Event flyer: Waddesdon details v1.0
Please note:
(1) Clocks go back the night before, so don’t turn up an hour early!
(2) This event is on the Sunday (not Saturday), to avoid clashing with the Cambridge City Race.
It’s Spook season! Join us for some spooky themed orienteering courses around the Waddesdon Manor estate.
Directions / Parking
Park in the main car park for Waddesdon Manor, HP18 0JH – drive all the way around the car park until you reach the final bays. This is the point of no return. Registration will be in Bay P. Once you have signed up for a course, head for the bus stop and board a Waddesdon shuttle bus for the manor (5mins journey) – the Start is on the lawns in front of the manor. If you make it to the finish (back down by the car park), we’ll have some spooky chocolate for all finishers.
IMPORTANT NOTE: remember you must register for a course in the main car park. If you board a shuttle bus to the manor first you won’t be able to register for the orienteering up there, and you will have to come back to the car park!
Terrain Description
Waddesdon Manor will be over-run with ghosts, goblins and ghouls on Sunday 27th October for our spooky orienteering races. Follow a map to find a series of spooky themed checkpoints as fast as you can, including around the Haunted Wood and Ghoulish Grove (yes, we have renamed certain areas of Waddesdon just for this event…). You’ll encounter caves, graves and the odd pumpkin… plus various motion and sound effect props at some of the controls! The scary clown from last year may even be making a reappearance...
The Waddesdon estate consists of picturesque parkland, intricate vegetation, formal gardens and areas of dark spooky woodland. The map includes the Windmill Hill woodland too - it is rumoured (admittedly, mainly by us) that there is a coven of witches in the woods...
Start Times
Registration: 10:00 to 11:30 - Just turn up. If you dare. You can reserve a map via this page (link will be available nearer the event). Register for your course in the main car park (the Start for the courses is up by the manor – you won’t be able to register there, so don’t forget to register in the car park!).
Starts: 10:15 to 12:00 - Start whenever you want to. Be thankful we’re doing this in daylight.
Courses close: 13:00. Everyone must finish by this time. Please return to the download area in the car park by 1pm or we will have to send a group of zombies out to find you.
Courses
WICKED WHITE 1.3km (5m climb, 11 controls)
A short, easy course. For young children & goblins, this course features control points located safely on paths, with no route choices between them. Positioning of orienteering flags (controls) guide you in the right direction. Chances of survival are moderate to high.
CREEPY YELLOW 2.4km (35m climb, 14 controls)
Slightly less easy & a little longer - all controls on/near paths. More distance between controls & basic navigation along paths. Ideal for older children, <12s, families and other monsters. May pass through haunted ground. Look out for the giant cobwebs.
‘ORRIBLE ORANGE 2.9km (70m climb, 18 controls)
Longer with more route choices. Controls near line features (paths, streams). Basic use of compass. For runners, adult newcomers, families, confident juniors. Ideal for the cursed or insane amongst us. Ignore any zombies, we may never see you again.
GHOULISH LIGHT GREEN 3.4km (90m climb, 19 controls)
More challenging and for improvers and those with a bit of experience. Most controls away from paths and more route choices. Uses simple contours. For runners, improvers & those reasonably confident with map & compass. We definitely heard a werewolf in the woods whilst planning this course.
GRUESOME GREEN 4.8km (115m climb, 22 controls)
Most challenging. Only for those with experience at orienteering. More navigation and longer legs between controls. Expect hills, dark spooky woods and the odd pumpkin. For those who have run an orienteering race before and lived to tell about it. Least chance of survival. This is the only course to visit Windmill Hill woods too.
The distances for each course are measured as the crow flies; expect to run further, or for all eternity.
How To Enter
You can register in advance, or just enter on the day.
We recommend you register in advance. This reserves you a spooky map, and avoids you having to queue with other zombies and fill in a paper entry form. It's really easy, and there is no commitment. Just click on the Reserve a Map link at the bottom of this section, and fill in your details, then pay when you arrive. Maps are reserved until 11:15.
NOTE Remember we are now using SI Air. If you have your own SI Air card, then when you use the reserve map facility please go into My Runners (link is on the top line) and add the SI Air numbers (if any) for your saved runners.
If you want to enter on the day, then just come to the registration tents in Bay P of the main Waddesdon Manor car park.
Whether you have pre-registered or are entering on the day, come to the registration tents located in Bay P. There are three tents (1 is form-filling, 2 is paying, 3 is to collect your SI Air timing chip). If you have pre-registered, you can go straight to tent 2; otherwise go to tent 1.
Reserve a map
Entry Cost
£7 Adult ghouls / family vampire groups
£5 TVOC / British Orienteering members
£3 Junior monsters / students (juniors on their own, or shadowed by an adult)
£2 Helpers (open to anyone, apart from genuine zombies)
Your entry fee includes up to two special waterproof spooky themed orienteering maps, with your course printed on it, to keep as a souvenir, hire of a timing chip (SI) to register at each control point around your course, and a print out of your result and splits at the finish.
Note: you don't have to pay a Waddesdon admission fee to run one of the orienteering courses, but if you wish to visit the grounds after your run, then the normal admission applies, unless of course you're a National Trust member.
What to Bring: Running or outdoor gear suitable for running for your life. A compass might be useful although we have some to purchase for just £4. It may be responsible for keeping you alive.
Dogs and werewolves are fine to bring, but are not allowed on the Waddesdon Manor shuttle bus, so you’ll have to walk up to the manor from the main car park with Fido (around a 10 to 15 min walk).
Officials
Organiser: Mike Shires
email organiser
Helpers