Nottinghamshire Orienteering Club
SmartPhone Orienteering Courses
SmartPhone Orienteering uses a smart phone's GPS instead of an e-card ('dibber').
There are normally no control kites or punching units, although existing POC marker posts may be used. Instead, the phone beeps when you are close enough to the virtual 'control site'.
You follow the course either by using an on-screen map or a paper map you have printed from a downloaded PDF. Start and Finish are likewise at virtual locations.
You can run a course at any time. Just arrive, prepare and go! However, probably best not to go running around villages and towns at hours that might concern residents.
The free application is called "MapRun®" and can provide some great orienteering action.
Download from your phone app store, install it and then choose a course you wish to do!
You can upload the results and compare them with anyone else who has completed the courses.
As with Permanent Orienteering Courses, there are no event officials present, so you are responsible for your own safety.
There is a full guide on the British Orienteering Federation website.
Some courses are marked Start Anywhere. This means you can select any control as the 'Start'. To finish you return to that control. Choose one you won't run past on the way to others as this will finish your run!
Beeston (Urban)
The postbox challenge. Every control on the map is a postbox! Do you know an area with this many postboxes? Start Anywhere. 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute you are late. You won't be late as you have 3 hours.
Bestwood Village
A great course to trial your first MapRunF experience. Easy Stroll under an hour in duration. Discover the winding house, the architecture of the cottages in the village, the mill lakes and Hucknall recycling centre! Parking available at the Winding House
Bevercotes Pit Wood
Super area, for a great score course, optimum route is 6k Score Course (90 minutes, 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute late) Ample parking on the roadside and a 200m walk to the entrance of the area, where the start and finish are. No Access from Bevercotes Village (the South)
Bingham
3 runs around the market town of Bingham. Nearest car parking is the Long Stay parking off Newgate Street – NG13 8FD. Max stay is 12 hours. No parking ticket required. If you do happen to park in the smaller short stay car parks – max length of stay is 2 hours and a ticket is required from the machines in the relevant car parks (important!!). Start is near the brick building (Toilet!) as you head into the shopping area. Finish is very close to the long stay car park. NB: The long course crosses the railway line. Please use the specific pedestrian crossing where the course takes you. Both crossings have a clear view of any trains. Please take care when crossing.
Bingham Short (approx.running 3.5k) Bingham Medium (approx.running 6.8k) Bingham Long (approx.running 9.2k)
Bingham Short (approx.running 3.5k) Bingham Medium (approx.running 6.8k) Bingham Long (approx.running 9.2k)
Blidworth Woods
A lovely 5k walk, jog or sprint through the forest. Nice surface underfoot, park at South or North car parks. Escape to the wood and listen to the birds following this Blue trail route. Do both loops for a 10k. Start Anywhere Food van (in normal circumstances) found at South Carpark along with picnic tables.
Clockwise Anti-Clockwise
Clockwise Anti-Clockwise
Brierley Country Park
Brierley Urban Start & Finish next to Brierley Forest Park Visitor Centre. Mix of mostly urban estates and some parkland.
Medium Long Very Long
Medium Long Very Long
Cauldwell Dam
Simple route choice but still lovely to get out in the woods. Under 4k route, walk, jog, sprint. Undulating area. Follow the route to explore nearly every notable path. Parking at the dead end Cauldwell Road.
Clifton Village to Barton in Fabis
A Choice of 4 courses, thanks to John Pickles. There's even a café stop on the Barton course!
All courses are Start Anywhere.
Clifton Short Clifton Medium Clifton Long Clifton and Barton
All courses are Start Anywhere.
Clifton Short Clifton Medium Clifton Long Clifton and Barton
Clumber Park
Mixed woodland of all ages. Semi-open heathland areas.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
Medium Course:Results RouteGadget
Medium Course:
Compton Acres / Rushcliffe Arena
Start and finish close to the West Bridgford Asda petrol station. Cafe in Asda (in normal circumstances) Short, Long and Score Course (90 minutes, Start Anywhere, 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute late)
Short Long Score
Short Long Score
Cotgrave
3 runs around Cotgrave that take in the Country Park, new estate and old village. The short course is within the park and the quiet road around the new estate. The medium and long courses go out across the busier roads of the wider village. Nearest car parking to the start is on Hollygate Lane, NG12 3HE. Please note this car park gets quite busy and currently (Dec 20) there are some no parking cones on Hollygate Lane and surrounding roads in the new estate. Finish is very close to the car park on Hollygate Lane.
