Between the British Champs weekend on 10th/11th May and Northern Champs weekend on 17th/18th May Border Liners Orienteering Club are offering a free Penrith Explorer Maprun in Penrith town centre.
Come and discover the centre of Penrith with 2 sprint-style courses using Maprun, visiting some of Penrith’s town centre historical & noteworthy locations. Get to see Penrith Castle and park, as well as other sights in the town whilst navigating some of the centre streets and alleys.
Penrith Explorer maprun courses: Long 3.4km with 30 checkpoints, Short 2.2km with 20 checkpoints. Courses are measured in a straight line so actual distances will be a little longer. Walk, jog or run….. whatever your preference. Note, both courses visit Castle Park which is only open between about 8am and sometime after 8pm (probably whenever the key holder thinks it is dusk!).
The map is based on our Penrith urban map with some simple modifications to create this more tourist-focussed version. The map is A4 in size at a scale of 1:3000. Contours have been removed (climb is unlikely to be significant). Urban road/pavement pale brown colouring has also been removed to make the general map background white, with the exception of busier road sections which have been highlighted. Courses do cross some of the busy road sections – crossing points (zebras & road islands) have been marked on the map – but those in the centre should mostly be not too difficult to cross. All other elements of the map are standard urban mapping (ISSprOM 2019).
Each course map is available to print at home in 2 parts; a course map together with a second separate sheet detailing general information on what you will pass as well as text control descriptions. If you can duplex print that would be ideal, otherwise you will get 2 pages. PDF maps are available to download below, with their corresponding web links direct to Maprun if you are browsing this page with your phone. (The PDF download has a QR code for you to scan which will load the selected course direct into Maprun). Note, the Maprun courses are available on the Maprun server from now until 9pm on Friday 16th May. If selecting the event from within the Maprun app then navigate to the server folder UK/Cumbria/North and select the appropriate course. If just using your phone to navigate then you won’t have control descriptions & “tourist” information but the course will still work.
Penrith Explorer Long course – Maprun weblink (if using phone)
Penrith Explorer Short course – Maprun weblink
Parking, start & finish are at Sainsbury’s New Squares where there is free 3 hour parking (GR NY516297, postcode CA11 7FG, What three words: twitches.cars.porch). There is a ground level covered car park with an upper deck where there is usually lots of space. There’s also an outside car park in front of the store which tends to be busy. Toilets are available in the building between the car park and the store. Important : do not overstay this time as there are cameras & parking fines are possible.
Whilst in Penrith maybe take the opportunity to get some refreshments. There are many tea rooms in the centre, far too many to list or mark on the map. You will certainly pass by several on the courses.
You take part in this activity at your own risk and are responsible for your own safety. Juniors, those under the age of 16, should be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please take care crossing all roads and be aware that shoppers & other pedestrians may not be expecting runners.
Border Liners Orienteering Club 