Orienteering

This fantastic sport offers many health benefits, but the real attraction is that it is fun! Being outdoors, walking or running through the forest and fields will improve your fitness levels, whilst challenging your mind.  

Try orienteering at Moors Valley Country Park and Forest

An opportunity to learn the basic skills of orienteering with a member of Wimborne Orienteering Club. The session will give you the information needed to help you read a map, identify features, practice pacing and have a go putting your skills into practice. Suitable for children aged 8 and over.

If arriving by car, please park in the main Moors Valley Country Park car park and walk to meet your instructor at the Golf and Activity Centre. Sessions run from 1:30pm to 3pm and cost £4 per person. Car parking included.

Booking is essential by calling 01425 480811. 

Timetable of dates for 2025:

• Saturday 26 April
• Saturday 28 June
• Saturday 6 September

Please complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire before you attend. 

Free family orienteering 'have a go' events

Come along to experience what orienteering is with your family and friends. A chance to learn some skills and put them into practice, either walking, jogging or running the routes. No need to book, just turn up on the day and have fun.

Please complete your Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire before you attend. 

Permanent orienteering courses across Dorset 

Moors Valley Country Park and Forest  

Within the beautiful surroundings of Moors Valley Country Park, this permanent course gives you the opportunity to explore the forest by either foot or mountain bike. Get your orienteering map from the Visitor Centre or Golf and Activity Centre shop for £3.  

Avon Heath Country Park  

You can purchase an orienteering map at the Visitor Centre and embark on an explorer challenge to find the posts on your marker card. A fun way for you and the family to explore the heath and get more active!  

BytheWay Recreation Field, Wimborne 

Download MapRun and find an online map for this area. You can then use your phone to have a go. The courses are virtual and when you get near a marker your phone will ping, letting you know you are in the right place.  

Blandford Milldown

The information board with start/finish locations is in the Milldown Car Park, Whitecliff Mill Hill, Blandford, DT11 7SH.

You can borrow a map from the Whitecliff Surgery, Information Centre or Blandford library all during opening hours, or preferably, download and print your own from Wimborne Orienteering Club website.

Blandford Stour Meadows 

The information board with the start/finish is situated in the Marsh and Ham Car Park, West Street, Blandford, DT11 7AW.

Parking charges apply, near the Information Centre and toilets. 

You can borrow a map from the Whitecliff Surgery, Information Centre, Blandford Library and the Black Cactus Café, all during opening hours.

Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth 

The permanent orienteering course consists of three trails for you to complete. One is a short course of approximately 1kilometre, one is a medium course of 1.3 kilometre and one is score trail where the controls can be found in any order. You can borrow a map from the café.

Littlemoor, Weymouth 

Littlemoor Park is a small park off Louviers Road on top of a ridge on the edge of Lorton Meadows. The permanent orienteering course noticeboard is now in place outside the Top Club at the start/finish point. You can view the map by visiting Wimborne Orienteers 

Durlston Country Park

Have a go at this fun outdoor sport with 3 graded, self-led trails at Durlston, from 2 to 5 kilometre. You can purchase a pack from Durlston Castle for £3. Download a map or download the “MapRun6” app and search for Durlston. 

Studland Dunes

This is a delightful beach area with grass covered dunes and sandy pathways leading out from the National Trust car park at Knoll Beach. Maps can be purchased from the National Trust kiosk on the beach. 

Bridport Wayfarers Course 

This is a 90-minute course aimed at walkers, newcomers and complete beginners This is a 'score' course made up of 30 controls. You can download a map by visiting Wimborne Orienteers.

Thorncombe Wood

The permanent course uses fixed markers. You can do it simply with just a pen or pencil. Control markers are fixed to wooden structures like gates, posts and benches.  

Gillingham

At the Chantry Field, the permanent orienteering course has 3 courses. You can borrow a map from the library or from Waitrose.   

Sherborne

Borrow a map from Sherborne Library or Sherborne Town Council Reception area during opening hours, or download from the MapRun app. 

Nothe Gardens, Weymouth

Car parking is available at Nothe Gardens (charges apply). The information board and start/finish is shown on the map. The MapRun app can be used to record your course.

Download the map from Wimborne Orienteering club website.

Portland Underhill

The Portland Underhill courses start and finish in the Victoria Gardens, Portland, DT5 1AH.

The permanent course noticeboard is now in place by the south-west entrance to Victoria Park at the start/finish point. You can download a pdf file of the map and print your own map and some additional instructions from Wimborne Orienteering Club website. 

Sturminster Newton

Information board with start/finish at end of North Dorset Trailway in the Station Road Car Park, DT10 1FJ. 

Parking charges apply. You can borrow a map from The Exchange during opening hours or download and print your own from Wimborne Orienteering Club website.

Find out more information on permanent orienteering courses.

Orienteering clubs in Dorset

Wessex Orienteering Club

Wessex Orienteering Club is a local group which organises a number of events throughout the year, including orienteering races, weekly training sessions on Tuesday evenings, evening street and park events and relays. 

Wimborne Orienteering Club

Wimborne Orienteers are a family friendly club providing orienteering events in Dorset and the New Forest. The club welcomes members of all ages and abilities.