Short (2.5km) Medium (4.5km) Long (6.5km)
Short (2.5km) Medium (4.5km) Long (6.5km)
East Markham (Urban)
Historic small village, population 1160 at 2011 census Fast times expected in this village, Start Anywhere 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute you are late. You won't be late as you have 3 hours.
Gedling Country Park
A choice of the POC courses or a 5k parkrun course:
Gedling POC Very Easy 1.8km Gedling POC Easy 2.3km Gedling POC Medium 3.2km Gedling POC Long 4km Gedling POC Score (120 mins, 20pts per find, 10pts per min overtime)
Love Hills? You will love this place, hill training at its best. Missing your parkrun? This course is 95% of the parkrun. Fantastic views from Controls 3 and 4. Belvoir Castle and Lincoln Cathedral can be seen on a clear day. New bigger car park from Spring Lane, height barrier of 2m. Start at butterfly meadow sign (Walk down between cafe and the children's area, over the little bridge and take left path)
5km ParkRun Course
Gedling POC Very Easy 1.8km Gedling POC Easy 2.3km Gedling POC Medium 3.2km Gedling POC Long 4km Gedling POC Score (120 mins, 20pts per find, 10pts per min overtime)
Love Hills? You will love this place, hill training at its best. Missing your parkrun? This course is 95% of the parkrun. Fantastic views from Controls 3 and 4. Belvoir Castle and Lincoln Cathedral can be seen on a clear day. New bigger car park from Spring Lane, height barrier of 2m. Start at butterfly meadow sign (Walk down between cafe and the children's area, over the little bridge and take left path)
5km ParkRun Course
Gotham
Mainly following the Gotham Heritage Trail - some based on the "Wise Men of Gotham Tales" Start Anywhere Car Parking (Gotham):- Cheese Hill (Control 1), Village Square (Start/Finish) and Hill Road (Control 18) Line Course:
Ollerton Pit Wood
Ollerton Pit Wood is a former colliery site now transformed into a woodland area with surfaced tracks and trails. The Ollerton Pit Wood POC opened in 2022.
The following MapRun courses are available:
Very Easy: 1.6 km
Easy: 2.1 km
Medium: 2.3 km
Long: 3.6 km
All controls 90 minute score course
The course has been developed with the help and support of Forestry England, Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
The following MapRun courses are available:
Very Easy: 1.6 km
Easy: 2.1 km
Medium: 2.3 km
Long: 3.6 km
All controls 90 minute score course
The course has been developed with the help and support of Forestry England, Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
Ordsall
Near Retford, 75 minutes score course. 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute you are late. Start and Finish near the Clumber Inn. Pass through the finish by accident and your timed run will stop! Roadside parking available for a small number of cars.
Portland Park
On the south west outskirts of Kirkby-In-Ashfield. Parking has height barrier (start and finish near the notice board at opposite end of the car park from the barrier) Over-sized vehicles can use the car park near the cafe. Lane from level crossing approach has many potholes! So super slow along this lane.
Short Medium Long
Short Medium Long
Ravenshead (Urban)
Some tricky route choices in this village. Start Anywhere 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute you are late. You won't be late as you have 3 hours.
Rushcliffe Country Park
The park is set in beautiful countryside just south of Ruddington signed from the A60. It has excellent facilities and a range of activities. Follow signs to the main car park and visitor centre.
The free permanent course map is available for download from the British Orienteering website and can be used with the MapRun courses.
Note that there is no marker post at the Start-Finish location.
Score Start Anywhere: Long (posts 1 to 21 in order):
The free permanent course map is available for download from the British Orienteering website and can be used with the MapRun courses.
Note that there is no marker post at the Start-Finish location.
