Permanent Orienteering Courses

Permanent orienteering courses allow you to practice your orienteering skills whenever you want, without having to wait for an organised event.

Typically, you purchase or download an orienteering map of the area on which are marked a number of control sites. At each of these you will find a permanent marker on which there is the control number and a letter or letters which you can note down and later check to make sure you found the correct control.

Some permanent courses suggest various routes you can take around the controls, varying from easy to hard. Alternatively, you can decide your own course.

There are several permanent orienteering courses in Norfolk. Currently we can recommend 2, Holt Country Park and Kelling Heath, as having an up-to-date map and, so far as we know, control markers in position. (Apologies if any have been vandalised recently!) In addition, Bacton Wood has the markers in the right places, but the map is awaiting revision, and some areas of the wood are rather brambly.

Outside the county, but within easy reach, there are permanent courses at High Lodge (entry from the B1107 Brandon to Thetford road), and Brandon Country Park (entry from the B1106 Brandon to Bury St Edmunds road). Maps are available from the visitor centre at each location.

HOLT COUNTRY PARK 

Maps available at the Visitor Centre

KELLING HEATH


Maps available from the office at Kelling Park Holiday Centre

BACTON WOOD

Maps available through North Norfolk District Council

SANDRINGHAM COUNTRY PARK

Maps are on sale at the Visitor Centre. 19 controls; 2 courses suggested but an infinite number possible!

4 COURSES IN THE LOWESTOFT AREA 

The Ashley School at Lowestoft has set up permanent orienteering courses at Normanton Park, Lowestoft, Nicholas Everitt PArk, Oulton Broad, Beccles Common, Beccles, and Corton Cliffs.

WHITLINGHAM COUNTRY PARK, NORWICH

Full details of all the avctivities available at Whitlingham, including orienteering, available here

CATTON PARK, NORWICH