What is Orienteering?

Last updated: Tue 23 Feb 2021

Orienteering is an exciting outdoor adventure sport which involves walking or running whilst navigating around a course using a detailed map and sometimes a compass.

The aim is to navigate in sequence between a set of control points and decide the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. It does not matter how young, old or fit you are, as you can run, walk or jog the course and progress at your own pace.

Orienteering can take place anywhere from remote forest and countryside to urban parks and school playgrounds. It’s a great sport for runners, joggers and walkers who want to improve their navigation skills or for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Section of Puttenham at 1:10000

Section of Puttenham at 1:10000

Special maps are drawn by orienteers for orienteers at a scale that shows much more detail than you may be familiar with. For instance here is a section of Puttenham at 1:10000.

A section of our Guildford City map (at 1:5000)

A section of our Guildford City map (at 1:5000)

Interested? Take a look at the Newcomers page.