SDAS Ford Rallies
Sat 8th February '20
- Sun 9th Feb '20
Event Info
moved from Dalby
Location Info
Dalby Forest, on the southern edge of the North York Moors, is a large conifer plantation managed by Forestry England. It features a dense network of wide gravel forestry roads, recreational trails, and open rides used year-round for outdoor activities.
Terrain is moderately hilly, shaped by the valleys and ridges of the Tabular Hills. Surfaces are predominantly firm aggregate forestry tracks with some looser stone on steeper sections.
Location Info
Ford & Etal Estates is a historic rural estate located in the Till Valley of Northumberland, England, close to the Scottish border. Centred around the villages of Ford, Etal and Heatherslaw, the estate combines farmland, heritage attractions and countryside recreation across a large landscape of fields, woodland and river valleys.
The estate has been owned by the Joicey family for over a century, after the 1st Baron Joicey purchased the Ford Estate in 1907 and the neighbouring Etal Estate in 1908, bringing the two historic properties under a single ownership. The area has a long history connected to the Anglo-Scottish borderlands, with landmarks such as Ford Castle, the ruins of Etal Castle and nearby Flodden Battlefield reflecting centuries of border conflict.
Today Ford & Etal Estates operates as a working estate and visitor destination. Attractions across the estate include heritage sites, countryside trails and family activities such as the Heatherslaw Light Railway, a restored water-powered corn mill, rare-breed livestock centres and village museums. Alongside farming and conservation, the estate hosts events and tourism activities that showcase the landscape and history of rural Northumberland.
In practical terms, estates like Ford & Etal are interesting hybrids: part agricultural enterprise, part heritage conservation project and part tourism destination. They preserve a patchwork of villages, castles and farmland that still operate much as a traditional landed estate would have a century ago—only now with steam trains, visitor trails and the occasional festival threading through the fields.
Course Description
The course is based around a flat plateaux in the centre of Dalby Forest. There are some very short gentle inclines combined with uphill and downhill turns to test both dogs and mushers. With a mile flat straight run into the finish, in the 6 dog trail, there is a mile long decent followed by a mile climb. Keep your dogs fresh!
All the trails are wide enough to pass, the surface is a fine chalk powder stone, but some dogs with sensitive feet may need booting, so please come prepared.
Course Description
Terrain is gently undulating, consistent with the Northumberland lowlands. Surfaces include gravel estate roads, grass, and compacted earth.
Directions
Access is Via Dalby Forest Drive.
Dalby Forest Drive,
Low Dalby,
PICKERING,
YO18 4LT
Directions
Ford,
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD15 2QA
SDAS
The Sled Dog Association of Scotland (SDAS) is a Scottish organisation dedicated to promoting and organising sled dog sports throughout Scotland. Founded in 1991 by Rick Miller, Neil Brown and Keron Miller, the association was the first group to establish a regular calendar of sled dog events in Scotland and helped place the country on the map within the UK mushing community.
The organisation runs a series of races and competitions each season, providing opportunities for both newcomers and experienced mushers to take part in sled dog sport. Events typically include dryland disciplines such as rig racing, scooter classes, bikejoring and canicross, with races often held over two-day formats that contribute to an overall championship series.
Through organised events, membership programmes and a volunteer committee, SDAS supports a community of sled dog enthusiasts across Scotland. The association emphasises sportsmanship, inclusivity and enjoyment of the sport while providing a structured environment for competitors at all levels to train, race and develop their teams.
In the UK sled dog landscape, SDAS functions as one of the main regional racing organisations, particularly focused on Scotland’s dryland racing scene and championship series events.
Event Completed
Start Date
Saturday 8th February '20
End Date
Sunday 9th February '20
Event Length
2 days
Enter By
Wednesday 5th February '20