Orienteering
Orienteering: pick what suits you. Options for beginners, families or groups, in the finest settings there are.
Orienteering: types of experiences
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Orienteering
Orienteering: book an experience shaped to what you want. Checked providers in the finest parts of the country...
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Difficulty
Beginner – Expert
Duration
30 minutes – several hours
Location
Forests, mountains, parks, natural areas
Season
All year round
What is orienteering?
Orienteering means finding your way across country using a map, a compass and your own powers of observation.
The aim is to reach a set of control points in a given order, or as efficiently as you can.
The activity combines physical effort with thinking ahead.
It can be done for fun, as a way of learning, or competitively.
How does a orienteering session work?
Working out the course
You study the map and the control points.
Navigating on the ground
You pick your bearings and the lines you will take.
Finding the controls
You locate the objectives that have been set.
Choosing your tactics
You decide on the most efficient line.
End of the route
You check the result and the time you took.
Who is orienteering for?
Children
It builds attention, self-reliance and a sense of place.
Families
It gives you something to learn from, out in the open.
Keen walkers
It sharpens your navigation skills.
Sporty types
It opens the way to competitions.
orienteering experience level
Introductory orienteering
Simple exercises with easy-to-read maps and short courses.
Recreational orienteering
Navigating natural courses, to explore and build up your skills.
Orienteering as sport
Running the courses against the clock, with tactics and precision.
Advanced orienteering
Navigating difficult ground in demanding conditions.
At a glance
The map
The main tool for working out where you are and where to go.
The compass
It helps you set the direction you are heading.
GPS
It can back up the traditional methods.
Reading the ground
Watching the lie of the land helps you navigate.
Tactics
The line you choose shapes the result.
Practice
The skills come with regular practice.
orienteering kit
Orienteering map
It shows the ground and the points that matter.
Compass
It lets you work out the right bearing.
GPS unit
Useful for navigating and for recording your route.
Sports watch
Helps you keep track of time and distance.
Outdoor clothing
It keeps you covered whatever the weather does.
Rucksack
For carrying water and whatever else you need.
orienteering safety
Orienteering calls for preparation and attention, especially in out-of-the-way country.
Orienteering — frequently asked questions
Yes. There are introductory sessions for beginners.
The map is the main tool in classic orienteering.
Yes, especially for recreational sessions or training.
Yes. It helps children build a sense of place and self-reliance.
How much you need depends on the length and difficulty of the course.
Yes. Competitive orienteering is a sport in its own right.
Yes. Being able to navigate makes you safer out there.