Best areas never mapped for orienteering?

[greywolf]

Trying to initiate a positive thread!
What are the best areas in GB which have never been mapped for orienteering?

My vote goes to:

(OS 1:25,000 shrunk)

invernaver.jpg (112.85 KiB) Viewed 6018 times

A high moorland ridge with lots of rock features, two complex dune areas, a bizarre archaeological moonscape, and rather more in the way of native woodland than the OS map suggests...(and the village football pitch, and a wrecked boat halfway up the beach )

[ba-ba]

Kinder Scout Plateau.
'nuf sed

[Neil M40]

Grass Wood, Grassington. Like the best bits of Malham/Attermire but with trees on. Possibly the best area in Yorkshire, although only large enough for a middle race. There is plenty of adjacent moorland to extend it.

I assume we can't get permission for it because of its status as a nature reserve. I am not aware of there ever having been a map. Maybe Seabird could confirm?

[Becks]

Kinder Scout is awesome for a run but would probably be a soul destroying orienteer - can't say I'd be too keen! Apart from the Mushroom Garden type bits of course.

Where is that first area Greywolf? It looks a lot like I bit I was looking longingly at when we drove to the GWC this summer.

[epocian]

I thought the area adjacent to Grass Wood has been mapped and an event was intended to be put on last year but a change of ownership of the shooting rights scotched it.

[paul]

Where is that first area Greywolf? It looks a lot like I bit I was looking longingly at when we drove to the GWC this summer.

Do a googlemaps search for the wonderfully named Bettyhill (Thurso)

[Mrs H]

Oh Bettyhill - the whole stretch from there to Durness and then across and down to Sandwood Bay - what can you say except perhaps: "There are places I remember all my life........"

[LostOldTimer]

[quote="Neil M40"]Grass Wood, Grassington. Like the best bits of Malham/Attermire but with trees on. Possibly the best area in Yorkshire, although only large enough for a middle race. There is plenty of adjacent moorland to extend it.quote]

Yes, having walked through Grass Wood many years ago - I thought Why havent we orienteered here yet? I think the area to the north - Conistone was planned; but Grass Wood and the grassy moorland above would be super.

Not too far away - Hack Fall Woods (Claro area) - a very nice, small wood with old follies is lovely.

[LostOldTimer]

Also: Helbeck Wood and associated intricate open land, moorland, limestone pavement, immediately north and west of Brough, Cumbria, and the A66, probably in BorderLiners territory? As far as I know, partly a Military training area.

[awk]

I thought Why havent we orienteered here yet? I think the area to the north - Conistone was planned; but Grass Wood and the grassy moorland above would be super.
Not too far away - Hack Fall Woods (Claro area) - a very nice, small wood with old follies is lovely.

Conistone is scheduled for the Dales Trophy this autumn. Hack Fall was used in the early days of Airienteers - indeed I'm fairly certain it was used for our first event in 1969. As with quite a few areas up there, there are access issues with the landowners. Very steep and muddy though.

[seabird]

Grass Wood, Grassington. Like the best bits of Malham/Attermire but with trees on. Possibly the best area in Yorkshire, although only large enough for a middle race. There is plenty of adjacent moorland to extend it.

I assume we can't get permission for it because of its status as a nature reserve. I am not aware of there ever having been a map. Maybe Seabird could confirm?

I don't know of anyone who has made an enquiry in recent years. You've identified the reason (the nature reserve) for our reticence. Bastow Wood - up on the plateau is particularly good. Together they would make a great Middle distance area.

[EddieH]

I am always looking down on West Coastal areas with scrubby natural woodland and fantasising about orienteering there - so many that I cannot be specific. One area I do think looks great is the northern lower slopes of Liathach - massive boulders and intricate moraine (a bit like Kernwaldwithout the trees if anyone's been there in Switzerland)

All these areas have in common no car parking and no likelihood of ever being mapped. Just as I'd like to have a Scottish 6 day on the Isle of Harris, but I can't see that it'll ever be.

[Darwin]

Anywhere within a 20 mile radius of Lochinver looks amazing. As do innumerable areas down the far NW coast as Eddie says. Are there any O maps at all of that region N of Ullapool?

[EddieH]

There's a map at Plocton, but this is still well south of Ulapool. Way back in the 80s there was some consideration to having an Ulapool 6 days. We have a great forest near Lairg, possibly some good forest left at Lael and a huge richness of open terrain available.

[ryeland of doom]

Abernethy. (Birds!)

Coll must have some great terrain - gneiss and dunes.