01/11/2025 - WNL 2025-26 - 1 - Painswick Beacon
Welcome to the first Western Night League event of the new season, on Painswick Beacon.
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.
Painswick Beacon is the site of an ancient Iron Aged hill fort in Gloucestershire. The top is open land, an active golf course, although there will be no golf taking place at the time of this event! Steep-sided woods border the common on all sides and there are 2 minor roads which may be crossed during the event.
Entries are open on Fabian4.co.uk and will close at midnight on Wednesday 29th October.
Officials
- Organiser/Planner: Ian Phillips
Queries? email Ian, or phone 07766 193953.

Directions and Parking
The parking is at the beacon car parking area, on either side of the road crossing the Beacon.
Grid Ref: SO867117
What 3 words: sunset.groups.fact
The Area
Open exposed common, with steep sided wooded areas, with a good network of paths. Some smaller paths may be obscured by autumn leaves.
The Map
The map is A3, 1:7,500 scale, with 5m contours. Control descriptions printed on the map and available loose at Registration.
The map was updated recently for a summer relay event on the southern side of the map.
Start and Finish
Registration, Start and Finish are all in or close to the parking area.
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 and touch free modes. All runners must however punch the Start and Finish controls
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 16.39, so darkness should be around 17.15 but we will hold the start until the organiser deems a suitable level of darkness. Turn up and go when ready.
Course closes at 19:15.
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.
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 is The King's Head in Upton St Leonards, which is just over 2 miles from the event car park, straight down the hill towards Gloucester.
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.
