Sunday 14/12/2025 – SW League Regional and NGOC League 12 – Highmeadow Woods

Highmeadow Woods cover the area of the Forest of Dean between Headless Hill to the West, and Symonds Yat to the North East. The area is dominated by two deep valleys running from the Forest of Dean plateau down to the river Wye. It's a mix of mature hardwood forest, with many blocks of conifer interspersed amongst it. There is less mountain bike use in Highmeadow than in Headless, but the ridge between the two big valleys is dominated by the large Christchurch and Bracelands campsites, and so at some times of the year there is a lot of pedestrian traffic on the larger paths. As elsewhere in the forest there is extensive bracken in places, but also plenty of runnable forest.

The edges of many tracks have a penetrable, but intimidating, band of bracken that guards entry/exit to the forest.

The threat to our forests and woodlands has never been greater. Trees and plants in Britain are now vulnerable to a range of new pests and diseases as a result of a combination of climate change and the increased movement of goods around the world. Activities in forests can increase chance of spreading a pest or disease. Everyone who visits or works on managed forests can make a difference.

Please arrive with clean footwear and clothing and clean footwear and clothing either on site or at home before visiting another woodland, “Leave the Forest in the Forest”.

A4, Scale 1:10,000, 5m contours for Brown, Blue, Green, and Red, 1:7,500 for other courses, all subject to final controlling, and based on the previous NGOC 2022 map, with minor updates 2025 for this event by Pat Macleod.

Control descriptions will be text for Yellow, text and pictorial for Orange and Red, and pictorial for all other courses. Loose control descriptions will be available in the start lanes.

Assembly is adjacent to the small field used for the Headless Hill event, and the parking track.

The Start is a 300m largely level walk from Assembly, and may be accessed directly from the parking track if you are a later starter with no cause to go the Assembly. The terrain to the left of the walk to the Start is part of the competition area, and is out of bounds to runners going to the Start. The Finish is adjacent to Assembly.

SI Touch free punching is enabled, but all runners must punch both Start and Finish.

Course details are subject to final controlling. They are however representative of the likely final details.

With the exception of the Red course, course distances are straight line between controls. For the Red course, length and climb are measured along the likely path route round the course.

We hope to have a string course on the day.

We will use SI Timing, in contact and touch free modes. All runners must however punch the Start and Finish controls.

You MUST go to Download even if you do not complete your course – we need to confirm that you are back safely!

Whistles must be carried by juniors running on their own and are highly recommended for all competitors. If you hear a distress whistle, please go to assist.

Split starts. In order to minimise demands on scarce volunteer resources we operate a 90 minute start window for this event, and we recognise that this can be a challenge for parents seeking split starts. We are happy to accommodate split starts provided:

• You let us know in advance that you need a split start. Do this by emailing the organiser, address in the introduction above
• You come early; the start team will normally be ready to allow very early starts up to 30 minutes before the published start time, so aim to be there with this in mind. We do not offer starts later than the published end of the start window.
• The shorter course runner goes first. We will not turn you away if you can't manage this, but it gives you both a better chance of beating the course closure time.

Entry Details

You should enter the course appropriate to your involvement in the NGOC league, if relevant, or whichever course you choose otherwise.

Starts: 10:30 - 12:30. Note the earlier start window.

Courses close: 14:30, meaning that you must report to download before 14:45, or risk disqualification.

SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors and Red course free

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors, Red course free

Entries are now open, and will close at midnight on Thursday 11th December.

Entry on the day is possible only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. We should be able to accept credit/debit card payments, but this is not guaranteed so bring cash just in case.

A helper discount is available for those offering to help on the day. These events don't happen without volunteers willing to help out on the day, so if you are able to do so, before signing up to enter, email Ian Prowse, Volunteer Coordinator, to let us know if you can help, and ask for the helper discount code that you can apply when entering. You don't have to be a NGOC member to help, but you do need to be a BOF member to be covered insurance wise.

The standard Fabian4 terms and conditions offer an automatic refund up to 2 months before the event date, and we do not normally vary this specification. That means that in most cases no refunds are possible, as we do not publish details until less than 2 months before the date of the event.

However, for all except large events we hold entries open until only a day or so before the event, so you can delay entry if unsure whether you can run, until very close to event day.

Dogs are allowed in the area and courses as long as they are under control and owners tidy after them.

A single toilet should be available.

The NGOC pop-up café’ will be present. Please note the café is CASH ONLY, please either bring cash (it’s a very cheap pop up cafe!) or make yourself known at enquiries to make a bank transfer, particularly if you have outstanding arrears due.

If you are interested in obtaining club kit, whilst there will not be an extensive range of sizes to try on at the event, we can have a few sizes available for specific items. You can see the options, and a size chart, on the Club Kit page. Email paul@ngoc.org.uk with details of any items, and relevant sizes, you wish to try, and we can have those available.

There are a number of crags in the area and courses are planned to minimise the risks of competitors being unsighted when approaching them.  Where necessary crags and other deep hazards such as pits will be marked with hazard tape, and you should not attempt to cross any such tape.

Do not climb on timber stacks. Be aware of crags and large boulders in the area.

Forestry contractors may be working in the area and although operations should not be taking place at weekends please be vigilant.

Orienteering is an adventure sport. All runners take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

The competition area is not heavily used by mountain bikers, but there are some trails, and competitors should take particular care when running on single track paths which are or could be mountain bike tracks, and especially if running downhill, where bikes will be approaching from behind at speed.

A risk assessment has been completed, and a copy will be held at Enquiries and Download in case competitors wish to consult it before their run.

A first aid kit and trained first aiders will be available at Enquiries and Download.

Orienteering is a great sport for young people. If you bring children, please help us to keep to our safeguarding policy and British Orienteering’s photography policy.

By entering this event, competitors agree to abide by the British Orienteering Code of Conduct.

When participating in our events/activities your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports. To see how we look after your personal data, please read our privacy policy.

NGOC follows British Orienteering’s national guidance. This provides a sensible balance between the benefits and risks associated with the taking and use of images. If you are unsure about acceptable practice, please speak to the event organiser.