Permanent Orienteering Courses (POCs)
in eborienteers' & nearby areas

Updated September 2004

The Eborienteers area covers York, Scarborough, Selby, Ryedale and south Hambleton (Easingwold and north to Thirsk).

There is a variety of POCs in the area.
The courses are listed below grouped by size and potential use:

Large	Areas used for club Colour-Coded and Badge events. Those on the North York Moors offer substantial physical as well as navigational challenge
Medium	Suitable for training exercises (eg map-memory) and events for beginners/improvers
Small	Most of the areas are in towns and can provide good introductory exercises for beginners, school groups and families. The areas can also be adapted for training exercises for improvers (e.g. map-memory)
	School Grounds	Telephone Numbers

To find full details of a course click on the map-name. (You can get back to the list by pressing the BACK button on your browser toolbar.) For each course a contact name is given to enable a potential user to obtain maps etc. Many POC maps for the York area are available in small quantities from the City of York Reference Library. Larger quantities can be obtained from Michel Johnson (01653-648311).

City of York Council Leisure Services has laminated maps which can be loaned to schools and groups, contact Allison Graham for Rowntree Park and West Bank Park, Kim Blavins for Hull Road Park and Rawcliffe Bar Country Park. No laminated maps are available for the larger POCs - Knavesmire, Hob Moor, Walmgate Stray - but the map-packs should be available from the Library.Phone numbers for the main contacts are listed here. Map-packs normally cost £1.00 / £2.00 each. Directions are given for finding many of the areas in and around York, starting from the city centre. For additional help and advice on the suitability of the areas for various ages and levels of experience, contact the Eborienteers Development Officer (EBOR DO), Michel Johnson, on 01653 648311, (Church House, Terrington, York, YO60 6PS).
Note: From time to time unavoidable minor changes to the physical course may lead to discrepancies with the map you have purchased e.g. control markers may get lost or the objects they are attached to may get totally removed by the landowners. Check here, or Map Corrections under the description of your course, before you travel, for details of known changes to markers or the status of each course. For some of the courses the latest set of notes to accompany the maps is available from this web site as a M/S Word document (.DOC) at Notes.

Summary Lists

**Large Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps
York	Knavesmire	1:10,000	23	EBOR DO
Helmsley	Duncombe Park	1:10,000	30	Duncombe Park Visitor Centre
Pickering	Dalby Forest	1:10,000	20	Forest Enterprise or Roberts Mapping
Pickering	Cropton South Spiers House Keldy	1:10,000	40 20 15	Spiers House Campsite or Roberts Mapping. Keldy Cabins
Scarborough	Oliver's Mount	1:10,000	21	Sports Centre
Thirsk	Silton		22	Hambleton DC or CLOK DO

**Medium Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps
York	Hob Moor	1:5,000	22	EBOR DO
York	University of York	1:5,000	20	EBOR DO
York	Walmgate Stray	1:5,000	17	EBOR DO
Helmsley	Duncombe Park	1:10,000	30	Duncombe Park Visitor Centre
Pickering	Dalby Forest	1:10,000	20	Forest Enterprise
Selby	Barlow Common	1:5,000	19	EBOR DO
Selby	Bishop Wood Revised 2001	1:10,000	20	EBOR DO
Beverley	Bishop Burton Agricultural College	1:5,000	60	The College

**Small Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps
York	Hull Road Park	1:2,500	19	Park Rangers
York	Rawcliffe Bar Country Park	1:2,500	20	Park Rangers/EDO
York	Rowntree Park	1:2,000	13	Park Rangers
York	West Bank Park	1:2,000	21	Park Rangers
York	St Nicholas Fields Urban Nature Park	1:3,000	15	Ranger (01904-430402)
Malton	Orchard Field	1:2,000	12	Malton Tourist Info
Scarborough	Falsgrave Park	1:2,500	18	Sports Centre
Goole	West Park	1:2,500	20	EBOR DO
Selby	Hambleton Hough	1:2,500	16	EBOR DO

Maps for the following permanent courses are available in advance by post from Roberts Mapping (Pinfold, Low Catton, YO41 1ED. Tel 01759-371258, Fax 01759-371621). Each map is drawn on a scale of 1:10,000 and overprinted with the controls and sealed in a polythene bag ready to be used in the forest. The prices quoted are post free.

