Summer Orienteering at Gosford

If you have ever wanted to try your hand at orienteering, then now is your chance!

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport that exercises mind and body. The aim is to navigate between checkpoints or controls marked on a special orienteering map. There is no set route so the skill and fun come from trying to find the best way to go.

Summer O is running for four Sunday afternoons, you can join us for one, two, three or all four. You, your family and friends can enjoy navigating your way around the stunning location of  Gosford Forest Park.

The event is delivered in partnership with Orchard County Orienteers, part of LVO and the NIOA. The club will deliver the programme and will have volunteers on hand to provide instruction and guidance to help you navigate your way around the forest in search of orange & white kites.

If / when you really enjoy your afternoon out why not speak to them about Club membership and becoming part of the orienteering family.

Dates | Sunday 27 July, 10,  17 & 31 August

Time | 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Cost | £3.50 per person per session.

Duration | 1 – 1.5 hours to complete the course

Each event will be split into 15 minute start windows beginning at 2.00pm and lasting until 3.30pm. Each start window will be limited to a maximum of twenty people, including parents/caregivers. Club orienteers will give you an introduction to the sport before setting you off on the course.  Courses close at 5.00pm. Suitable for any age, but under 16’s must be supervised by an adult. Accompanying adults will need to purchase a ticket.

Select a course based on your experience

It is hoped that we will be able to provide a choice of 3 courses for each event, but the provision of a course for experienced orienteers will be subject to the current state of the forest during the ongoing clean-up operation following the devastation caused by Storms Darragh and Eowyn.

YELLOW Course
Suitable for complete beginners, families with young children, or improving Juniors looking to venture forth unaided for the first time. Mainly follows Forest paths.

ORANGE Course
Suitable for outdoorsy adult beginners, GCSE PE students, and all improvers. At this level we start to leave the paths behind us and venture through the woods to find controls contained within. It will be possible to follow linear features to most of the controls but these could be ditches, or earth banks, etc.,  and route choice decisions are yours to be made.

LIGHT GREEN Course ( hopefully )
Suitable for experienced orienteers, and for those who have mastered the Orange Course and who are looking to progress to the next level.

If you’re in doubt as to what course to choose either contact Graeme or Ric, or select the Yellow Course.

Registration

Registration will close at 2pm on the Saturday before each event. If you miss this, Late Registration can be arranged by contacting before 9 am on the Sunday morning of the event, subject to map availability.