START

ORIENTEERING

with

SWESO

(South and West Essex Schools Orienteering)

Orienteering means maps, forests and adventure. You can walk, jog or run and choosing your route to the red and white markers is fun. It does not matter how old, young or fit you are - you go at your own pace. If you like excitement, fresh air and exploring the countryside then Orienteering is the sport for you.

Orienteering can best be described as competitive navigation on foot. You find your way around a course going from point to point using a specially drawn large scale map and a compass. No expensive kit is needed - just sensible outdoor clothes, a good pair of trainers or football boots which grip, a red pen and a clear polythene bag to put the map in.

Orienteering is a great activity for young people. Not only does it involve the challenge of navigation, which appeals to the explorer instinct but there is also an element of chasing and running which is fun. Normally children from the age of about 5 upwards can quickly acquire an understanding of the sport.

Getting started is easy. Beginners' courses are short - usually less than 2 km - and follow paths and other line features. Once children know how to orientated the map and can navigate their chosen route they really revel in the excitement of finding the red and white markers and exploring the secrets of the forest.

SWESO stands for South and West Essex Schools Orienteering. It is a partnership between HAVOC (Havering and South Essex Orienteering Club) and CHIG (Chigwell and Epping Forest Orienteering Club).  We  have 8 events each year. These events are held on either a Saturday or Sunday between September and April each year,  there is a presentation event which is held in May.

Our fixtures are open to all and we have groups from Essex, Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, Hertfordshire and some London Boroughs currently taking part. The groups can be formal; Junior Schools, Secondary Schools; Scout Groups, Guides, Brownies, Army Cadets, Duke of Edinburgh Groups etc. or informal groups of friends. You can also take part as an individual. At the same event adults can take part in SWELL , a parallel league.

At events there is one course for runners of Junior School age and 3 for those of Secondary School age. At each event there is a parallel competition for adults, called SWELL .

There is a series of leaflets to help people start Orienteering. If you would like more information please contact Graham Batty

Epping North
The event will be signposted from the junction of the A121 and the A104/B1393 (2k east of Junction 26 on the M25). This junction (at the Wake Arms/Old Orleans in Epping Forest) is a roundabout and traffic can be heavy.

Hainault Forest Country Park, Chigwell Row
Registration: Fox Burrows car park at Grid reference TQ478929 which is the last car park at the end of the main entrance road into the country park). 
Directions: The main entrance road into Hainault Forest Country Park is from the A1112 Romford Road. Nearest tube station is Hainault on the Central Line. Facilities: toilets No car parking fee.

Harlow Town Park
Registration and:Parking in Harlow Town Park Car Park, School Lane, off First Avenue.
Grid Reference: TL 453 109. Signed from first roundabout on Harlow Road after exit from M11 Junction 7. By rail. Approx 10 minutes walk from Harlow Town station (London Liverpool Street to Cambridge line.)

Langdon Hills Country Park, Beacon field car park, Dry Street, near Basildon
From M25 Junction 29: Head east 6 miles to A127/B148 junction, then head south 1 mile along the B148 (West Mayne), then turn right at the roundabout onto the B1036. Head south then east 2 miles along the B1036 (Mandeville Way), then turn right onto the B1007 (Staneway) and head south west for one mile. Turn left into Dry Street and then right into the Beacon car park field. .Facilities: toilets nearby
From M25 Junction 30: Head east 5 miles to A13/B1007 junction, then head north 4 miles along the B1007. Turn right into Dry Street and then turn right into the Beacon car park field. Nearest public transport is Laindon railway station approx 1 mile north of the event.

Pishiobury Park, Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire (TL475139)
From M11 Junction 7 take A414 signed Harlow and follow A414 north for 4 roundabouts. At fifth roundabout take A1184 signed Bishop’s Stortford and after 1.6 miles turn right just after pedestrian crossing, into Park entrance. Park as directed. No toilets in park.

Thorndon Park North, Brentwood
Leave the main road at the M25/A12 roundabout (M25 junction 28). Follow the road signs towards Brentwood (A1023) then follow the brown signs to Thorndon Park North. i.e. Drive straight on through the first set of traffic lights. Turn right at the second set of traffic lights into Mascalls Lane. Drive for one mile along Mascalls Lane. Drive straight on through the next set of traffic lights into Eagle Way. After half a mile the entrance gates & lodge to Thorndon Park North are on the right. Registration will be in the further car park c ½ mile beyond the Visitor Centre. Facilities (at Visitor Centre): toilets, shop (Essex Wildlife Trust; refreshments, books, gifts etc). Nearest public transport is Brentwood railway station approx 1 mile north of the event. .Essex country council parking charges apply (£2).

Thorndon South Country Park, Ingrave, near Brentwood Grid Ref. TQ 633 899
Registration: At the car park near the entrance to the park. Entrance off A128 Ingrave Road, South of Brentwood.. Facilities: Toilets Café. From A127/A128 junction Head north up A128 and turn left at brown sign for country park. From north: Approach along A128 from Brentwood. After Ingrave village turn right into country park at brown sign The nearest station is West Horndon. Essex country council parking charges apply (£2).

South Weald Park, Brentwood Grid Ref. TQ 573940
Registration is at the “Cricket field’ car park off Weald Road, just east of South Weald village. Toilet facilities; visitor centre. Approach from M25 or A12. Leave main road at M25/A12 junction & follow road signs towards Brentwood. After half a mile turn left at the traffic lights towards Weald Country Park. From there follow Orienteering signs to the car park. Nearest public transport is Brentwood railway station approx 1.5 miles SE of the event. Essex country council parking charges apply (£2)