Orienteering
Question: Where in Milton Keynes’ parks can you find the numbers 1 to 49?
No, not on an abandoned lottery ticket but on a series of distinctive green, red and white posts dotted around Campbell Park, Willen Lake and the Ouzel Valley Park. The posts are part of a permanent orienteering course that is open to anyone who wants to try out the sport, or simply give a different purpose to their outing to the park.
Maps are available to download and offer a choice of courses from a gentle 2km to an ambitious 15km visiting one or all three of the parks.
Campbell Park Course Map
Caldecotte Lake Course Map
Ouzel Valley Park Course Map
What is orienteering?
In orienteering you navigate your way between control points marked on a specially drawn map. While there are plenty of people who enjoy the sport competitively, racing between posts in the fastest possible time, it’s perfectly OK to enjoy orienteering at your own pace and whatever your age or level of fitness – and you’ll see more of the parks that way. But you could also get together with members of your club, school or even neighbourhood to organise a competition.
How do you do it?
Each course is represented by a series of numbers. Once you’ve chosen your course the challenge is to use the map – and a compass if you want – to find your way to the control post with that number. When you spot the post – and some of them are quite well-hidden! – you simply write down the two letters engraved on the post in a grid on the back of the map – proof that you really did find the post. If you’re doing the course competitively you should time how long it takes you to navigate your way around.
Give it a go… Join the South Midlands Orienteering Club to discover how to use maps while having fun in the parks. See www.smoc.info for more information.
