Download the
Orienteering Course Maps
Download
Permanent Orienteering Course At Ardgillan Castle
Instructions for the Orienteering Course
Ardgillan castle has permanent orienteering posts installed and maps for 8 different courses. There are two types of post short wooden post and tall black post to which an orienteering plaque is attached. The plaques have a unique three character code on them. The first two characters are for comparing to the code in your control descriptions so you can see you are at the correct control. The third character can be written down on the map or on a separate “control card” so you can prove that you have found the correct control.
There are eight different courses.
Loops 1 to 3 are small loops which keep close to the castle and allow people to get a feel for orienteering. The three short courses are for beginners. The medium and long courses are longer and increasingly more technical.
Family Groups
If this is your first time orienteering choose one of the three Short course maps. Print out the map. Follow the course in order staring at the Start / Finish post on the sea side of the castle. Go to each red circle/ control in order and find the post. Then check that the first two letters/numbers match the code on the control descriptions on the map. Next note down the third character on the map or on a separate “control card”.
When finished check that the characters you noted match the characters in the answer sheet.
Teachers
Before visiting Ardgillan Castle spend some time to familiarise the students with orienteering map symbols and colours. There are also activities which can take place in your school which can prepare the students for orienteering. Check out www.orienteering.ie for more details.
Download the Guidelines for Teachers/Leaders for Orienteering Activity.
