Irchester Country Park
Traditional & Smartphone Virtual orienteering courses
For the last four years, this was the most popular permanent course in Northamptonshire. &Leicestershire)
Missing Plaques: If you have an issue regarding missing posts please report to the Ranger while on-site or email Irchester Ranger
Safety: The park has a large earthwall and a strong path network avoiding them. See the safety advice sheet.
Score course: Score course finds as many as possible within the time limit. Penalties for being late. This is a good course for a group needing to start and finish about the same time.
Map updated: Major update in June 2022. The Maprun map is from 2018.
Download a legend here Sprint Legend
Courses repaired: November 2021
Traditional Courses
|
Course |
Controls /Length (km) |
Suitable for |
Estimated (mins) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
White |
10 /1.1 |
Beginner; children may need to be shadowed |
15-25 |
|
Yellow |
10 /1.7 |
A child with some experience |
20-35 |
|
Orange |
13 /2.3 |
Adult beginner /confident junior |
20-40 |
|
Light Green |
14 /2.4 |
Confident Adult or experienced junior |
20-40 |
|
Winter Green Summer Green |
15 /3.6 |
Hardest possible; Summer -Avoiding the worst of the nettles! |
30-60 |
|
Score |
23 |
Adult or children Some controls are too hard for beginners |
30 |
Lengths of courses shown are in straight lines between controls, and the estimates of times are for someone running to someone walking. Both will vary depending on your route choice and ability.
Feedback: Do let us know about any damaged or missing control points, please use our Feedback Form However our volunteers we may not be able to remedy this quickly.
Currently suspended, if you would like to use any of the courses email Feedback form and we will reactive the courses in a few days.
Use the Maprun app. MapRun App Garmin Watch owners may wish to use the sister app MaprunG,.or for Apple watches MaprunA. Your phone (watch) beeps when you get close to the feature (a virtual control detected by your GPS signal). Upload your results to see your position on the leader board. We suggest you download a MAPRUN map from here but you can just use the one on your smartphone.
| Courses |
controls/ Length (km) |
Suitable for |
Expected time (mins) |
Hazards | Results |
| Yellow |
11/ 1.5 |
Beginners /Start by the engine |
15 to 30 | Yellow | |
| Green |
16/ 3.8 |
Experienced | 30 to 60 | Earthwalls and roads | Green |
| Score |
28/ 4.5 |
Some are too hard for beginners /20 points per control less 10 points for each minute or part minute late |
30 | Earthwalls and roads | score |
| Race map |
A blank map for training under race conditions. Use after starting your course. Download the "Control descriptions" to use in conjunction with this map |
To use the Maprun app when in the car park, start the Maprun app. If you are at the site or are close by, click 'Events near me' or at home, click 'Select Event' and go to the UK/Leicestershire/Irchester folder to find the courses. Click the one you want. Click ‘go to Start’ when you are ready. When you get near the start your time begins once your phone beeps.
Beginners there are a couple of features to help you navigate: Before the start, the location and track are always shown. Once you pass the start the location and track disappear ... unless you have enabled 'show track' or 'show location'. These features can be enabled in 'Options and settings' before you start. For some courses, we had added a ‘show me’ feature. Where it's available there is a button on the screen but you can only use it a few times.
Results: Results Enter a time period, Country = UK and County = Leicestershire