Bedford's Park Regional & SWELL

Introduction
Regional ranking event incorporating the 4th event of the 2026/27 SWELL (South & West Essex Local League) season.

The event is open to orienteers of all abilities and is suitable for newcomers.

Note: BOF insurance rules changed on 1st Jan 2026, so non members will no longer be covered by BOF public liability insurance, and will be competing at their own risk. Details here. Competitors are encouraged to join an Orienteering club, and new HAVOC members will be eligible to free entry at this, and subsequent HAVOC Forest events. Details for how to join HAVOC are here.

If you enter this event as an Independent, and subsequently join HAVOC, then we will refund your entry to this event. Please contact the membership secretary to avail yourself of this offer.

Terrain Description
Parkland with areas of mature woodland, deer park, small fishing lake, open and rough open areas.

Map (1:7500, 5m contours) updated in autumn 2026. A4-sized maps pre-printed on waterproof paper with control descriptions written for White & Yellow, pictorial for other courses. Loose descriptions will be available at the start.

Parking
Entrance off Broxhill Road, Havering-atte-Bower, north of Romford, RM4 1QH (nearest postcode along Broxhill Road). Note; approaching from the East, Satnav's will often flag this post code too early, so continue along Broxhill road, until you reach the main park entrance.

Use the main Country Park entrance, and the car park is at the end of the drive. Parking is free (included in the land access charge).

What3words: bumps.rust.chief

From the Gallows Corner roundabout (now fully reopened), A12/A127 junction (about 3 miles west of J29 of M25), turn north (3rd exit) along Straight Road. Go straight on at two mini-roundabouts and at the third roundabout, continue straight onto Broxhill Road, towards Havering-atte-Bower, entrance to the entrance to the park is on the left in about 1 mile.

Other routes: Approach along B175 towards Havering-atte-Bower. Park is sign-posted from the village green, turning where there is a sharp bend in the B175 road.

Public transport by 499 bus from stop V outside Romford Railway Station, towards Gallows Corner/Tesco. Take the bus to the Helmsdale Road stop (about 14 mins) then walk east along Lower Bedfords Road. The pedestrian entrance to the park is about 400m east of Risebridge Chase. Please keep to the main track within the park; the car park/event centre is behind the Visitor Centre (about 1.5K, walk from the bus stop). Buses run every 30 minutes on a Sunday. More information: www.tfl.gov.uk

Times
Enquiries: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Starts: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Courses close: 2:00 pm

The Start & Finish are close to the main car park.

Course Info
Full range of courses suitable for adult and junior beginners, and experienced orienteers.

Indicative course details, subject to final planning are:

White 1.5km
Yellow 2.4km
Orange 3.0km
Light Green 3.4km
Short Green 3.3km
Green 4.3km
Blue 6.2km
Brown 8.5km

Help and coaching will be available for beginners and improvers.

SIAC will be enabled. However, all Competitors will need to punch the Check, Start and Finish controls.

Entry Fees
Entry in advance via RaceSignUp. Entries close 4pm, Saturday 21st November.

Standard entry (until midnight, Sunday November 15th)

Seniors/groups: £11 (£2 supplement for non-British Orienteering members)

Juniors (under 21): £4

Late entry (from Monday November 16th)

Seniors/groups: £13 (£2 supplement for non-British Orienteering members)

Juniors (under 21): £4

SI ‘dibber’ electronic timers will be used. SI ‘dibber’ hire fee £1, or use your own.

Note: Car parking is free, and covered in the land access charge.

Facilities
Toilets and cafe available at the nearby visitors centre. Please don't wear muddy boots or studs/spikes in the Visitor Centre.

A children's play area, and a deer enclosure are also available for younger visitors.

Contacts
Organiser: Colin Jackson (secretary@orienteering-havoc.co,uk)

Planner: Mike Muggeridge

Controller: Graham Batty