Level D “sprint-style” orienteering event in Carlisle’s “Hadrian Wall” park adjacent to the River Eden, part of our Saturday Series of events held throughout the year. This is a park event with a mix of hard paths & grassy areas. Courses are Long, Short and Easy rather than colour-coded as it really is all a similar technical standard, the “complexity” on Long and Short coming from twisting courses. The Easy course is considered suitable for novices to try out a park-style orienteering course.
Last minute key points: Mini kites used at controls, 1 minute time out on Long course, Remember to pay for parking, Carlisle Fire Show fencing will be getting erected but should not affect control sites……
Assembly, travel & parking. Assembly will be in Swifts Bank car park adjacent to The Sands Centre, Carlisle. If you would like to travel to Carlisle via public transport there are numerous trains and buses into the centre. From Carlisle train station it is 1.2km and from the bus station 900m mostly level walk to The Sands Centre.
Swifts Bank car park is at OS NY402565, nearest postcode CA1 1JQ, what3words: anyway.bottom.soccer. Pay & display charges apply here (cars are £1.50 for 1 hour, £2.50 for 2 hours, £2.90 for 3 hours). No camper vans are permitted in the car park so anything larger than a VW Transporter will need to park elsewhere. You can pay with cash at the machines or mobile payment is possible using the MiPermit app, car park #712008. You can also pay in advance from the MiPermit website using the location number). If you want to park free there may well be some space around the back of DFS on Newark Terrace very close by. Alternatively, park to the North of the River Eden in Stanwix, eg on Brampton Road, and walk across the Eden Bridge and round to the front of The Sands Centre (please don’t approach around the back of the building as this will be on the courses). Do not park in the pay and display within Bitts Park as this is on the competition map.
If you arrive by bike please bring a lock. You will be able to leave your bike securely adjacent to assembly (download) where there’s a fence. Alternatively you can secure at the bike racks in front of The Sands Centre.
Assembly/Start/Finish. These are all located close together. “Assembly” will be inside Swifts Bank car park (look for an EV, probably with a BL flag over the roof if we can’t get it into the ground. The start will be adjacent, about 25m, with the finish alongside the car park on a separate footpath.
If you have pre-entered you can go direct to the start. Start times are 11:00 to 12:15. Courses close at 13:30; please finish by this time and remember to download even if you decide to retire. The route from the last control to the finish is along a path adjacent to Swifts Bank car park; very very occasionally there may be cars moving along this stretch so please be mindful when dashing for the finish line!
Courses. All courses are “sprint-style” orienteering. Course lengths below are (for the moment) measured straight line. Climb is negligible on all courses. All courses have approximately 150m taped route from map pick up to the start kite.
Long 4.4km, 33 controls, map flip part way round the course.
Short 3.0km, 25 controls, map flip.
Easy (Very short) (suitable for beginners) 1.6km, 15 controls.
Courses will twist and turn within the park and you will visit some controls more than once. In places controls will be close together. Please read the map very carefully to identify your correct next control and check control codes when you punch!
Part of the park is expected to be fenced off in preparation for The Carlisle Fire Show which is being held on 1st November. This will not be marked on maps as we don’t know the extent of the area they intend to use but courses have been planned in a way which should give minimal “contact” with their plans. With this in mind and to get the best out of the area available, courses go very close to the edge of the map in a couple of places, especially on the route to the start kite & midway around the long course; take care to remain on the map.
All courses use underpasses to get into and out of the main part of Bitts Park – underpasses are clearly marked and you must use these. Easy & Short courses are effectively car free. On the long course you will need to cross some roads. All main roads are marked Out of Bounds in the usual way.
Terrain. Luguvalium Parcum (or Bitts Park) is a city park on the flood plain of the River Eden adjacent to Carlisle Castle. Luguvalium was the Roman city name for Carlisle with the Roman Wall path passing through the park, hence the name we’ve put on the map – Luguvalium Parcum! This was the first public park to be established in Carlisle. It is predominantly flat with some ornamental gardens, play areas, a mini pagoda and a large plain grass meadow. Grass areas within the park may be wet and all paved areas can be slippery if wet.
Map. Updated August 2025, printed at 1:3000 on A4 waterproof paper. The map is generally to ISSprOM standard. There is no space for a legend on the map so a copy will be available at registration/download.
Control descriptions will be printed on the front of the map, pictorial for Long and Short Green, text for Easy.
Please respect out of bounds and uncrossable features as marked on the map. Flower beds in particular are not so splendid at this time of year but are nevertheless still out of bounds. Keep away from the river bank; it’s overgrown anyway but it does have slippery edges and is not safe should river levels be high.
Clothing. Please wear appropriate footwear. Shorts may be worn.
Entries. Pre-entry via SiEntries from 1st October, Adults £5, Juniors £2. Entries close at midnight on Thursday 23rd October. If you are new to orienteering and would prefer to go round as a group just enter one person and use the option to select any additional maps the groups would like at £1 each. If you do not have your own dibber these will be provided at no charge, £30 if not returned; to pre-order, leave the SI number blank during the online entry process, and then collect dibber from Enquiries/Download on the day.
Entry on the day…… The number of maps printed for each course will be determined by pre-entries at close of Thursday night. We will print a few extra maps for each course to allow for some entry on the day, but of course these will be limited to the number of extra maps available. If you are unable to enter by the Thursday night cut-off but can email the organiser before 9pm Friday evening you can find out whether a spare course map can be reserved for you. If you are planning to bring a large group on the day and have not pre-entered please contact the organiser to ensure there may be sufficient maps. (Unfortunately there is insufficient time to deal with emails after Friday evening as Saturday morning will be spent sorting out equipment and getting controls in place before the first start time). If you are entering on the day please try to bring the correct entry fee.
Controls & Punching. Controls will be hung on fences, benches, trees etc, sometimes with a stake sometimes just secured to the feature. SportIdent punching will be used for the event. Controls will be enabled for contactless punching for those with SIAC cards. The start and finish will need to be punched manually. If you don’t have your own dibber these will be provided on the day.
Facilities. Toilets are available inside The Sands Centre. If you have muddy or very wet shoes please remove these. Access into The Sands Centre is via the main entrance. The rear entrance is partially restricted due to ongoing works to replace RACC found in the building, and because it’s also within the competition area! The Sands Centre cafe is currently closed; it may or may not be open by the time of the event. After you run, but not before, there is also a take away cafe in the centre of the park – The Tasty Greek – offering nice coffee and other treats, or it’s not too far to walk into Carlisle centre.
Safety. First aid on a DIY basis will be at Assembly. A comprehensive risk assessment has been prepared for this event by the organiser. Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.
General. Please be aware of and courteous to other users of the park, particularly young children who may be in or around the play areas. There may be dog walkers and cyclists in the park. Dogs welcome.
Membership. If you are not a member of Border Liners do consider joining our club. Membership details are here.
Acknowledgements. Border Liners would like to thank Carlisle City Council for permission to use the park.
Planner/organisers. Keith Tonkin & Christine Kiddier, Border Liners, email keithATcoria.co.uk. British Orienteering registered event 86709.
Border Liners Orienteering Club 