Updated:

Saturday 29/11/2025 – WNL 2025-26 – Bixslade

Saturday 29/11/2025 – WNL 2025-26 – Bixslade
Updated:
Print this page

29/11/2025 - WNL 2025-26 - 3 - Bixslade

Our second race, and the third in the 2025-26 Western Night League, is back in the Forest of Dean, at Bixslade

The Western Night League is a series of 60-minute score events in the local area, taking place after dark in the winter - headtorches required! Each control is worth a given number of points: score as many points as you can by visiting controls, and get back within the time limit to avoid late penalties. There will be an easier loop of controls suitable for beginners.

Bixslade, is a short, steep-sided, valley beginning on high ground at Bixhead, near Broadwell, and descending sharply to meet the Cannop Valley at Stonyhill Green. Once a tramroad ran down the valley, though now only the stone sleepers remain. Bixslade Tram Road

Bixslade has been quarried or mined continuously for over 500 years, with an active freemine situated to the north of the area, and several quarries large and small scattered over the area, some still active, and some, like the Spion Kop quarry, named after an infamous Boer War battle, now disused.

Entries are open on Fabian4.co.uk and will close at midnight on Wednesday 26th November. Please note that touch free dibbing is disabled for this event, so if hiring a dibber do not select Touch Free hire.

Enter Online

Officials

  • Organiser/Planner: Alex Lyne

Queries? email Alex.

Directions and Parking

Parking is on the Parkend Walk forest track, with entrance/exit at Coalway. Note that this is NOT on our Parkend map; don't get confused and head for the patch of forest we call Parkend Walk!

The track is approx. 800m long with a turning circle at the end. The start/finish area is immediately beyond this point. For those arriving early (before first starts), cars can be turned facing the exit on arrival. For later arrivals it will be better to perform manoeuvres after your run.

Grid Ref: SO589100
What 3 words: lance.bricks.overpower

Nearest Postcode: GL16 7JS

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

The Area

A typical Forest of Dean mixture of very runnable deciduous forest, through to worked areas where brashings are present but not overly restrictive.

The Bixslade valley runs NW to SE and is steep sided with some intricate features.

The NE region in particularly is heavily used by mountain bikes and as such new paths appear regularly – minimal updates have been made to this area, which will likely only be visited by the hardiest of souls.

The Map

The map is A4, 1:10,000 scale, with 5m contours. Control descriptions printed on the map and available loose at Registration.

The map was updated selectively for this event. Note that as stated above some area are heavily infested with mountain bike trails, some distinct, some less so. There are no controls in these areas, and in general route choices are likely to avoid them. The more distinct ones are mapped as indistinct small footpaths using a non-IOF standard red symbol.

Start and Finish

Registration, Start and Finish are just beyond the far end of the parking track.

Courses

Standard WNL 60 minute score course with 30 controls, with variable points value.

If all controls are visited within the time an extra 1 point per 6 seconds will be awarded. Penalty of 1 point for every 6 seconds late

We will use SI Timing, in contact mode only. All runners must punch the Start and Finish and all controls; this is for safety reasons. If you are hiring a dibber DO NOT select TF hire, as it costs more but will be ineffective for this race.

There will be a route choice of Yellow standard. These allow a more simple course to be followed.

Spare headtorch and a whistle are compulsory. Leg cover strongly recommended.

Timing and Fees

Starts: From nightfall for one hour. Sunset is predicted to be 16.03, and civil twilight ends at 16:41, so starts should be possible around 16:45 pm but we will hold the start until the organiser deems a suitable level of darkness. Turn up and go when ready.

Course closes at 18:30

Fees

Pre-entry Entry on the Day Non-member Supplement
Adults £8 £10 £2
Juniors £3 £4 £1
Family (2 adults + their children) £16 £20 As above for any non-members

SI dibber hire: Standard dibber £1 Adults, Juniors free

Touch Free dibber: £2 Adults, £1 Juniors

Pre-entry is strongly preferred. Enter on Fabian4.co.uk by midnight on Wednesday 29th October.

Enter Online

Entry on the day is available only while maps last, but note the premium price to discourage this. EOD payment by cash only.

Refunds

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

Dogs are permitted on the courses, but must be ‘under control’.

Facilities

The pub of the night TBC

Safety

As with all Western Night League events it is compulsory to carry a backup light and a whistle. It is advisable to carry a mobile phone too.

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

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 Download.