Kent Orienteering League - Beacon Wood
Saturday 13th December
Entries are closed!
We have a few maps available for each course as at the standard entry closing date so we have kept entries open. We do not take entries at the event so please enter before you leave home.
Dartford Orienteers invite you to an event in this interesting country park created from a former mine. There is a good network of paths, a lake, lots of brown features such as pits and depressions and even a couple of very short stretches of railway track, one with some old wagons.
We are offering a range of courses so there's a course to suit all ages and levels of experience.
Newcomers are most welcome and guidance will be provided to get you started.
Yellow 1.9km
Entered: 15 of 20
Controls (checkpoints) are very easy to find, mostly on paths, ideal for younger children and complete beginners.
Orange 2.5km
Entered: 15 of 16
Controls are on or near paths with some route choice. Good for progressing juniors and adults who are reasonably confident reading a map.
Green 4.4km
Entered: 40 of 41
Controls are away from paths giving more navigational challenge. Suitable for those with some experience.
Blue 6.2km
Entered: 24 of 30
As technically as hard as we can make it; for experienced orienteers.
Score
Entered: 5 of 15
24 controls. Visit as many controls as you can in an hour in any order. 8 easy controls numbered in the 50's, 8 moderate difficulty numbered in the 60's and 8 more difficult numbered in the 70's
All course lengths are as measured in straight lines. Actual distance travelled will be greater.
Senior: £7/£9
Junior: £3/£4
The lower entry fee is for members of British Orienteering
Groups participating together (one entry, one map and includes chip hire)
Entry Fee: £10
For a group, only one person needs to enter but after the surname please type "+2", for example, to indicate that this is a group of 3 people participating together. One map will be issued to the group but extra maps can be provided on request to the organiser in advance at £1 each if there are still maps available for that course.
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December 2025.
Electronic punching chip hire: standard £1 and enhanced version for contactless punching £2.50
Newcomers are most welcome
The entrance to the park is off the B255 south of the village of Bean. There is a height barrier of 6feet 6 inches. There are 2 small parking areas within the country park. A new system has been introduced for car parking using RingGo parking app. The RingGo site code is: 49402. Charges are £1 for up to 2 hours £1 and £2 for over 2 hours plus a RingGo charge of 50p.
When you go on the RingGo app it gives you the option to pay either 2 Hours or All day. As long as you pay for the duration of your visit (not the time slot) before the end of the same day it will accept your payment and you will not be issued with a PCN.
If the car park does become full, you will be directed to another location with a walk about 500m to and from the event centre.
The event centre including Download is a blue tent just beyond the far end of the car park.
Look out for the tall dark blue DFOK sail banner close to the car park.
There are no toilets at Beacon Wood. The nearest toilets and refreshments are at Bluewater Shopping Centre, just over 1k from the car park.
There are two Senior and Junior fees noted above. The lower one is for members of British Orienteering. You do not have to be a member to participate and we welcome newcomers.
The area is used by walkers and dog walkers primarily. Please respect their right to be there and give everyone a wide a berth.
The start is approx. 100m from the event centre/car park. Please follow the red and white tapes. You should be able to start very soon after you are ready to go.
Electronic punching will be used and the controls will be activated for contactless punching. Hired dibbers will be available for collection at Enquiries. Everyone must punch at the start and finish as these are not set up for contactless recording.
Control descriptions are printed on the map. For those who prefer to also have loose control descriptions to save opening and refolding the map, these will be available in the start lane for those on the Green, Blue or Score courses.
The finish is approx. 100m from the event centre/car park. After finishing, please follow the red and white tapes directly to Download. Your splits print out will be handed to you. Hired SI dibbers should then be deposited in a pink container nearby.
We are grateful to Bean Parish Council for permission to use the area.
