Thompson and Queens parks

Thompson, Queens and Bank Hall parks are a trio of adjacent parks near Burnley town centre. Thompson park is an Edwardian park with boating lake and miniature railway. Queens is a formal Victorian park with a range of outdoor sports facilities. Both parks are beautifully maintained by the Burnley Parks and Green Spaces team. Between the two is Bank Hall park, an area of open parkland that was reclaimed from the site of Burnley's largest colliery in 1970. 

Bank Hall is connected to Thompson park by a footpath that runs along the north side of the Brun river. Queens is the other side of Queen Victoria Road from Thompson and Bank Hall parks. Please note dogs are not allowed in Thompson or Queens park but are allowed in Bank Hall.

The permanent orienteering course has 26 controls spread over the three parks. At each control there is a post with it's identifying letter. There are 4 suggested line courses and an 'all controls' map which you can use to make up your own courses. Alternatively you can use this map as a score course where you visit as many controls as possible in a set amount of time, ie one hour.

You can just use the downloaded maps on your phone or if you can, print the map before you go so you can have it in your hand. Just remember to put it in a clear waterproof bag so the ink does not run if you drop it.

The line course maps available are:

• Queens                                            1.2km      9 controls
• Thompson easy                                0.6km       6 controls
• Thompson medium                           1km         11 controls
• Thompson and Bank Hall long            2.5km      14 control

The map:

Before starting study and understand your map

1. The map scale is 1:4,000. Thus 1cm on the ground is equivalent to 40m on the ground. The contour interval is 2.5m.

2. Interpretation: The map legend on the right of the map describes what each symbol on the map represents.

3. Orientation : Align roads paths or other line features on the map to features on the ground. Or, if you have a compass, align magnetic north ( blue vertical lines on the map ) to the north needle of your compass.

4. Position: Follow your progress on the map. Know where you are at all times

5. Out of bounds: Do not trespass into surrounding areas or those marked with purple cross hatching.

6. Control post positions: These are marked on the map by purple circles centered on the feature.

7. Line courses: Follow the numbers of your chosen course in order. The purple line joining controls just shows the straight line distance between controls but you will have to find the route between controls that best suits you.

8. Control descriptions: The list of control descriptions on the left of each map tells you what feature you are looking for e.g. Path junction, tree etc

9. Control letters: These are on the top left of the red and white marker on the control posts and confirm that you have successfully navigated to the correct location.

10. Start and finish: These are marked by a purple triangle and a double circle respectively. In Queens park the start is at the top of the steps leading down to the southerly bowling green. In Thompson park the start is near the Boathouse, it is just by the notice board to the west of the boathouse. 

Have fun !