Location	Price
Spiers House, Cropton Forest (1998)	£2.00
Newclose Rigg, Dalby Forest (1999)	£2.00
Cropton South, Cropton Forest (1995)	£2.00
Duncombe Park, Helmsley (1995)	£1.50
Keldy Cabins, Cropton Forest (1998)	£2.00
Silton Forest, Northallerton (1997)	£1.50

Additonal maps are available from Roberts Mapping for more general biking, hiking and leisure activities. These are produced at a scale of 1:20,000 and are based on photogrammetric plots, newly surveyed by experienced mappers and drawn using computer technology. They can be supplied sealed in laminate for greater ease of use and durability.

Location	Price
Cropton Forest (1998) Laminated - double sided A4 Paper	£2.50 £1.50
Staindale, Dalby Forest (1999) Laminated - A4	£2.00

Map Notes

For a number of courses the latest versions of the notes to go with Map Packs are available for download from the site as M/S Word (.DOC) documents.

Detailed Descriptions

**Large Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps
York	Knavesmire	1:10,000	23	EBOR DO
Access is open, but, before visiting, groups should contact the City of York Council Events Officer to find out if there is any conflict of use (eg York Races, rallies, exhibitions). The area is flat, mostly open but with some woodland. A few markers are on drain-covers and careful navigation is required to find these. Map Corrections Take the Tadcaster Road out of York. Just after the Posthouse Hotel turn left along Cherry Lane. Keep straight on down an unmade track to reach a car park.
Helmsley	Duncombe Park	1:10,000	30	Duncombe Park Visitor Centre
Access is restricted to Park opening hours, there is a parking charge. Special arrangements can be negotiated by groups. The area is a mixture of parkland (with cattle except in winter), forest (with some old army concrete bases) and with some steep slopes. There is also a 1:5000 map of the parkland and part of the woodland. This provides a POC for juniors (eg schools) with additional markers (37 on the map). Maintenance : Duncombe Park Estate, Ebor DO.
Pickering	Dalby Forest	1:10,000	20	Forest Enterprise or Roberts Mapping
Access is open. This is a new location. Start either at Swairdale or at the picnic field/car park close to the Adderstone. The excellent road/track/path network is ideal for a family walk with a purpose. Many markers are accessible to wheelchair users and youngsters on bikes. For the more energetic there are markers off paths offering routes across valleys and through the forest. There is also a separate POC available to schools (map at 1:5000). There is also a separate POC, suitable for juniors and mapped at 1:5000. Maps can also be obtained from the Low Dalby Visitor Centre when it is open.
Pickering	Cropton South Spiers House	1:10,000	40 20	Spiers House Campsite or Roberts Mapping.
	Keldy		15	Keldy Cabins
Cropton South is suitable for those with orienteering experience - most markers are off paths and many use point features. Beginners are advised to undertake map-walks, star exercises and short loops planned and supervised by a tutor. Access is restricted in autumn/winter during the shooting season. Keldy and Spiers House are suitable for beginners and operate from the cabins and the campsite respectively. Continuing forest work has led to changes in runnability in some areas. Approval for access together with warning of forest work should be obtained from Forest Enterprise. Updating of all these POCs is in progress.
Scarborough	Oliver's Mount	1:10,000	21	Sports Centre
Access is open. The area is a high ridge with woodland round the sides and including The Mere to the west. Much of the area is runnable. Wear studded shoes for the slopes and be prepared for some markers being overgrown late in the year.
Thirsk	Silton		22	Hambleton DC or CLOK DO or FE
Access is open. The area is a south facing bowl of North Yorkshire forest. Contouring roads are linked by paths and tracks which can be steep. Most markers are on or adjacent to line features. A few markers have been relocated recently. There is a great bluebell display close to car park.

