Parking

Parking will be on the beach. Please note that the National Trust charges non-members £8.50 per car to drive on the beach. If you are a member please remember to bring your card. Please park at the east end of the beach where you will find the event enquiries at the NWOC camper van (with club feather flag).

Event Layout / Hazards

NT “Come and Try it” activity for beginner / groups

In addition to the normal NI Colour Series competition there will be a parallel “Come and Try It” activity based on the white course controls aimed at groups and non competitive beginners. Do Not Use the SI Entries links below for this but do book a map using a form on the page below:

• Portstewart Dunes Orienteering Come and Try It

Colour Series Competition Entries

Entries now closed – but we have a few spare maps on some courses. So contact us if you would like to run and we will see what we can do!

• Enter Online
• Edit your Entry
• View Entry Lists

NB Entries close Sunday 31st August 2025 at 21:30

Event Enquiries 

These will operate from 10:30am. Having entered online you can go directly to the start. Runners who have hired a dipper can collect them from Enquiries/ Download.

Electronic Punching

SI dippers (not SI Air) are available for hire and can be booked in the entry system. 

Sportident Electronic punching with beacon mode enabled for SI Air on all controls but not on the start and finish boxes which must be “dipped” in the traditional manner.

Start Times

The pre-entry start blocks are from from 11.30am to 13.00pm.

We should also be able to provide starts from 11:00 to 11:30 on request for those who need to run earlier. Please use the contact form below for this or other queries. 

Finish 

The finish is adjacent car parking area. The Download point will be close by. All competitors must report to the Download point even if they do not complete their courses. 

Courses Close 

Course close at 3.00pm. Please ensure you have returned to download by this time to be checked in, even if you have not completed your course.

Water

Please bring your own water and make sure you are fully hydrated before starting. Even on a windy sunny day temperatures in the dunes hollows can soar and running in these conditions can be very dehydrating.

Entry Fees

	Member	Non-Member
Senior (aged 21 or over)	£12	£16
Junior or Student	£6	£8
Beginner Group*	£6	£8
Maximum charge for a family**	£30	£40

Member means you are a member of a BOF, IOA or IOF Orienteering Club.

*For beginner groups doing a course together, you only need to enter one name per map and SI Card. You can amend the “group name” at Registration on the day if you want.

**If you are entering a family members in multiple classes and it comes to more than £25 (£30 for non-member) then please contact the organiser after you have paid for the individual Senior, or Junior/Student entries and we will arrange refund of the difference. Parents accompanying children go free.

Maps

A waterproof 1:5000 map of Portstewart Strand (updated summer 2025) will be used by all courses.

Crossing Points

Most courses will cross fences which divide the area.  There are several gates in each. These are highlighted with the purple crossing symbol and must be used. Fences and walls must not be climbed.

Course Details

Course	Controls	Length
White	11	0.9 km
Yellow	11	1.3 km
Orange	13	2.0 km
Light Green	14	2.1 km
Short Green	14	2.3 km
Green	18	3.8 km
Blue	22	4.7 km
Brown	26	6.0 km

Dogs

No dogs are allowed in the competition area (see note below on blue – green algae).

Toilets

Toilets are located by the National Trust booth at the beach entrance.

Terrain Notes

Portstewart is classic sand dunes Orienteering terrain. The area is unusual in that it is bounded by the sea to the north and by the River Bann to the south and west.

There are a number of fences in the dunes and the marked gate crossings must be used.

Blue green algae

There is currently blue green algae in the River Bann which bounds the south of the competitor area. There is no reason for runners to go near the water so the main hazard is to dogs. Therefore no dogs are allowed on on courses.

Golf Course

All courses, except white and yellow, will briefly pass in sight of the golf course and a “tee-off” point. Please proceed quietly and be aware of the possibility of a ball accidentally crossing into the Dune area.

Hazards:

• Parents should be aware that there will be regular car traffic driving up and down the beach past our parking area and some traffic all the way along the walk to the start. Please supervise children accordingly.
• If the weather is sunny the dunes can become very hot (particularly in the hollows) and dehydration is possible. Runners should ensure they are well hydrated before starting and bring their own water bottle.
• In windy and wet conditions the dunes are very exposed and the wearing of cagoules may be advised.
• Longer courses will pass in sight of Portstewart Golf course (which is of course out of bounds). Please be aware of the possibility of a driven ball crossing into the dunes from the golf course and exercise appropriate caution.

Event Queries