Orienteering
Discover maps
Orienteering
We have worked closely with an experienced local orienteering group to ensure that we can provide the best course possible.
The maps are downloadable here, please share with us your pictures.
Pembrey Country park provides an ideal place to learn the skills of using a map and a compass. The course caters for all ranges of abilities. The Orienteering course offers beautiful landscapes, history and wildlife and a wide range of facilities. It establishes complementary legendary themes, blending culture, nature and adventure and are designed for both novices and experienced orienteers. Novices should read the next few sections, then select an easy course to try. Orienteering is an enjoyable recreational activity with its accent on map-reading skills.
AIM: The aim in orienteering is to get around a course, made up of a series of control points, by selecting a route between them from the map and then map-reading your way along the route and finding the controls.
CONTROLS and MARKERS: The locations of the controls are shown on the map by numbered circles in purple, and a description of each is given on the separate Control Card.
The controls are marked on the ground by a post on top of which is a plaque with a red and white orienteering symbol. There is a number as on the map, and a letter which you note down in the appropriate square on the control card.
THE MAP: This is a standard orienteering map which shows the grounds and the features; the symbols and colours are explained in the legend. The scale is 1:7500 which means that 1cm on the map represents 75 metres on the ground, as shown by the scale line.
| Colour Coding | Technical difficulty | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| White | 1 | Novices |
| Yellow | 2 | Novices |
| Orange | 3 | Progressing |
| Red | 4 | For those wanting a long walk or run |
| Green | 5 | For the experienced |
DISTANCES: The distance from one point to another can be worked out using the scale line. When measuring on the ground, a metre is roughly one good adult stride.
DIRECTIONS: Whichever direction you are going or facing, try to keep the map the same way round as the ground. Keep the map in your hand. Continually compare map with ground and ground with map, so that you know where you are on the map at all times. Keep the map orientated - north on map to north in nature - no matter which way you are going or facing: either: by using a compass: N lines on map point in same direction as compass needle; or: linear features on map are parallel to the same features on the ground; then,when you go forward, features to one side on the map will be on the same side on the ground.
Keep your thumb on the last known position on the map.
THE COMPASS: The needle points to magnetic north. Use this to keep the long arrows on the map pointing north. The compass is especially useful for finding accurate directions across areas without paths, and to sort out which way to go at path junctions, etc.
How to use a baseplate compass:
1 Place the edge of the compass baseplate along the direction you want to go on the map.
2 Turn the capsule so that the parallel lines in it are in line with the north lines on the map.
3 Take the compass off the map and hold it in front of you, pointing forward. TURN YOURSELF with the compass until the needle is in line with the lines in the capsule.
4 Travel forward the way the front of the compass is now pointing.
The courses can provide the basis for competitions, or they can be enjoyed purely as a personal challenge to find the controls efficiently without worrying about the time element. Stop to enjoy the views whenever you wish
- but don’t forget where you are on the map!