We are a small friendly orienteering club with just over 100 members ranging in age from 2 to nearly 80. We have a range of abilities amongst our members, from absolute beginners to ex British Champions. 

Despite its small size the club is ambitious and innovative. The club puts on a large number of widely ranging events and activities. Our established series of regular local events are well attended and highly competitive, while also being suitable for novices. Recent initiatives include an urban orienteering sprint series and our highly successful Junior Orienteering Group which runs during term-times holding low-key weekly events aimed at junior and families, and often incorporating adult training exercises. Please check our events page to see what is coming up.

The club exists because of the hard work put in by its members. All Club members are encouraged to take a turn at helping; those who help are entitled to a 50% reduction in fees. We are always looking for new members of all ages and no one is too young or too old. If you are interested in joining then you can get details on our contact page.

Our areas have been specially mapped for Orienteering and they range in scale from 1:5000 to 1:15000. Most of QO's mapping is done by club member Bill Vigar who is our local expert on surveying and cartography.

QO is part of the South West Orienteering Association and British Orienteering and has been in existence for over 40 years.

The map below displays the locations across the South West at which we hold events throughout the year:

Enlarge the Quantock Orienteers Event Map

If you’d like to keep your orienteering skills up to scratch over the coming months or are stuck for something to do with the kids over the school holidays that doesn’t cost a small fortune, why not head out to one of the Permanent Orienteering Courses available in the vicinity? Bob Lloyd has very kindly collated all the information you need here.

All details are given as of June 2011, but as always it’s worth checking before you make a trip in case anything changes. If you do discover any changes/errors, please email or ring Bob Lloyd
(bob@boblloyd.plus.com or 01823 333251) so that he can keep this list up-to-date.

For information about other Permanent Orienteering Courses throughout the British Isles (there are nearly 400 in total) please go to the BOF website (www.britishorienteering.co.uk) and click on Events -> Permanent Courses.

Course Name: ASHTON COURT
Grid Ref: ST 555 727
Nearest Village/Town: Bristol
Maps available from: From the Golf Kiosk (£1.50)
Tel. No for map outlet: 0117 9738508
Email address: None
Website Address: www.bristolorienteering.org.uk
(Bristol Orienteering Klub)
Maps available by post: No
Postal contact tel. no.: N.A
Wheelchair accessible? Not Known
Access restrictions: Open Dawn to Dusk – 7 Days a Week

Course Name: COMBE HILL WOOD
Grid Ref ST 503 331
Nearest Village – Street
Maps available by download, in PDF format, from the Website
http://www.combehillwood.co.uk/orienteering.html
Wheelchair Access - Yes
Access restrictions -None known

Course Name: DUNSTER FOREST
Grid Ref: SS 977 424
Nearest Village/Town: Dunster
Maps available from: Minehead Tourist Info' Centre.
Dunster National Park Centre.
The Crown Estate Forestry Office.
Loxhole Sawmill, Dunster TA24 6NY
Tel. No for map outlet: 01643 821309
Email address: info@dunsterestate.co.uk
Website Address: www.dunsterestate.co.uk
Maps available by post: No—online. See above (pick - What to do/ Orienteering)
Postal contact tel. no.: As above.
Wheelchair accessible? Not yet.
Access restrictions: None.

Course Name: HAM HILL COUNTRY PARK
Grid Ref: ST 478 168
Nearest Village/Town: Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Maps available from: Ham Hill Wardens Office (above grid ref)
Tel. No for map outlet: 01935 823617
Email address: hamhill@southsomerset.gov.uk
Website Address: www.southsomersetcountryside.com
Maps available by post: Yes
Postal contact tel. no.: As above
Wheelchair accessible? No
Access restrictions: None

Course Name: LEIGH WOODS
Grid Ref: ST 549 732
Nearest Village/Town: Bristol
Maps available from: Estate Office, Leigh Woods, Bristol
BS8 3PZ (Cost £2) Map Reference: ST554731
Tel. No for map outlet: 0117 9731645
Email address: leighwoods@nationaltrust.org.uk
(PDF File can be sent)
Website Address: Not known
Maps available by post: No. But see email address above.
Postal contact tel. no.: N.A
Wheelchair accessible? Yes
Access restrictions: None known

Course Name: NINE SPRINGS
Grid Ref: ST 555 155
Nearest Village/Town: Yeovil
Maps available from: Website: www.southsomersetcountryside.com,
Tourist Info' Centres in and around Yeovil, Ham Hill Country Park, South Som. District Council
Tel. No for map outlet: 01935 462462 and ask for countryside
Email address: countryside@southsomerset.com
Website Address: www.southsomersetcountryside.com
Maps available by post: Yes
Postal contact tel. no.: 01935 462462 and ask for countryside
Wheelchair accessible? No
Access restrictions: No dogs zone around the lake but this doesn’t affect the orienteering course

Course Name: SELWORTHY
Grid Ref: SS 920 469
Nearest Village/Town: Minehead
Maps available from: On-line. PDF File
Tel. No for map outlet: 01643 862452
Email address: holnicote@nationaltrust.org.uk
Website Address: http://beta.nationaltrust.org.uk/holnicote- estate/things-to-see-and-do/
Maps available by post: No
Postal contact tel. no.: N.A
Wheelchair accessible? Not yet
Access restrictions: None

Course Name: VIVARY PARK
Grid Ref: ST 227 242
Nearest Village/Town: In Taunton
Maps available from: Taunton Tourist Information, Ticket and Travel Centre, Library, Paul Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 3XZ
Tel. No for map outlet: 01823 336344
Email address: tauntontic@tauntondeane.gov.uk
Website Address: www.heartofsomerset.com
Maps available by post: Yes
Postal contact tel. no.: 01823 336344
Wheelchair accessible? Yes
Access restrictions: None

Course Name: WIMBLEBALL LAKE
Grid Ref: SS 965 308
Nearest Village/Town: Bampton, Devon
Maps available from: Shop at Main Public Car Park or Outdoor Active Centre. Both at the Lake.
Tel. No for map outlet: Shop: 01398 371257 Outdoor Active Centre: 01398 371460
Email address: wimbleball@swlakestrust.org.uk
Website Address: www.swlakestrust.org.uk/lakes-and- facilities/the-lakes/wimbleball-lake
(but maps not on-line)
Maps available by post: No
Postal contact tel. no.: N.A
Wheelchair accessible? Check with Outdoor Active Centre
Access restrictions: None