How to choose the right course
Orienteering events offer a range of courses, each with a different technical difficulty and length. The courses are named using colours and the chart gives an overview of what you can expect from each colour.
Further details of each colour can be found below.
Note that running over orienteering terrain will take significantly longer than it would on a road/track of the same distance.
WHITE
Difficulty Length
1 1
All on paths, direction of next control always indicated by flag.
Suitable for young children of 7 to 8 who should be accompanied
YELLOW
Difficulty Length
2 2
Routes along obvious line features e.g. earth banks, fences as well as paths.
Decision points introduced
ORANGE
Difficulty Length
3 3
Controls on features a little way off paths or on line features. Route choice introduced.
Adult beginners shouldn't attempt anything harder
RED
Difficulty Length
3 4
A longer, not too technical, course aimed at adult beginners and improvers
LIGHT GREEN
Difficulty Length
4 3
Transitional course for improving skills.
Navigation skills required and interpretation of contours
GREEN
Difficulty Length
5 3
For those with good navigational skills but with limited energy or running speed
BLUE
Difficulty Length
5 4
Longer than Green and shorter than Brown
BROWN
Difficulty Length
5 5
For very fit and competent navigators who are usually 16 plus
BLACK
Difficulty Length
5 5
For very fit and competent navigators who are usually 16 plus