**Medium Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps
York	Hob Moor	1:5,000	22	EBOR DO
This is one of the York Strays, access is open. The area is flat, consisting of rough pasture (with a herd of cattle except in winter) and some trees, many of which are protected by fences. Take the Tadcaster Road out of York. Pass the Racecourse on your left and turn right on to St Helens Road at the first traffic lights. This becomes Thanet Road and The Edmund Wilson Baths are on your right. Use the Baths car park. Map Corrections
York	University of York	1:5,000	20	EBOR DO
The POC is under repair following substantial changes to the University buildings and campus. Markers are located among the many buildings and gardens and in the surrounding open areas and woodland. Half the area is on a hillside. Access is open for individuals. Groups will need to get permission.
York	Walmgate Stray	1:5,000	17	EBOR DO
Access is open. The Stray is mainly rough pasture (with cattle outside winter). The area was remapped in 2000 and markers were added. There are wooded copses and many ditches. Walmgate Stray adjoins the University and is mostly flat. Take the Hull Road and turn right at the Melrosegate traffic lights (there is a petrol station on the right). At the top of the hill (University Road) turn right and park down a lane (no through road) at the edge of the University campus. There is a gate on to the Stray at the bottom of the lane. Map Corrections
Selby	Barlow Common	1:5,000	19	EBOR DO
Access is restricted to the period 1/9 - 21/3. The Common is a Nature Reserve managed by Selby District Council. All users should obtain permission from the Ranger (01757 617110). The area is largely flat grassland (no cattle) with surrounding woodland and lakes. Map Corrections
Selby	Bishop Wood	1:10,000	20	EBOR DO	Notes
The area is heavily wooded and the dense undergrowth renders it no longer suitable for Colour Coded events. However by using the irregular network of paths tutors can use Bishop Wood for schools exercises and for training for improvers. Parts of the area can become waterlogged. Forest Enterprise can advise on any felling operations / hazards. Map Corrections
Beverley	Bishop Burton Agricl College	1:5,000	60	The College
The College buildings are in the centre of the map and these are surrounded by pasture (often with cattle), sports fields and woodland. There are horse-jumps throughout the area. Four 1:2500 maps are also available for use by school / community groups. Permission to use the area for orienteering must be obtained through Mel Sparke at the College (01964 553000).

**Small Areas**
Town	Map Name	Scale	No of Markers	Source of Maps	Notes
York	Hull Road Park	1:2,500	19	Park Rangers	Notes
Town park, flat, linear. Take the Hull Road and turn left along Melrosegate at the traffic lights (there is a petrol station on the right). The road goes downhill for a short distance and the Park is on your right. Turn right alongside the Park and park on the road (Alcuin Avenue). Parking can also be found on Flaxman Avenue and on Millfield Avenue (to the south of the Park). Map Corrections
York	Rawcliffe Bar Country Park	1:2,500	20	Park Rangers	Notes
Opened June 2001. Meadow broken up by large thickets. Take the A19 Thirsk road out of York. Use the Park and Ride car park which is on your left just before the outer ring road. Map Corrections
York	Rowntree Park	1:2,000	13	Park Rangers
Town park - New Course Cross the Ouse at Skeldergate Bridge. At the first roundabout turn left along Clementhorpe (in front of the Swan). Go down to the river and turn right to reach the car park.
York	West Bank Park	1:2,000	21	Park Rangers	Notes
Town park with small woodland area. On a rise. Follow the Harrogate road and take the left fork to Acomb (B1224 Wetherby Road). Go up-hill and after a short distance turn left along New Lane. The Park appears on your right. Keep on to the T-junction at the end of the Park, turn right and right again (James Backhouse Place, no through road) to the car park. Map Corrections
These are City of York Council Parks. Access is at any time during opening hours. Map-packs are laminated and can usually be borrowed for no charge from the City Council Community Leisure Officers (Park Rangers). These areas are very suitable for use by school groups and for community activity (often organised by the Rangers).
York	St Nicholas Fields	1:3,000	15	Ranger (01904-430402)
Urban Nature Park with grass, trees and thickets. The Friends of St Nicholas Fields are developing this Park and there is an Educational Centre to encourage and support school activities. A charge is usually made for map-pack hire.
Malton	Orchard Field	1:2,000	12	Malton Tourist Info
Access is open. The area is the site of an old Roman fort. It is on a slope, largely grassland and with many form-line features.
Scarborough	Falsgrave Park	1:2,500	18	Sports Centre
Access is open. The area is on a steep slope with some contour detail and some woodland. Studded shoes are advised because the grassy slopes can be very slippery. Although small, this is a good training area for improvers. Map Corrections
Goole	West Park	1:2,500	20	EBOR DO
Access is open to this flat town park close to Vermuyden School.
Selby	Hambleton Hough	1:2,500	16	EBOR DO
Access is open and the area belongs to Selby District Council. The area is a wooded hill with paths and thick undergrowth in places. Map Corrections

