Sence Valley Forest Park (FE)

Terrain: Sence Valley Forest Park is a wonderful example of how a disused opencast colliery can be transformed into a diverse wildlife haven. After being planted with over 98,000 trees this 150-acre site was opened to the public in September 1998 as part of The National Forest. The park contains woodland, lakes linking to the River Sence, grassland and a wildflower meadow.

Parking: Parking Charge of £1.70 for all day parking.  Use phone app ringo, no machines on site. 

Safety: Refer to the Safety advice sheet.

Groups:  make sure you have agreed your plans with Forestry England (FE) They will advise on safety aspects. Forest England has access charges for groups using the woodland for competitions or large training exercises, eg a whole school class. Normally FE won't allow use of the area from March to August for environmental reasons and requests to use the area must be made well in advance.

Score Courses: These courses are finding as many as you can in 45 minutes, with penalties for lateness. These are good courses for groups as you can all start at once and get back about the same time.

For further information and known issues relating to controls, please see the Leicestershire Orienteering Club 

Missing Plaques: July 2022 23,27 removed.  November 2022 31, 47 reported not found. March 2024 58 on white not found as building removed..

 In summer it's likely some posts in the woodland will be obscured by  vegetation 

Until there is a new map these courses are not recommended for beginners.

Map updated: Autumn 2019, revised map planned for lsummer 2024.

Courses  Updated June 2020

Course

Controls

/Length

(km)

Suitable for

Estimated
Time

(mins)

White

11

/1.9

Beginner most children

will need shadowing

15-30

Yellow

11

/2.4

A child with some experience

25-50

Orange

10

/2.8

Adult beginner

/confident junior

30-55

Light Green

12

/2.8

Confident Adult or

experienced junior

30-60

Green

15

/3.5

Experienced Adult,

very experienced junior

35-70

Score Easy

24

Adult or child,

beginners may find

some sites too hard.

45

Score

24

Adult or child,

beginners will find

some sites too hard.

45

Lengths of courses shown are in straight lines between controls, and the estimate of times are for someone running to someone walking. Both will vary depending on your route choice and ability.

Download a full map legend at Legend

Hide full details
Show full details
Available Maps
check lettersFREE
GreenFREE
Light GreenFREE
OrangeFREE
Safety Risk Assessment AdviceFREE
Score 45FREE
Score EasierFREE
WhiteFREE
YellowFREE
Go to Checkout
Further Information
Region: East Midlands
Nearest Town: Ibstock
Postcode: LE67 6NW
Carpark: LE67 6NW
Forest & more rural
Suitable for beginners
Suitable for intermediate orienteerers
Suitable for advanced orienteerers
Available Maps
check lettersFREE
GreenFREE
Light GreenFREE
OrangeFREE
Safety Risk Assessment AdviceFREE
Score 45FREE
Score EasierFREE
WhiteFREE
YellowFREE
Go to Checkout
Start
Finish
Shelter
Woodland Control
Other Things to do in the Area

For more things to do at Sence Valley visit the National Forest .

VOC Details

Courses under test  but suspended until we improve the map.

Use the Maprun app. Maprun app Garmin watch owners may wish to use the sister app MaprunG, you will need a printed course map.

Your phone (watch) beeps when you get close to the feature (a virtual control detected by your GPS signal). Upload your results to see your position on the leaderboard.

We suggest you download a map from here but you can just use the one on your smartphone.

Course

Length

(km)/

Controls

Expected

Time

(minutes)

Suitable

for

Yellow

 

20 -40

Beginners,

Orange   30-60 For those with some experience

Beginners there are a couple of features to help you navigate: Before the start the location and track are always shown. Once you pass the start the location and track disappear ... unless you have enabled 'show track' or 'show location'. These features can be enabled in 'Options and settings' before you start. For some courses, we had added a ‘show me’ feature. Where it's available there is a button on the screen but you can only use it a few times.

To access the maprun map scan the QR code on the map.  You will need to enter the PIN from the map. When you get near the start your time begins once your phone beeps.

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