follow the lay of the land, which creates a really flowing experience. If anything, navigation is made simpler, with the orienteering just melding into your natural passage through the landscape. I fully expected it to be a frustrating time. Instead, it's an experience well worth treating yourself to.

The Contour only course is a very accessible 3.3km, to encourage those who would ordinarily do the short to try the special course. If you're really not feeling it, the Normal is 2.5km. Both have a similar height gain of around 75 meters unless you have the route choice of a true nutter.

It goes without saying, the area is absoultly tip-top.

Entries on RaceSignup https://racesignup.co.uk/site/event.php?eventid=2686

Closing Date Tuesday 23:59

As for suprise veiw. Parking spaces are slightly tight, there are also some options past the start as well.