Scottish Schools Festival 2026: A successful day out at Beecraigs Country Park
By Louise Adams – SOA Development Officer
On Thursday June 4th, pupils from across Scotland came together to orienteer around the woodlands of Beecraigs Country Park to compete for a national title. This year’s event was a resounding success, bringing together over 400 enthusiastic pupils to showcase their navigational skills, sportsmanship and teamwork.
A Day of Achievement and Camaraderie
Despite a day of intermittent downpours with some moments of glorious sunshine, competitors from Primary 5 through to Senior 6 demonstrated remarkable determination, enthusiasm and teamwork by using skills they have learned at school to successfully navigate their courses. The festival featured individual and team competitions, with each school’s top three performances contributing to their overall score. The overall winning schools are the ones that have the most pupils who finish within double the winner’s time. The atmosphere was buzzing, with everyone flying round the maze and cheering on their friends as they came charging down the run-in to the finish.
Gratitude to Teachers and Parents
The success of the festival would not have been possible without the unwavering support of teachers and parents. Their dedication to encouraging an enjoyment of orienteering and ensuring a safe, fun experience for all participants was evident throughout the day. A heartfelt thank you to each individual who contributed their time and energy to make this event memorable.
Applause for the Volunteers
A special round of applause is due to all our volunteers that were involved in putting on this event throughout the day and also in preparations beforehand. Key officials were Helen Bridle (ESOC) as Planner, Blair Young (TINTO) as Controller and Louise Adams (SOA) as Organiser. From course design to registration, timing, download and starts, every detail was thoughtfully executed by a team of dedicated volunteers. Their efforts have ensured a positive experience for everyone and their commitment to the sport is truly commendable.
Congratulations to all the winners!
All results, as well as Routegadget and Winsplits for those interested, are now on the Scottish Schools Orienteering Association’s website.
Individual winners:
| Year Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| P5/6 Girls | I Edenbrandt (Roseburn PS) | A Short (Newton PS) | A Lyle/J Grewar/M Grewar (Craigclowan School) |
| P5/6 Boys | F McIntyre (Allan’s PS) | S Bleakley (George Heriot’s Jun) | M Tough (George Heriot’s Jn) |
| P7 Girls | E Trotter (Tynewater PS) | V Paterson (Crombie School) | V Dear/O Prowse (Taobh na Pairce) |
| P7 Boys | H Clark (Dollar Acad Jun) | W Bonham (Dunblane HS) | M Marchant (ESMS Jun) |
| S1 Girls | S Edward (Dunblane HS) | R Martin (Linlithgow Acad) | M O’Hara (Peebles HS) |
| S1 Boys | L Carruthers (Dunblane HS) | F Gallagher (Meldrum Acad) | I Chepelin (Dunbar Grammar) |
| S2 Girls | H Inman (Dunblane HS) | L Kitchin (James Gillespie’s) | E Finch (Perth HS) |
| S2 Boys | C Selmer Duguid (Breadalbane Acad) | M Owen (Dunblane HS) | R Arnold (ESMS Sen) |
| S3 Girls | J McDonald (Hazlehead Acad) | E Daley (Boroughmuir HS) | E Wilkinson (Crieff HS) |
| S3 Boys | L Baikie (Dunblane HS) | J Brydie (ESMS Sen) | R Nairn (Dunblane HS) |
| S4 Girls | B Dobinson (ESMS Sen) | – | – |
| S4 Boys | F Cheyne (Dunblane HS) | R Marsden/J Leyton (Clifton Hall School) | P Atkinson (Ross HS) |
| S5/6 Girls | E Atkinson (Ross HS) | S McDonald (Hazlehead Acad) | H Brindley (Linlithgow Acad) |
| S5/6 Boys | P Owen (Dunblane HS) | C Robertson (Preston Lodge HS) | A Hunt (Dunblane HS) |
School Team results:
| Year Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| P5/6 Boys | George Heriot’s Jn | Newton PS | Dunbar PS |
| P5/6 Girls | Dunbar PS | Newton PS | George Heriot’s Jn |
| P7 Boys | Dunbar PS | Tynewater PS | – |
| P7 Girls | Tynewater PS | Taobh na Pairce | Preston Street PS |
| S1 Boys | Dunblane HS | North Berwick HS | Crieff HS |
| S1 Girls | George Heriot’s Sen | Crieff HS | – |
| S2 Boys | George Heriot’s Sen | – | – |
| S2 Girls | George Heriot’s Sen | – | – |
| S3 Boys | Dunblane HS | ESMS Sen | George Heriot’s Sen |
| S3 Girls | Hazlehead Acad | Falkirk HS | Crieff HS |
| S4 Boys | – | – | – |
| S4 Girls | – | – | – |
| S5/6 Boys | Dunblane HS | George Heriot’s Sen | – |
| S5/6 Girls | George Heriot’s Sen | – | – |
Overall schools winners this year went to George Heriot’s Junior School (primary) and Dunblane HS (secondary) – congratulations!!
Looking Ahead to Next Year
The 2026 Scottish Schools Orienteering Festival has once again demonstrated the physical and mental health benefits of orienteering as a sport, but also as tool for learning within the classroom. As we look forward to next year’s event, we encourage schools to continue nurturing a passion for the outdoors and an enjoyment of orienteering.
Next year’s event will once again be held on the first Thursday of June. Location TBD.