Entry on the day still available for Yellow, Orange and Score Courses
Location and Parking
Coombs Wood is located about 1.5km SE of Armathwaite, on the road to Kirkoswald. Parking will be along the roadside to the south of the small Forestry England car park area (please be sure not to obstruct the road). There will be no parking marshals or road signs.
Grid Ref: NY513450
W3W: stuffy.saves.absorb
Nearest postcode CA4 9SQ
Road Closure
Be aware that the minor road that leaves the A6 just south of High Hesket heading NW is probably closed (between NY 479 436 and NY 497 453).
Entries
Pre-entry now closed. Start list is here.
Entry on the day (including dibber hire) is available on the Yellow, Orange and Score courses.
Seniors (21 and over): £8
Juniors (20 and under) and full-time students: £3
If you are new to orienteering and would like to go round as a group or in a pair, just enter one person and purchase any additional maps that your group would like at £1 each.
Dibber Hire
If you have pre-ordered a dibber, collect it from Enquiries/Download on the day.
Dibber hire also available for entry on the day.
Enquiries/Download
Located at the small Forestry England car park. Depending on what time you arrive the walk to here will be between 25m and 400m from where you park
Start and Finish
Start between 11.00 am and 12.30 pm. The Start and Finish are within fifty metres of Enquiries/Download along flat paths. Courses close 2.15pm.
Courses
There will be a range of courses to suit both newcomers and experienced orienteers. As well as the standard linear courses there will be a Score course (where you visit as many controls as you can in an hour), suitable for newcomers who want a challenge. Some controls will be easy, other more difficult.
| Length (km) | Climb (m) | |
| Blue | 5.2 | 250 |
| Green | 3.8 | 170 |
| Short Green *(see below) | 2.4 | 90 |
| Very Short Green **(see below) | 1.5 | 30 |
| Orange/Novice (a bit harder than Yellow) | 2.9 | 115 |
| Yellow/Novice | 2.1 | 90 |
| Score ***(see below) | 1 hour |
* SHORT GREEN – note that this course (but NOT Very Short Green) includes a steep climb (on paths). However this may be avoided by taking a longer, more gentle ascent.
** VERY SHORT GREEN – this is the same course as the Short Green but with some controls missed out. If you want to do Very Short Green, enter Short Green and pick up a Short Green map at the start. The map will show which controls to miss. You can decide while on the course whether or not to take the Very Short Green cut-off. The download system will work out which course you have completed.
*** SCORE – there are 20 controls, each worth 10 points. Get as many as you can within 1 hour. If you are late 1 point will be deducted for every 20 seconds over the hour. (For example if you are 3 minutes late, 9 point will be deducted from your score). Suitable for both newcomers and experienced orienteers – some controls will be easy, other more challenging.
Terrain
Coombs Wood is a small area of working forest on the NE side of the River Eden. It comprises a very steep slope, with flat areas at the top and bottom. There are many paths and tracks, including a lot of steep mountain bike tracks. The forest is mostly fairly rough underfoot with dead bracken and some brambles, but there are more runnable parts. Along the top of the steep slope there are patches of windblown trees. Most (but maybe not all) such areas are mapped with closely spaced green vertical stripes (i.e. “walk” with good visibility)
Map
1:7500 with 5m contours. New mountain bike tracks appear regularly – some may not be on the map. The map from the previous event can be seen here.
The Blue course will include a map turn over.
Control Descriptions
Control descriptions will be on the front of the map. There will be no loose descriptions. Yellow, Orange and Score courses will have both pictorial and text descriptions. Other courses will have pictorial descriptions only.
Safety
– The Green and Blue courses include controls on the steep slope. Good studs/dobbs are necessary, especially in wet weather.
– One control on the Blue course is quite close to the top of a dangerous crag. There will be Yellow/Black warning tapes to mark it.
– Watch out for mountain bikes on the steep slope. They probably won’t be able to stop.
– There are ticks in the area – check carefully afterwards.
– There is a large log stack near the Finish. Climbing on it would be extremely dangerous.
– If the weather is very wet, it could be compulsory to wear or carry a cagoule. Come prepared.
– The organiser’s phone number will be printed on the map for emergency use.
Toilets
There will be a Portaloo at Enquiries/Download
Dogs
There are no restrictions other than common sense.
Coaching
There will be a coaching session, open to all, starting at 10.00 – meet at Enquiries/Download. If you would like to participate contact the event organisers in advance (email address below).
Further Information and Advice
Contact the organisers Dan and Karen Parker at BLdanandkaren@gmail.com
Note about Insurance
If you are not a member of British Orienteering please read the important note regarding public liability insurance here
Border Liners Orienteering Club 