MAIN INFORMATION
Orienteering is a sport for people who enjoy challenge and adventure.
We compete in local, national and international orienteering events. The aim is to navigate around a set course using a map as fast as possible.
We travel all over the country and even the world, orienteering in forests, over moors and through cities. We've got lots of trips lined up this year - come join us! Many of our members enjoy fell running as a hobby and as great physical training for orienteering. We support members who want to take part in local fell races, including in the Mendips and South Wales, and provide the option to go for a fell run on our training weekends which take us across the country from Cornwall to the Lake District.
The club meets up regularly for training, socials and competitions. Our members cover the full range of ability and experience. Everyone is welcome!
Monday Night Runs
We go for a relaxed run around Bristol every Monday evening at 19:00. Normally they end up being 7-9km, run at around 5:00-6:00 minutes per kilometre. The location of these varies, but we normally set off from Clifton Downs or the Suspension Bridge, and finish just after 20:00 at a different pub each week for a well-earned pint of beer or Coke. It's a great chance to have a chat with people and to get to know Bristol as the route changes every time. See the weekly email for the start point and route.
Wednesday Night Trainings
Our technical orienteering and navigation session is on a Wednesday evening. This takes place at 16:00 and moves to a new location around Bristol each week. It could be on Clifton Downs, Leigh Woods, Brandon Hill, Ashton Court or in the city itself. They're open to all members, whether you've orienteered for years and want to keep your skills sharp, or if you're completely new to the sport, so you're welcome to join us to learn or practice a different skill each session! Sign up to the weekly email to find out where we're meeting each week.
Local Events
The club competes in competitions most weekends (and some evenings) all year round. Bristol has access to several excellent orienteering areas within a few minutes of the city centre, of which we travel to by public transport when feasible, or we car-share if necessary. At local events there are courses planned for all abilities where the length gets longer and the navigation harder as you improve.
Weekends
Our weekends away are most members' highlight of the club. We attend events all around the country (including BUCS), often with students from other orienteering Universities, for two good-quality days of orienteering and often a social on the Saturday night. The club organises transport and accommodation so all you have to do is turn up. We try to keep costs as low as possible and weekends normally cost around £20-45.
Coming up:
Sat 21st - Sun 22nd September 2024 - Caddihoe Chase, Braunton Burrows
We'll be off down to Devon for the weekend to compete in the Caddihoe Chase. Braunton Burrows plays hosts to one of the best sets of sand dunes in the UK, with a fantastic opportunity to test your navigation skills! For those who are new to the club, we've arranged with the organisers to set some orange course maps aside which will be the best opportunity to get a feel for the sport. We'll be staying in a local Scout hut, so bring a sleeping bag and mat (or someone in the club can probably lend you one). We'll be driving down on Saturday morning and returning on Sunday evening.
Weekly Email
Our Weekly Email gets sent out every Sunday evening and contains all the information on what's coming up in that week - including Monday and Wednesday night training locations as well as a look ahead to our upcoming trips. This is the one to sign up to.
You can also;
Check out our website
Join our WhatsApp group
Check out or message our Instagram page
Or email us (orienteering.bristol@gmail.com)
