How to Get Started
- Find out more about orienteering from the web (See the British Orienteering Web Site).
- Come along to one of our NWO Come-and-Try-It (CATI) Events (see Fixtures for the next one)
- Try an easy trail at an orienteering event. Most events cater for beginners.
NWO's Come-and-Try-It Events
Come and find out about orienteering at one of our Come-and-Try-It (CATI) events:
Just come in outdoor clothing suitable for the weather. Bring a compass if you have one but it is not necessary for the first time.
After one or two of these CATI events you should be ready to try easy courses at other events.
For more information on getting started and CATI events contact Lewis Watson or by phone on 01793 764732 (preferably daytime).
Some Activities for Beginners
- Learn about the main features of an orienteering map, such as the scale, colours and symbols.
- Learn how to "set" a map
- Do some easy "mini-courses" of one or two controls only - star exercises
- Try a short, easy course of about six controls
- Try a longer, more challenging course if you are already a runner or walker with some map reading experience
Most or all of these activities will be available at our CATI events, where the organiser will be able to help get you started.
Permanent Courses
A permanent orienteering course is made up of special wooden control posts engraved with a code number and a code letter. For example there are up to 70 of these posts installed in the Coate Water and Croft Wood area of Swindon. You can use these permanent posts to try out many different orienteering routes or courses. On an easy course, usually no more than a mile long, you will try to find from six to ten posts in order, usually following tracks, paths, ditches etc. The more advanced courses may be longer and you will try to find posts in places where you may need more careful map reading. To try any of these courses you will need to obtain an orienteering map, on which the course is marked, and a control description sheet. This describes more about where each post is (eg. at a fence junction or on a stream bend) and the code number of the post (so that you can confirm you are at the right post when you get there). You simply write down the code letter of each post as you find it to prove that you have been there.
The big advantage is that you can go when you want and walk or run around a course to try out orienteering by yourself or with friends or family.
The permanent orienteering courses in Swindon are at Croft Wood and Coate Water. Maps for a limited number of courses may be obtained from the golf kiosk. A small charge may be made. Groups wanting to use the courses are recommended to make contact in advance (01793 490150).
The picture below shows a permanent orienteering post in Coate Water Country Park.