Map Corrections

Barlow Common & Hambleton Hough (Sep 2004)
At Barlow Common, marker Z is missing, so is marker M and its fence. There is new fencing close to marker J Michel Johnson can supply map-packs. A new POC map of Hambleton Hough is in preparation.
Bishop Wood North (Sep 2004)
All the markers are in place and their locations are now on the 2004 version of the map. There is a new info sheet reflecting the changed parking arrangements: the NW car park is no longer open to the public, either park outside the gates on the Cawood road or get the current lock combination from Forest Enterprise or use Dutchmans Car Park in the SE. The old 2001 map is still useable. Many blocked paths have been cleared by FE. Michel Johnson can supply the new map-packs. Download latest Information Sheet.
Falsgrave Park - new (Sep 2004)
Redevelopment of the Park has reached a stage where it has been possible to produce a new map and to redesign the POC. The new map (at 1:2000) is available as a map-pack from Scarborough Parks and Countryside Services (Tom Mutton, 01723 374079). Laminated maps are also available for loan to schools etc.
Knavesmire & Hob Moor (Sep 2004)
The POCs should be useable with awareness that some features are changed and with the notes in the map-packs (also on the website). The areas have not been checked recently.
Knavesmire (May 2001)
All markers are in place but with three changes following removal of a number of fenced enclosures: Z is now 50 metres south of the location shown and is on the west side of a now isolated enclosure K is now 25 metres north of the location shown, on the west side of an isolated new style enclosure (a narrow cylinder of wire mesh) Q has been repositioned on the west side of a new wooden enclosure. This is isolated and in the same place as before.
Hob Moor (May 2001)
Marker H has disappeared together with the enclosure and the trees. Markers K & V are visible but on pieces of broken fence. Otherwise all markers are in place.
Hull Road Park
Sep 2004 F, L, N and U are no longer useable. The information/exercises sheet has been amended to reflect this together with some changed control descriptions. Download latest Information Sheet.
Rawcliffe Bar (Sep 2004)
All markers are in place. A new section of fence has blocked access to T, but it is visible. All seats have been removed. Download latest Information Sheet
Rowntree Park POC (Sep 2004-new map)
Following substantial alterations to the Park, a new orienteering map and POC have been produced. The area mapped is slightly extended and most marker locations are new. The map is at 1:2000
Walmgate Stray (Dec 2004)
Four missing markers have been replaced, B H Q U. Marker E is no longer in place, either put out a temporary marker or use control U instead. The stile at H is now a gate and the replaced marker is on the north side. Y was face down on the ground and it is now propped up. The marker is attached to a stake supporting the largely collapsed barbed wire fence on the east side of the trees. A modified control descriptions/exercises sheet is available for download.
West Bank Park POC (July 2002)
Some markers have been replaced and all are now in place apart from Q and S , which will not be replaced. Download latest Information Sheet

School Grounds

Most Secondary Schools and some Primary Schools in the Eborienteers area have colour maps of their grounds with markers in place and suggested exercises. Feeder schools, community groups etc should contact local schools or, for advice, the EBOR Development Officer (EDO) on 01653-648311.
Some other areas have been mapped and access may be made available by negotiation with the organisation concerned. For example, Ampleforth College has a 1:5000 map with 24 markers, and Snowball Plantation, the Scout Centre near Stockton-on-Forest has a POC.

**Telephone Numbers for Contacts**
Organisation	Telephone
City of York Council Events-Officer Community-Leisure-Officers (Park Rangers)	01904 613161 ask for Leisure Services
CLOK Development Officer (DO)	01287 624521
Duncombe Park	01439 770213
Eborienteers Development Officer (DO)	01653 648311
Forest Enterprise	01751 472771 e-mail: n.york.moors.fdo@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Roberts Mapping	01759 371258
Scarborough Sports Centre	01723 360262
Hambleton DC	01609 767203
Spiers House Campsite	01751 417591
Malton Tourist Info Centre	01653 600048
Mel Sparke, Bishop Burton College	01964 553000