There are no physical controls and the event uses the MapRun mobile phone application. You can either use the recently released MapRun6 version of the app (free download from iTunes app store for iOS devices or Google Play Store for Android devices), or the older MapRunF version of the app. You can also optionally pair with the MapRunG app on compatible Garmin watches (available from Garmin Connect IQ) to avoid needing to carry a smartphone.

If you want to "start anywhere" as described below you need the MapRun6 app, or version V4.8.8+ of the MapRunF app.

The advantage of this activity is that it follows the rules with regard to social distancing and you can do it at your convenience at any time. You simply need to download the MapRunF app onto your smart phone, find the event, print the map (you can use the map on your phone but may find this limiting) and go to the start. As you run around the area, your phone will ping when you arrive at a control.

Follow this link for a more comprehensive explanation of the procedure from British Orienteering.

It is a 90 minute score event with 20 controls and is therefore closer to a ‘long O’ event with long legs, ideal for a training run. It will be available until further notice.

The course can be found in the UK/County Durham/Durham folder of the MapRun app on your mobile device.

Visit as many controls as you can, in any order, in the given time limit. All controls are worth 20 points with a 10 point penalty per minute or part of overtime. The winner will be the person to get the most controls in the shortest time. The shortest route to get all the controls is just over 15km, but you can do as much or as little as you like!

The first option is to start at the start triangle marked on the map, which is the path junction on the Bishop Auckland branch of the railway route. Then proceed to collect as many controls as you can in the 90 minutes, and return to finish point at the west end of the car park.

The second option is to pick any control marked on the map as your start point. In that case the start triangle marked on the map should be treated as an extra regular control point to be visited (and if using the app on your phone it will be displayed as such - control 21 - once you have started).

Start at your chosen start control, collect as many controls as you can in the time, including the start triangle control if you wish, and return to finish at the same control you started at. As you approach the start (whether that be the marked start triangle, or another start control of your choosing) your phone should 'ping', which indicates that you have started. The finish is back wherever you started.

Mostly on quiet rural footpaths, public rights of way and some small sections of woodland. Many of the paths are now very muddy owing to recent weather and increased usage, so wear appropriate footwear. There are some roads to be crossed that carry heavier traffic – so please take care. Most paths are unlit, so you would need a torch if it is dark.

Please observe all rights of way and DO NOT cross fields other than by marked paths.

West Durham - OpenOrienteeringMap - Scale 1:15,000, 10m contours, produced from OpenStreetMap.

The map with course can be downloaded and printed from here or viewed within the app.