Gayle and her Labrador Toby go “doggieteering” at Crombie Country Park in Angus…
For most folk who go orienteering, the reward is simply being able to locate a series of orange control markers.
But things get a lot more exciting when you go “doggieteering” in Crombie Country Park, with lucky canines (guided by their owners) tracking down treats.
I headed along there with my faithful hound, Toby, to have a bash at navigating the trail, which runs until the end of the month. It was pawsitively pawsome!
First up, you buy a map from the car park attendant for a quid and then set off, using your navigation skills, to find 10 wooden boxes brimming with dog treats. When you get there, you help yourself to one – just one! – at each point.
It’s also great fun to take a photo with your dog receiving his treat and share it on the ANGUSalive Countryside Adventure Facebook page.
While doggieteering at Crombie is very much a self-guided, DIY journey, I was lucky enough to meet up with Lisa King, the park’s countryside ranger and the person responsible for designing the unique trail.
After running me through some of the map’s features – fences, gates, sculptures, seats, ponds, streams, footpaths, plus, of course, paw prints marking out where the dog treats are hidden – Lisa then showed me how to pace out 100 metres.
“This is a useful orienteering skill to have because when you learn what 100 metres is, you get quicker at navigating,” she explained.
To pace, you walk, as you would normally, but instead of chanting “one, two, three…”, you chant “and one, and two, and three” and so on.
At 5ft 8in, Lisa’s strides are longer than mine (I’m a slightly shorter 5ft 5in), so while she covers 100-metres in 61 strides, it takes me 68!
After deducing the first treat was 300 metres on and across a bridge, we strode on…and, much to Toby’s delight, found the treat which he gobbled down with great gusto.
The next treat was near a lifebuoy stand, and the following one was set off the main track, in a scenic forest clearing.
As we carried on round the trail, we almost forgot about the next couple of treat boxes because we were enjoying the walk so much. Certainly, Crombie is a wonderful place to while away a morning or afternoon, whether you walk, run, wildlife-watch or simply enjoy a picnic on the shores of the reservoir, as some families were doing while we were there.
The entire trail takes around an hour, depending on how fast you walk, but there are no prizes for speeding round it, so my advice would be to enjoy it at a stroll.
By the time you’ve completed the circuit, your dog will have ingested 10 treats, so unless he (or she) is a forever-hungry Labrador like Toby, your beloved pet might not need as much dinner!
The best thing about doggieteering is that it’s fabulous fun while also educational.
“You learn map reading and navigation skills and you tick off features on the landscape as you go,” said Lisa.
“You also learn about memory – remembering what 100-metres is for example. You explore geography a bit when you’re orientating the map to match features on the ground.
“It’s also about teaching spatial awareness as well as promoting fun and fitness. Knowing where you are and learning how not to get lost is a good survival skill!”
Lisa devised the doggieteering trail to be accessible for everyone, and every treat box can be seen from wheelchairs.
“It’s just a bit of fun to motivate children to enjoy the 4km walk round the park before they’re let loose in the playpark, but it’s also really enjoyable for adults, too,” she added.
“I like to offer families something a bit different and something where they come across hidden surprises.
“We have an orienteering course here at Crombie, courtesy of Tayside Orienteers, so it’s also about promoting that.”
As well as July’s doggieteering trail, Lisa has designed Easter, Christmas and ghost trails and she’s planning to run a squirrel trail next month. Families are sure to go nuts for that!
Info
Doggieteering is an opportunity to explore Crombie Country Park with your dog while getting to know and use an orienteering map.
Orienteering is a sport that can be enjoyed by young and old and can be walked or run at competition level.
At Crombie Country Park, the “control points” comprise a little box with a wee doggy treat for your four-legged friend.
The Doggieteering Trail runs from 10am to 4pm daily until July 31 and maps are £1.
For more information, contact the Countryside Adventure Ranger Centre via email at crombiecountrypark@angusalive.scot or on 01241 860360.
