Coming soon!!! Checkpoint challenge 2026, but this years there’s a twist.
As previous 100 points to be visited over the course of January to December 2026, but this year you have options:
- Go for the 100, you know you want to!!!
- Pick a theme. There are 10 themes in total. each with 10 points to visit. Each theme comes with its own additional challenge.
- Visit one from each theme, completing each of the 10 challenges.
- Do whatever you like: visit 10, visit 70. Try and visit as many a possible in one single outing, the choice is yours.
More information to follow, the definitive list will be released end of December!!!
THE 2026 DEESIDE RUNNERS CHECKPOINT CHALLENGE
Please consider your own ability, the conditions, and the terrain when completing this challenge. While some locations are easily accessible by track, path or road, some are considerably off path and will require some navigational skills. Similarly please consider the weather and your abilities when undertaking some of the challenges. For example do not attempt to swim in a river in spate, and ensure you are happy with the grade of scrambling/climbing if trying to reach the top of a Tor.
All points in the tables are given a name, grid reference and a description. Please note these are 6 figure grid references which will take you to a 100m x 100m location, the description should help define the exact point. If you are unsure of how to use grid references ask another member of the club to help. You can also enter the grid reference into some mapping software, i.e OS maps, and it will take you to that point. There is one point were the grid reference is not provided, someone in the club will know its location. It is tradition to either search for it yourself or go along with someone who can show you. Consider turning off any tracking device when you get near J
Some of these locations may pass through farmland where there is livestock, please be respectful to these areas and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Whilst most of these areas are in open land, if any of the points are, or become, inaccessible due to restrictions (such as Balmoral during a state visit, or there is a shooting party nearby) either delay or consider an alternative point.
There are 10 themes below, each with 10 points to visit. Each theme has a challenge, you do not have to do the challenge, it’s just there to add a bit more entertainment to your year.
THE THEMES
1. Wild Swimming spots
- These are water features that lend themselves to dipping or swimming.
- The challenge: Go for a wild swim, skinny dippers get extra points!
2. Knobbly Bobbly bits
- 2. These are interesting rock formations, characteristic of the Grampian granite landscape
- The challenge: Go to the highest point of the knobbly bit (if safe and within your capabilities) and strike an entertaining pose, photographic evidence is essential. The more elaborate the pose the better!
3. A trip into Deeside’s distant past
- Primarily piles of rocks, but they’re not there by accident.
- The challenge: make a sculpture out of purely local materials (think pine cones, rocks, leaves, twigs, snow J etc) see if can stay until the next visitor.
4. Lords, Lairds and Generals
- The aristocratic influence on Royal Deeside
- The challenge: Visit the point in your best “country” attire. Be it plus 4’s, Barbour jackets, caps or even a kilt.
5. Howffs, Huts and Hovels
- Buildings of shelter in the hills.
- The challenge: Stay the night! Some of these are more “accommodating” than others.
6. Trigplanking opportunities
- No explanation needed, if you haven’t been following the2025 Advent challenge where have you been!
- The challenge: Master the art of trigplanking. Bonus points for trigplank selfies!
7. Awesome Picnic Spots
- Worth it for the views and/or the setting
- The challenge: Take an elaborate spread for lunch, picnic blankets and baskets win bonus points.
8. Hidden Gems in your own backyard
- All accessible in a run from Aboyne
- The challenge: Start and finish at the Boat, celebrate your run with a pint (or other beverage) in the Pub, how many can you reach in one run?
9. Marilyn (not) Munros
- Where Derry Cairngorm is out but Carn mon Earn is in, and the Glenshee 9 are reduced to the Glenshee 2
- The challenge: Marilyn Munroe has her own challenge. Do a Marilyn Munroe inspired activity at the top, it’s all about embodying her timeless glamour and style.
10. Wrecks and Ruins
- A combination of locations with significant histories to them, often poignant, and some sadly tragic.
- The challenge: Finding the location of some in themselves will be a challenge. But also take time to find out more about what happened, the people involved and their, or the location’s, history.
