These are the Preliminary Details. FINAL DETAILS are available HERE
Beacon Hill, Penrith
22nd February 2026
Border Liners are delighted to welcome you to Beacon Hill, a small but lovely area of very varied woodland on the north side of Penrith. The event centre is conveniently located less than 10 minutes drive from junction 40 of the M6, and only 10 minutes walk from the station.
Parking
There is no event car park. Competitors should park either in one of many public car parks in Penrith or find suitable street parking. Final details will include details of recommended car parks. At least two of the public car parks allow campervans and coaches.
Event Centre
The event centre is at 2nd Penrith Scout Hut, 17 Folly Lane
Postcode CA11 8BT
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Grid Ref: NY 518 301
The event also has use of the adjoining Army Cadet building.
The following will be located at the event centre:
Enquiries
Download
Entry on the day for Non-CompassSport Cup courses
SI Card Hire
Toilets
Key Drop
Space for club tents (unless the grass is very wet)
Indoor space for leaving kit
Refreshments – Binsey Field Kitchen will serve hot burrito bowls and a selection of yummy cakes and tray bakes as well as coffee and smoothies
Start
Start times are provisionally 10:30 to 12:30 but may be extended to 13:00 if necessary
Distance from event centre is 1.9km with 110m ascent climb, mostly on roads and paved track. The route will be taped and passes close to the finish after about 1.1km, 65m ascent. There will be a clothing dump.
You can go straight to the start without going to the event centre if you want. Final details will include a map showing the taped route.
Finish
1.2km downhill back to event centre. Courses will close at 14:15 (provisionally)
Map
1:7500 or 1:5000 depending on course (see table below), 5m contours.
Re-surveyed autumn 2025 with LiDAR data by Martin Bagness.
An old version of the map can be seen here (here)
Terrain
Beacon Hill is a well thinned pine woodland, with a steep slope on the south side, and gentler slopes to the west and north-east. On the flattish top area there is heather and bilberry underfoot, elsewhere there is some bracken, but in February the majority of it will be well flattened. The ares includes many old sandstone quarries creating interesting contour features and crags. There is a good path network, and also numerous mountain bike tracks on the steep south side. The high point is crowned by the eponymous Beacon, a Grade 1 listed sandstone tower built in 1719 as a place to light warning fires.
Courses
CompassSport Cup/Trophy Courses
| Course Number | Age Categories | Map Scale | Length | Climb |
| 1 | Any competitor | 1:7500 | 6.9 km | 125 m |
| 2 | M18-, M45+ | 1:7500 | 5.2 km | 110 m |
| 3 | Any woman | 1:7500 | 5.2 km | 120 m |
| 4 | M55+ | 1:7500 | 4.4 km | 100 m |
| 5 | W18-, W45+ | 1:7500 | 3.5 km | 95 m |
| 6 | M65+ | 1:5000 | 3.7 km | 100 m |
| 7 | M75+, W60+ | 1:5000 | 3.1 km | 50 m |
| 8 | M80+, W70+ | 1:5000 | 2.6 km | 50 m |
| 9M and 9W | M18-, W18- | 1:7500 | 3.6 km | 70 m |
| 10M and 10W | M14-, W14- | 1:7500 | 2.2 km | 50 m |
Non-CompassSport Cup/Trophy Courses
| Name | Technical Difficulty | Map Scale | Length | Climb |
| Light Green | 4 | 1:7500 | 3.3 km | 50 m |
| Yellow | 2 | 1:7500 | 3.1 km | 45 m |
| White | 1 | 1:7500 | 1.8 km | 35 m |
Entries
Closed entry for members of competing clubs only
Compass Sport Cup/Trophy Courses: Entries can only be made via your club captain.
Non-Compass Sport Cup/Trophy Courses: Preferably enter via your club captain but there will be limited entry-on-the day subject to map availability.
Seniors (21 and over): £13 (Note this used to say £15 but it was a mistake – sorry!)
Juniors (20 and under ) or Full-time Student: £5
SI Card hire will be available for all courses. (No charge, but £30 if lost)
Competitors on the Non-Compass Sport courses can compete in pairs or group, or be shadowed. Shadowers of those on Non-CSC courses, if competing in the CSC themselves, must have completed their CSC course before shadowing.
Extra maps for groups or shadowers available at £1 each.
Note: if you are not a member of British Orienteering please read the important note regarding public liability insurance here
Dogs
Dogs will be allowed, on leads, both inside the scout hut and in the grounds. They are definitely NOT allowed in the Army Cadet building or its grounds. No dogs on courses please.
Officials
Planner: Andrew Bell, BL
Organiser: Karen Parker, BL (contact via email BLDanAndKaren@gmail.com)
Controller: Tim O’Donoghue, SOLWAY
Thanks
2nd Penrith Scouts for use of their Scout Hut
The Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association for the use of the Cadet Building
Lonsdale Estates and Lowther Estates Trust for permission to use Beacon Hill
Border Liners Orienteering Club 