Run the Oxford Parks #5 - Headington Hill/Oxford Brookes
Schedule
Sat Jul 11 2026 at 10:15 am to 01:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Headington Hill Hall | Oxford, EN
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It's back for 2026! Run the Oxford Parks - a series of 5 adventure races around the picturesque parks and areas around Oxford.We give you a map and a timing chip, and you have to race around a series of checkpoints. There's a twist though - there's no set route, and you choose your own route between each checkpoint, using your map!
Please note this event is pre-entry only – there will be no entry at the event. Enter in advance here: (link coming shortly).
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DIRECTIONS / PARKING
Parking TBC, although please try and use park and ride if possible. Race HQ will be at Oxford Brookes campus (Headington Hill Hall campus, not Gipsy Lane).
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REGISTRATION AND START TIMES
Start a course any time from 10.15am to 11.45am.
Courses close at 1pm - everyone must report back to the Download tent by 1PM, whether finished or not.
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TERRAIN
There will be a variety of terrain around the courses! Headington Hill Park is very pleasant and quite wooded. We're also using the Oxford Brookes campus, by kind permission, with its array of buildings, alleys and open areas. This will include the Headington Hill Hall campus, student villages and the Gipsy Lane campus.
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COURSES
Note the distances are straight line distances between the controls; you'll run further!
LIGHT GREEN: ~4.0k. Navigational difficulty: 4/5.
Ideal for runners looking to try orienteering - this course is like an unmarked trail race. A fairly easy course. Some navigation, but not too tricky! You'll probably run 5k actual distance with this course.
RED: ~4.0k. Navigational difficulty: 3/5.
Ideal for runners looking to try orienteering - this course is like an unmarked trail race. Fairly easy, some navigation, but not too tricky! You'll probably run 5 to 5.5k actual distance with this course.
ORANGE: ~2.5k. Navigational difficulty: 3/5.
Ideal course for families, adult newcomers, and juniors with some experience. Reasonably easy, with some navigation required. Probably around 3.5k actual distance, depending on your route choices!
YELLOW: ~1.5k. Navigational difficulty: 2/5.
Easy. Short and suitable for juniors or supervised newcomers. Controls on or near paths.
WHITE: ~1.0k. Navigational difficulty 1/5.
Very short and easy, with controls on every junction, so little navigation required. For young children.
SCORE COURSE: Find as many controls as you can and get to the finish within 60 minutes. Controls are worth 10, 20 or 30 points. Lose 10 pts per minute (or part of minute) late. A fast and furious race!
If you're a runner trying orienteering for the first time, the Red course is ideal - it's fairly easy, navigation-wise, so you won't get lost, and you'll probably run 6 to 6.5km doing it; if that's too much, then Orange might be more suitable (same difficulty, just shorter).
For family groups, we recommend the Orange course, or Yellow if you want something shorter.
For juniors, Yellow is a good course, though juniors new to the sport should be accompanied.
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ENTRIES
You must enter in advance, as there'll be no entry at the event!
- Light Green & Red courses - members £6, non-members and family groups £8, Juniors & Students £2
- White, Yellow, Orange and Score - members £5, non-members and family groups £7, Juniors & Students £2
Enter by Sunday 5 July for the above prices; entries remain open until the day itself but this is subject to us having any maps remaining. There's also a £3 surcharge on the above prices (£1.50 juniors).
Your entry fee includes a special waterproof orienteering map 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.
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FACILITIES
- Help provided for all newcomers to come and try orienteering for the first time
- Toilets
- Please bring your own drinks
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Where is it happening?
Headington Hill Hall, Oxford, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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