THE POINTS
Wild Swimming Spots
| Linn of Avon | NJ 175 072 | Waterfall |
| The Punch Bowl | NO 115 913 | River narrowing |
| The Fife Arms Favourite | NO 086 883 | River junction |
| Tillyfourie Quarry | NJ 646 128 | Quarry |
| Loch Avon Beach Resort | NJ 005 019 | Loch beach |
| Lina’s Hideout | NO 247 932 | Weir |
| Sandy Loch | NO 227 865 | Lochan |
| GlenDye’s well known secret | NO 646 843 | River narrowing |
| Doing the Dubh’s | NO 235 829 | Loch beach |
| The Ghru’s Grotto | NN 972 987 | Waterfalls |
Knobbly Bobbly Bits
| A’ Chioch (BaB) | NO 098 987 | Tor |
| Beinn Mheadahoin | NJ 024 017 | Tor |
| Clachan Yell | NO 446 911 | Rocky summit |
| Cairn of Edendocher | NO 604 855 | Rocky outcrop |
| Clach Bhan | NJ 162 054 | Tor |
| Carn Hillock Cairn | NO 365 893 | Rocky Outcrop |
| Clach Choutsaich | NJ 227 059 | Tor |
| Cac Carn Mor | NO 245 857 | Tor |
| Clach a Clerich | NO 114 992 | Tor |
| Connachcraig | NO 280 865 | Rocky summit |
A trip into Deeside’s distant past
| Cairn of Gilderoy | NJ 367 061 | ? Cairn |
| Tonnagaoithe Township | NO 027 892 | Buildings (remains of) |
| Peel ring of Lumphanan | NJ 576 037 | Castle (remains of) |
| Barmekin Fort | NJ 726 071 | Fort (remains of) |
| Nine Stanes | NO 723 912 | Stone Circle |
| Queens Chair, HoF | NJ 718 018 | Geological feature |
| Craigivar Hill Fort | NJ 562 095 | Fort (remains of) |
| Clue Wood Stone Circle | NO 794 949 | Stone Circle |
| Blue Cairn of Ladieswell | NJ 411 063 | Stone Circle |
| Old Kirk of Tough | NJ 625 093 | Church (remains of) |
Lords, Lairds and Generals
| Prince of Wales Cairn | NO 334 910 | Cairn |
| Fungle Shooting lodge | NO 514 920 | Building |
| Cordarvon Lodge | NJ 228 021 | Building |
| Culardoch Sheiling | NJ 180 007 | Building |
| Corgarff Castle | NJ 254 087 | Building |
| Prince of Battenburg memorial | NO 217 918 | Plaque |
| Princess Helena’s cairn | NO 256 938 | Cairn |
| Braid Cairn Boundry Stane | NO 426 872 | Stone marker |
| Wade’s Bridge | NJ 280 069 | Bridge |
| The Prince’s Stone | NO 229 891 | Stone marker |
Howffs, Huts and Hovels
| Garbh Coire Bothy | NN 959 986 | Shelter |
| Meall Dubh Howff | NO 327 920 | Shelter |
| Secret Howff | ?? ??? ??? | Shelter |
| Bob Scott’s | NO 042 931 | Bothy |
| Halfway Hut | NO 436 931 | Shelter |
| Davie’s Bourach | NO 234 778 | Shelter |
| Hutcheson Hut | NO 023 998 | Bothy |
| Callater Stables | NO 178 844 | Bothy |
| Creag Leacach Shelter | NO 160 754 | Shelter |
| Carn Aosda Hut | NO 129 786 | Shelter |
Trigplanking opportunities
| Cutties Hillock | NO 637 902 | Trig point |
| Creag na Slice | NO 461 959 | Trig point |
| Corachree | NJ 455 046 | Trig point |
| White Hill | NJ 640 109 | Trig point |
| Baderonoch | NJ 435 089 | Trig point |
| Hill of Brathens | NO 677 989 | Trig point |
| Goyle Hill | NO 684 820 | Trig point |
| Rhindbuckie | NO 717 932 | Trig point |
| Sgor Dubh | NO 033 921 | Trig point |
| Ordie Caber | NJ 648 051 | Trig point |
Awesome Picnic Spots
| Garbh Alt Bridge | NO 199 895 | Bridge |
| Angels Peak (Sgor an Lochain Uaine) | NN 954 977 | Hill top |
| Sgor an h lolaire | NO 303 933 | Hill top |
| Fog House | NO 178 925 | Small shelter |
| Druim Mor | NO 190 771 | Prominence |
| Lions Face | NO 165 917 | Bench |
| Cloak Bench | NJ 585 054 | Bench |
| Creag an Dail Mhor | NO 132 982 | Hill top |
| Leuchan Hare | NO 379 918 | Statue |
| The Sink | NJ 386 022 | Sink |
Hidden Gems in your own backyard
| Coull Swimming Pool | NJ 527 014 | Building |
| Braemore Lochan | NO 518 973 | Lochan |
| Blue Cairn | NJ 490 006 | Cairn |
| Little Hill | NJ 543 011 | Hill top |
| Dess Quarry | NJ 571 007 | Quarry |
| Rest and be Thankful | NO 519 958 | Seat |
| (Old) Glen Tanar Church | NO 476 983 | Ruin |
| The Monks Well | NO 479 952 | Stone memorial |
| Lamawhillis | NO 536 939 | Hill top |
| Island on the Dee | NO 567 976 | Island |
Marilyn (not) Munros
| Morrone | NO 132 886 | Hill top |
| Creag nan Gabhar | NO 154 841 | Hill top |
| Carn Bhac | NO 051 832 | Hill top |
| Geallaig Hill | NO 297 982 | Hill top |
| Ben Newe | NJ 381 143 | Hill top |
| Creag Bhalg | NO 091 912 | Hill top |
| Creag an Dail Bheag | NO 157 981 | Hill top |
| Carn a Gheoidh | NO 107 767 | Hill top |
| Carn mon Earn | NO 783 919 | Hill top |
| Colliochbhar | NJ 504 163 | Hill top |
Wrecks and Ruins
| RN Fairey Firefly, Lochnagar | NO 265 849 | Memorial plaque |
| RAF Airspeed Oxford & RAF Bristol Blenheim, Braeriach | NH 963 000 | Aircraft parts |
| RAF Avro Anson Memorial, Ben Macdui | NN 986 991 | Memorial plaque |
| RAF Avro Vulcan, Hill of Colm | NO 492 884 | Aircraft parts |
| RAF Fairey Swordfish, (730m contour), Tolmount | NO 204 801 | Aircraft parts |
| Sappers Bothy (ruin) | NN 991 988 | Ruin |
| RAF English Electric Canberra, Carn an t-Sagairt Mor | NO 209 844 | Aircraft parts |
| Sheil of Glentanar (Ruin) | NO 400 894 | Ruin |
| Loin Community (ruins) | NO 214 957 | Ruins |
| Auchelie (ruin) | NO 087 863 | Ruin |