Welsh League Hafod

Date of event: Sun 23rd Feb 2020
Level of event: Regional (C)
Nearest town: Pontrhydygroes

Results

The event is open to everyone, so come and give orienteering a go!

Ideal for all ages and abilities, in search of outdoor adventure with courses from 2.0k to 6.5k, for runners, walkers and also for families with children! Loads of help is available from our friendly Welcome Team and no experience is necessary.

New to orienteering? It's a trail walk/run (and often an off-trail run!) with a difference - an orienteering race doesn't follow a set route. Instead you have to visit a series of checkpoints and register each one with an electronic timing chip. The checkpoints are marked by flags on the ground and may be along paths, fences, earth banks, streams or anywhere in the woods or around the woods. The challenge is to race between each one, choosing your own route between the checkpoints, using a special orienteering map (which you get to keep too). Why not come and give it a go?

Terrain

Hafod has varied terrain and includes a rough open area, forestry plantation and areas of old deciduous woodland of the Hafod estate either side of the steep-sided valley of the river Ystwyth. There is a well-developed path network. In recent years there has been considerable windblow adding to the challenge of route choice for the more technical courses. It is a recognised as one of the finest examples in Europe of a Picturesque landscape with impressive walks and views laid out by Thomas Johnes. Many thanks for permission to Natural Resources Wales who own most of the area and manage the estate in partnership with the Hafod Trust and Mr Lewis the grazier. Please note the amount of climb when choosing your course and be prepared for some areas of brambles on the longer off path courses.

Course description

Yellow Courses use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams with the controls visible from the linear feature. They are suitable for newcomers, under 12’s and family groups.

Orange Courses progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. There are line features to follow including paths, walls, fences and streams but with the option to cut corners. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.

Light Green Courses are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and ‘point’ features away from linear features. Learning how to use contours, compass, distance estimation and route choice. Planned with a ‘collecting linear feature’ beyond the control to help you if you overshoot and go too far.

Green, Blue and Brown Courses are more physically and technically demanding course using interpretation of contours, recognition of indistinct features, concentration over long distance.

Location:

Nearest town: Pontrhydygroes
Grid Ref:
Postcode: SY246D
Latitude: 52.34343
Longitude: -3.82309
Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Officials:

Planner: Gabriella Walsh
Organiser: Gabriella Walsh
Controller: Kate O'Sullivan

Info for dog owners

Dogs not permitted - sheep in lamb at start and finish of courses

Facilities

Toilet in Hafod estate office

Image Gallery

Click the image for a larger version.

Hafod

Mid Wales Orienteering Club