SDAS Race 6
Sat 6th March '27
- Sun 7th Mar '27
Location Info
Darnaway Forest in Moray is a historic estate woodland featuring large conifer plantations and significant areas of mature broadleaf forest. Managed in part for conservation and estate activities, it contains wide gravel tracks, open rides, and estate roads.
Terrain is gently undulating and typical of lowland Moray. Surfaces are mainly firm, well-maintained forestry aggregate with some natural earth sections in older woodland.
Camping
Course Description
The race starts at a junction to 4 trails in the forest with a triangle in the middle. The start & finish(s) are all very close together & we want to get as many people parked down at the triangle as possible. Anyone parking around the triangle will be asked to put out stakeout lines in the parts of the forest next to it so as not to loose a parking place.
The rest of the parking will be along the trail as you drive in on the LEFT only – please pull over to allow teams to get back to the vans. Do not turn vehicles around as there will be a one way system out of the forest through the 6 dog finish. This trail goes back on to the main road will be kept clear for emergency vehicles.
Trail Distance: 2.5
Terrain: A network of forest trails with plenty of twists and turns & hills…note* there will be a lot of hills! We also make you survive death by running you along a cliff edge, aka the infamous Leafy Heights!
The surface alternates between hard packed (normally covered in a layer of leaves), mud, sand and grass.
Directions
From the North (Inverness and Highlands)
Travel south on the A9 toward Inverness, then take the turn for the A96 eastbound toward Nairn and Forres. Continue following the A96 past Nairn. As you approach Forres, take the turn for Brodie / Dyke / Darnaway (signed Brodie Countryfare). From here, follow signs for Dyke and then Darnaway, where several forest access points branch from the estate roads heading south into the woodland.
This route keeps you on the main dual carriageway and trunk road network until the final few miles of quiet rural roads.
From the South (Perth, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee)
Take the A9 northbound toward Inverness. Continue past Aviemore and Carrbridge until you reach the turn for A95 / A939 / Grantown-on-Spey. Follow the A95 then join the A939 towards Forres. Just before Forres, take the local turn signed for Dyke / Kintessack, which leads directly toward the Darnaway estate. Forest access tracks and parking areas are located along the estate roads that run west and south of Dyke.
Alternatively, you can remain on the A9 until Inverness and join the A96 eastbound, which is simpler for larger vehicles.
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.
Starts in 12 months
Start Date
Saturday 6th March '27
End Date
Sunday 7th March '27
Event Length
2 days
Sponsored By
Our events rely on the generous backing of our sponsors. Their dedication to the sport, mushers, and dogs keeps everything moving. Please visit the event sponsors.
Upcoming SDAS events
March 2026
September 2026
SDAS Summer Camp
Sat 26th Sep '26- Sun 27th Sep '26
October 2026
SDAS Race 1
Sat 24th Oct '26- Sun 25th Oct '26
November 2026
SDAS Race 2
Sat 28th Nov '26- Sun 29th Nov '26
December 2026
SDAS Race 3
Sat 12th Dec '26- Sun 13th Dec '26