Orienteering can be as adventurous and difficult as you decide to make it. At its basic level it is about trying to navigate your way between two points on a map, usually on foot.

It can be done in a group with the simple aim of completing the route, or you can split into teams with staggered starts and race each other, perhaps leaving at 30-minute intervals – first team back prepares the hot chocolate!

How quickly you go while orienteering is up to you. Some people like to amble along seeing it just as a walk with a twist. Others like to jog or run. What’s more, you don’t even need to leave the city to take part as orienteering can take place anywhere from urban parks to remote areas with rough terrain. If you are taking part in an organised orienteering day, then all you need in preparation is to wear clothes that can stand getting messy if your route takes you scrambling through brambles.

The organisers give you a map, compass and a dibber which you use to prove you’ve been to each of the points on the map. The maps are incredibly detailed and will mark rocks and trees along the way. The aim isn’t just to find any route between the points but the quickest one.

You can also orienteer on bikes or skis or try trail orienteering where speed is irrelevant and the key skill is being able to relate the map to the ground in complex terrain. Britain is one of the leading countries in this, although the most common type here is foot orienteering in which participants walk or jog their way round the route.

Find out about local clubs and organized events at www.britishorienteering.org.uk.

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