Northern Navigators Orienteering Club invite you to a local event at Low Burnhall Woods. All abilities catered for and newcomers welcome.

Location: Low Burnhall is situated off the A167/A177, 2 miles south of Durham city centre. The entrance to the parking is off the A177. Approaching from the north/south on A167, at the roundabout turn left (from north) /right (from south) onto the A177, the entrance to the site is immediately on the right. Approaching on the A177 from Durham city centre, the entrance is on the left just before the roundabout junction with the A167. Parking will be in the visitors’ car park. Nearest Postcode: DH1 3TX, ‘what 3 words’ https://what3words.com/hints.seat.silent Grid ref: NZ 26 63 90
The nearest bus stop is 3 mins walk away on A167 (Bus route 6 or 7)

Parking: Will be in the visitors’ car park, no charge. The car park is small, please follow marshalls instructions for alternative parking if necessary.

Registration/Enquiries: located near the car park and open from 10:00. Register / pay at the table, collect a hire dibber if needed; any other enquiries can be dealt with here.

Entries: Pre-entry using the form (opening soon) or enter on the day. Pre-entry is appreciated so that map numbers can be more accurately estimated, however please pay on the day by cash or card.
Pre-entries requiring a hire dibber – please collect them from registration/download.

Fees: Seniors £5.00, juniors £2.00. Groups welcome and charged as one senior/junior. Please bring the correct change (card reader available).

Start: Starts from 10.30 -11.30. Route to the start will be taped from registration.

Punching: This event will use the SportIdent electronic system. SI cards (dibber) will be available to borrow free of charge on the day, but competitors will be charged for any loss. Please bring your own SI card if you have one. There will be a sample control near registration for you to see the SI card in action and instruction in the use of the system will be available on the day. Lost or non-returned SI cards will be charged at £30. Control stations will be enabled for touch free punching (SIAC) but competitors will need to punch the start and finish control.

Map & Area: Scale 1:7500, 5m contours. A4 Updated this year
Control descriptions only on the map (no loose descriptions).

Terrain: Low Burnhall is farmland reclaimed by the Woodland Trust in 2008 and replanted with 95,000 native trees. It is described on their website as “a patchwork of habitats. Gnarled, veteran, sweet chestnut trees in a block of ancient woodland contrast with areas of recent planting; wet woodland houses native amphibians; and the wildflower meadows attract clouds of butterflies in the summer.” For orienteering purposes, it offers a good path network, blocks of woodland in the southern section and more open aspect on the steeply sloping hill to the north dotted with scrub.

Safety Information: There is one road leading to some houses which bisects the area but is very quiet. The area is bordered on one side by the very busy and fast A167 and on the other side by the river Wear. Competitors should be aware that leaving the area by one of the gates and making use of the footpath along the A167 is not a permissible route choice. Junior courses will remain on the northern part of the map, avoiding the river. All competitors that have registered to start must report to registration after they finish (even if they do not wish their score/time to be recorded). Competitors are welcome to carry a phone when they compete. There will be a first aid kit and first aiders at registration.

Control descriptions: descriptions will be on the map (no loose descriptions).

Facilities: tbc

Dogs: Dogs will be allowed, but please clean up after your dog.

Thanks: Many thanks to John Wilson, the site manager and the Woodland Trust who kindly gave us their permission to use the area.

Officials:

• Organiser – Debby Warren
• Planner – Thomas Puschmann, Horst Puschmann
• Controller – Julian Warren