Longrun Meadow
Orienteering: permanent course
We have a good selection of courses on offer at Longrun Meadow in Taunton.
A few years ago, Quantock Orienteers and the Friends of Longrun Meadow teamed up to create a permanent orienteering course in Taunton.
One of the control posts for the physical and QR courses
- Orienteering is a workout for body and mind. It gets you out into the fresh air and takes you off the beaten track.
- Suitable for individuals or families, it is perfect as a socially-distanced activity.
What to Do - QR
- Download MapRun6 from your appstore.
- Fill in your basic details (eg. name).
- Optional: download the map. See the links below to get the one you want. Print it out (or if you don't have a printer, save it onto your 'phone). I'd recommend printing on waterproof paper or putting it into a polypocket.
- Get to the start. Directions to Longrun Meadow are below, and once there, the starts are all at the COACH building noticeboard.
- Tap on 'Events Near Me' in the app and select one of the colour courses or you can use these links (Yellow easiest, then Orange, then Red, then Long Red).
- Tap 'Go to Start' and a map will load.
- Familiarise yourself with the key - if you've not used an orienteering map before, the hardest thing to get used to is woodland being white.
- Scan the Start code on the noticeboard to start your time.
- Run/jog/walk/wheel your chosen course.
- Scan the code on each control.
- If you get lost while out on the course, you can tap 'Show Me' to mark your current location on the map. This is only available a limited number of times (and not at all during competitions).
- Remember to scan the Finish code when you get back to the noticeboard to stop your time.
What to Do - Traditional
- First off, download the map. See the links below to get the one you want.
- Next, print it out (or if you don't have a printer, save it onto your 'phone). I'd recommend printing on waterproof paper or putting it into a polypocket.
- Familiarise yourself with the key - if you've not used an orienteering map before, the hardest thing to get used to is woodland being white.
- Grab a pen/pencil.
- Get to the start. Directions to Longrun Meadow are below, and once there, the starts are all at the COACH building noticeboard.
- Run/jog/walk/wheel your chosen course.
- Note down the letter/number carved onto each post.
What to Do - Virtual
- First off, download the map. See the links below to get the one you want.
- Next, print it out (or if you don't have a printer, save it onto your 'phone). I'd recommend printing on waterproof paper or putting it into a polypocket.
- Familiarise yourself with the key - if you've not used an orienteering map before, the hardest thing to get used to is woodland being white.
- Download MapRun6 from your appstore.
- Fill in your basic details (eg. name).
- Get to the area. Directions to Longrun Meadow are below, and once there, the starts are all in the vicinity of the Weir Cafe and COACH building.
- Tap on 'Events Near Me' in the app and select your chosen course (you can pre-load it by following the instructions on the map).
- Tap 'Go to Start' and a map will load.
- Walk to the start, which is at the end of the bridge. Your phone should beep and vibrate (depending on your notification settings) and the start triangle will turn green. Your time has started.
- Run/jog/walk/wheel your chosen course. At every control, your phone should beep and vibrate, with the control circle turning green.
- Remember to make sure the timer stops by visiting the finish double-circle.
French Weir
Courses Available
Traditional/QR
We have a traditional setup where you look for wooden posts and note down the letters/numbers. There is also the option to scan a QR code with an app on your phone - you can even use one of the limited number of 'Show Me's if you get lost.
There are a variety of courses from Yellow up to Long Red.
Virtual
We have five virtual courses where you are tracked using the GPS on your phone. These are Score, Long Easy, Long Hard, Short Easy, Short Hard. The controls are not marked with posts on the ground.
Our SEGOL 2020 courses started and finished from the COACH building and are now available to use as permanent courses.
Getting There
Sited on the western side of Taunton, it is easily accessible on foot from anywhere in the town. Parking is possible at the Tangiers carpark and sometimes behind Somerset College. If you combine it with a shopping trip, there is always Tescos.
The Weir, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1AW
Social Distancing
- Do not go if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
- Wash your hands throughly before going out.
- Park carefully, avoiding getting too close to others.
- Please leave at least 2m between yourself and others not in your household. Remember that when running, you could be spreading virus further than when standing still, particularly in your wake.
- If someone is already at a control, wait.
- Overtake carefully. Perhaps wait for wide grassed areas instead of trying to do it on a narrow path.
- Be respectful to other users who may be there for a gentle walk or sit down.
- Wash your hands as soon as possible afterwards.
The Willow Cathedral
The Oak Barn