A permanent orienteering course is a perfect tool for getting active, enjoying the scenery and green spaces with your family, or as a chance to get outdoors for a competitive time trial.

For more information on virtual (smartphone and GPS watch) see our Virtual Orienteering page.

Permanent orienteering courses are exactly that - permanent. Checkpoints to discover are in the form of posts or plaques, in forests, heathlands, parks and green spaces across the UK. The combination of physical and mental exercise often in stunning locations is like no other, and you can find, navigate and complete courses at any time, and at your own pace. You just need to download a map to get you started!

Instructions and guidance on courses and symbols will come alongside the map of the area you choose. Use our handy interactive map and filter system to find a course near you by following these five easy steps.

1. Select the 'Region' from the dropdown list you wish to visit and/or enter in the postcode.

2. The category box shows a dropdown of different terrains in which you can choose from and these include parkland, forests, woodlands and towns and cities. If you already have an idea then select which you are interested in or alternatively, you can select the 'All' option in the category box which will show all of the variety of places in your selected region.

3. If you would prefer a route which is wheelchair accessible tick the box by clicking on it. Please note trail-O is a specialised form of orienteering, not to be confused with trail running. You don't have to tick all of the boxes, but the most important is selecting the most suitable course for you.

4. The majority of permanent courses are suitable for beginners, usually categorised as white (very easy / up to 2.5km), yellow (easy / 2.6km to 5km) or orange (medium / 5km to 7.5km), but if you want a more difficult course these are available on some areas too. Select which one you prefer or leave these boxes blank to see the whole range which is available.

5. Click on the search button – and away you go!

Please note - Getting a map: At present, many leisure centres and visitor information centres are closed, so when using the search facility for a map, make sure you pick one that you can download and that the venue is open for public access.