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Thursday 16/04/2026 – Evening MapRun – Whitecroft 2026

Thursday 16/04/2026 – Evening MapRun – Whitecroft 2026
Updated:
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Thursday 16/04/2026 - Whitecroft 2026

With the lighter evenings, we kick off our second quarter races in the Forest of Dean, with a largely but not wholly forest run around Whitecroft and Pillowell. Starts will be a little earlier than previously, from 18:00, but you'll still benefit from a head torch if running later into the evening, as much of the course is in the woods. As Whitecroft nestles comfortably in the valley, you can also expect some serious climbs, so well worth taking time to work out what's up, and what's down!

Important: Please also note that as from 1 January 2026 Non-members of British Orienteering are not insured under British Orienteering’s public liability policy. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk.

Entries are now open and will close at midnight on Wednesday 15th April . Enter Online

 

Officials

Planner: Paul Dodd, Chepstow Harriers
Organiser: Pat Macleod Queries? email Pat

Directions and Parking

Parking is at Whitecroft Football Club, by kind permission of the Club. There should be enough room for everyone, but please share rides if you can.

What Three Words: ///spreading.tearfully.audio

The nearest postcode is GL15 4QJ.

Please note that the main route from Lydney to Whitecroft, Forest Row, which passes Norchard Steam Railway, is closed until late Summer. Your Satnav should be aware. If approaching from the South/Chepstow direction, you will be diverted in Lydney towards Bream and thence via Brockhollands, which is a narrow lane where care is required. If approaching from the North East/Gloucester direction, you should turn right to Viney Hill after passing through Blakeney, and thence down through Yorkley. Approaches from the North West and central Wales are not affected by the closure.

Click on the parking icon on the map below, and then the Direction icon icon to get directions to the course.

The Area

The villages of Whitecroft and Pillowell sit adjacent to the steam railway running from Lydney to Parkend, in the bottom of the Lyd valley. They are surrounded by delightful deciduous woodland much criss-crossed with paths, which are used by the locals, dog walkers, and mountain bikers. Most are reasonably dry now, but there are some wet patches here and there. The woods are fairly bracken and bramble free at the moment, giving some opportunities for shortcuts for those willing to meet the odd patch of thick stuff. That said, the path network is extensive, so path running may prove fastest in general.

Timing and Fees

Starts from 18:00 to 18:30. You should however be able to start a little earlier if you can get there earlier; we expect to be there with maps soon after 17:30 or thereabouts. If you think you will be unable to arrive and start by 18:30 please email to let us know that you will be coming later.

To guarantee a map, you will need to pre-enter via Fabian4: entries are open, and will stay open until midnight on Wednesday 11th March. A few extra maps will be available for entry on the day, but don't rely on this, and ideally bring cash, although we do now have an available card reader.


Enter Online

Entry fees: £5 seniors, plus £1 for unaffiliated (to British Orienteering) runners, £2 juniors (no added fee for unaffiliated juniors). Competitors aged under-16 must be accompanied, unless confining their routes to the forest areas or village outskirts. The fee covers a map printed on waterproof paper, post-run cake, and the organiser/planner's expenses!

Important: Please also note that as from 1 January 2026 Non-members of British Orienteering are not insured under British Orienteering’s public liability policy. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are participating at your own risk.

The course

This is a 60 minute score event using the MapRun app.

The Start and Finish are adjacent to parking.

  • Checkpoints 1-10 are worth 10 points.

  • Checkpoints 11-20 are worth 20 points.

  • Checkpoints 21-30 are worth 30 points.

Score as many points as you can in 60 minutes. If you’re late getting back, there’s a 10 point penalty per minute over.

You'll be issued with a waterproof map, A4, scale 1:10,000, before you start.

Please make sure you’ve installed MapRun before the event. If installing MapRun for the first time, select the MapRun app from your app store, and not MapRunF or MapRun6. MapRun, which is in practise Maprun v7, is now the standard app. If you haven’t used MapRun before, don’t worry – it’s easy to use, and we have full details on getting started.

You should download the course to your phone ideally before coming to the event, as sometimes there is little or no phone signal once there.

You can download the course by scanning this QR code

 or by tapping this link on your MapRun phone, or by using the Select Event button in MapRun and navigating to the UK/Gloucestershire/Current Series folder.

MapRunG (Garmin) and MapRunA (Apple) users: you do not need the event PIN number to download the course to your watch. This means you can download the course before your arrive at the event, in case there is no phone signal there.

Safety

A head torch is no longer essential, though will be of benefit in the woods for later starters.

Under 16s must be accompanied, unless keeping to the village outskirts and wooded areas. Most of the course can be covered in this manner, with only one or two crossings of the main road up the valley - where traffic is fairly light at present due to the Lydney - Whitecroft road being closed.

A first aid kit will be available at registration.

Orienteering is an adventure sport, and you are responsible for your own safety.