Score Start Anywhere: Long (posts 1 to 21 in order):
Sconce and Devon Park
Sconce & Devon Park is a large area of public grass and woods by the river Devon with the Queens Sconce, a large civil war earthwork. There is a children's play area and the Rumbles café. The Sconce Park POC opened in 2023.
The following MapRun courses are available: Medium: 2.1km All controls 60 minute score course
The course has been developed with the help and support of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
The following MapRun courses are available: Medium: 2.1km All controls 60 minute score course
The course has been developed with the help and support of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
Sherwood Forest
Park at the RSPB car park, fees apply for non-RSPB members. The start and finish are located by the play area close to the Visitor Centre. There is one score course with the same controls as the Permanent Orienteering Course. Controls are on posts, gates and fences.
Shirebrook Wood
Parking is at the angler's car park off the Sookholme Road /Longster Lane B6407 just north of the right-angled bend out of Sookholme NG19 8LP (postcode in Sookholme) and the start/finish for the courses is there but for the score start anywhere. There is also limited parking near control 10 and also more on the road end near Sports Direct on Weighbridge Road, Shirebrook NG20 8GB off the map to the NW of control 20.
Short Medium Long Score Start Anywhere 120 mins, 20pts per find, -10pts per minute overtime) (Score uses first map in the set of 4, all controls)
Short Medium Long Score Start Anywhere 120 mins, 20pts per find, -10pts per minute overtime) (Score uses first map in the set of 4, all controls)
Stoke Bardolph
Super flat training run of about 7k, fantastic views of the Trent. Start just north of the Ferry Boat Inn, off road parking and Severn Trent car park available. Pancake flat course! "The joy of running with map in hand"
The Carrs & Carr Lane Park
The Carrs in Warsop is a large open space, which includes the Local Nature Reserve, recreational and play areas, a mill pond and the River Meden.
This park, which was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2005, is a former water meadow which was once common land. The park is now managed by Mansfield District Council and caters for a wide range of leisure activities.
The following MapRun course is available:
The Carrs POC course: 3.1 km.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
This park, which was declared a Local Nature Reserve in 2005, is a former water meadow which was once common land. The park is now managed by Mansfield District Council and caters for a wide range of leisure activities.
The following MapRun course is available:
The Carrs POC course: 3.1 km.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
The Forest and Arboretum
Large open area with wooded slope and inner city park Roads connects the two areas. Plenty of parking, height barrier at Park and Ride site. Start & Finish at the corner of Park and Ride car park.
Introduction 1.5k 9 controls Medium 2.4k 11 controls Short Tech 3.3k 13 controls Long Tech 4.9k 17 controls Score Course (75 minutes, 20 points for everyone you find, 10 points lost for every minute you are late)
Introduction 1.5k 9 controls Medium 2.4k 11 controls Short Tech 3.3k 13 controls Long Tech 4.9k 17 controls Score Course (75 minutes, 20 points for everyone you find, 10 points lost for every minute you are late)
Vicar Water Country Park
Vicar Water Country Park is the site of a former colliery, now heathland, woodland and grassland with spectacular views across to Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
The following MapRun courses are available:
Vicar Water POC course: 2.6 km.
All controls 60 minute score course.
The course has been developed with the help and support of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
The following MapRun courses are available:
Vicar Water POC course: 2.6 km.
All controls 60 minute score course.
The course has been developed with the help and support of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Actve4Today.
Download Map from 'Go Orienteering'
Walesby Village
Sprint style traditional score course. 60 minutes maximum. 20 points for every one you find. 10 points lost for every minute you are late. Careful consideration to route choice, as start and finish in the same place. Pass through the finish by accident and your timed run will stop!
West Bridgford (Urban)
Popular residential area to the South of the river Trent Start at junction of Musters Road and Chaworth Road Parking probably easiest on Musters Road
Short Long
Short Long
Wollaton Park
A popular park surrounding the historic Elizabethan hall.
Score Course is 20 points for every one you find.
Start Anywhere Easy: Medium: Hard:
You can also use the same map with MapRun to explore the original Permanent Orienteering Course.
Score Course is 20 points for every one you find.
Start Anywhere Easy: Medium: Hard:
You can also use the same map with MapRun to explore the original Permanent Orienteering Course.
Woodthorpe Grange Park
9 Apr 2017