In what is essentially a farming county Suffolk OC has assembled an excellent catalogue of mapped areas. Below is a list of the maps currently maintained by the club:
Once the estate of the Marquis of Bristol, this large National Trust property SW of Bury St Edmunds combines open parkland with several sizeable blocks of runnable mixed woodland. Unusually for Suffolk maps it also has some water features. An enlarged map of Albana Woods has also been produced.
Interesting variety of runnable mixed woodland and open heathlands sloping down to the River Ouse between Diss and Thetford. There is plenty of vegetation detail, point features and a good path network. One of the club's longest standing and most popular areas and has staged many colour-coded events
A vast Forestry Commission coniferous plantation to NW of Bury St Edmunds, originally mapped nearly 30 years ago in conjunction with CUOC. Typical East Anglia coniferous blocks dispersed with deciduous wind breaks, scattered with deep disused sand and marl pits. After a long period when access was denied an area about 8 sq km has been mapped anew. This gives a least three different areas that can be used to stage events, and we have hopes of opening up a fourth area east of the B1106 in the future.
A very large (11 square km) Forestry Commission owned coniferous plantation East of Woodbridge. The area includes Tangham, the club's very first “re-drawn” map. Whilst generally flat, contrast is provided by variations in the runnability of the forest blocks and by two valleys that cut into the area. It is capable of supporting Regional events.
Currently developed into two maps
North Western part of Rendlesham Forest . An area of coniferous and deciduous blocks of trees of various ages either side of a small, rather marshy valley. The map has now been extended to the younger conifer plantations south of the B1084 to allow easier design of longer courses.
Southern part of Rendlesham, made famous by a UFO (Unidentified Flying Orienteer ?) visitation in 1980. An area of typical East Anglian forest with coniferous blocks of various ages on either side of the valley of The Tang. The size of the area, point feature detail and variety and increasing runnability of vegetation makes the area suited to most events. A permanent course has been set up and actively maintained in conjunction with the Forestry Commission.
Private estate NW of Ipswich featuring long escarpment covered by working mixed woodland to north, some formal gardens in the centre and an area of open parkland to south. Good path network and contour features. Suitable for colour-coded events though a change in ownership has put future access in jeopardy.
Situated E of Woodbridge, the common combines a mixture of deciduous woodland to west and expanse of heather clad heath land to the east. Flat and at times very windswept though size (at its fullest extent) and landscape variations, has allowed it to stage Regional events in the past. It has an interesting ditch system used to prevent wartime invasion landing, and 2 ancient rabbit warrens.
A large (11 square km) Forestry Commission coniferous plantation to NE of Woodbridge, which includes adjoining heath lands of Tunstall and Blaxhall Commons and some patches of mixed woodland. The forest was clear felled a few years after the original 5 colour map was produced in 1975 by EAOA / HAVOC members, but following phased replanting it has now reached a level of maturity suitable for the sport. Mainly flat but surprisingly physical, with a wealth of line and point features and a great variety of vegetation making it suitable for Cat B and Cat C Events.
Currently developed into 3 maps
The south-eastern part of the forest, which in common with the rest of Tunstall, it has good variation of vegetation and plenty of point features. The path network is denser than the northern end of the forest (including an area used for motor cycle scrambling) and it has water features not found elsewhere in Tunstall.
The northern part of the forest which includes the adjoining heath lands of Tunstall and Blaxhall Commons , along with some patches of mixed woodland. Limited contour detail but with a wealth of line and point features and a great variety of vegetation making it very suitable for most Events.
Long, but rather narrow south-western parts of the forest. Clear felled in the early nineties and now has sufficient re-growth to be mapped and used for an adventure race (when joined to other parts of Tunstall).
A large, rather flat, mixed conifer / hardwood plantation running south from the River Thet. It has several tumuli and chalk pits, lots of holly trees and is one the largest forests never used in East Anglia previously. The area is actually just in Norfolk and NOR have kindly allowed us mapping rights. After its successful first use in 2010 the map has been extended eastwards in to similar terrain to total 8 sq kms.
A narrow strip of woodland and open grass land along the southern shore of Alton Water, a reservoir between Ipswich and Manningtree. It contains sufficient paths and detail for a summer evening event
A combination of Belstead Country Park , Bourne Park, small patches of wood and marshland and adjoining footpaths around arable land to give a long but rather narrow training area along the line of Belstead Brook to the south of Ipswich . Adjoins the Bourne Park map.
An area of formal parkland with adjoining footpaths to patches of woodland and marsh along east end of Belstead Brook to the south of Ipswich. Adjoins to the Belstead Valley map.
A combination of the paths over the water meadows alongside the River Gipping west of Ipswich, a small but very complex (and steep) piece of woodland and the paths and streets of Bramford village.
A small piece of open parkland in the centre of Ipswich, linked through a housing estate rather complex but somewhat overgrown old brick quarry.
A large municipal park in grounds of old estate on western edge of Ipswich, with a mixture of parkland with mature trees, formal gardens and woodland with much vegetation detail. Recently extend to a smaller, but well-contoured park on the other side of the A12.
Municipal park in centre of Ipswich, with a mixture of parkland with mature trees, formal gardens and an arboretum with trees planted by each mayor of the town, going back to Victorian times.
Urban map of a small market town, containing a couple of patches of well featured woodland and a steep climb up the old castle motte.
The private grounds of a school, connected via paths over a golf course to a small patch of very runnable woodland.
Private birch and holly woodlands at the head of the Mill river, surrounding the speedway stadium, east of Ipswich. Very intricate path network and plenty of point feaures. The area has been extended through part of the Bixley Farm housing estate to take the eastern fringes of Rushmere Heath. This area mixes oak woodland and gorse/grass heathland and also includes a couple of golf fairways.
Modest sized park and attached scout camp ground SE of Bury St Edmunds comprising of deciduous woodlands and areas of grass. Dotted with several ponds and other point features. The map has now been extended to include the complex urban geography of the Nowton estate.
Area of mixed woodland and open parkland on private estate between Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. It has a wealth of detail (including water features) and an excellent path network.
Municipal park and public open space in centre of Ipwich, with a mixture of parkland with mature trees, a wooded scarp slope, and large, undulating grassy areas. Lots of paths and point features.
A long, low scarp covered with coniferous woodlands of various ages lying behind (and owned by) Sizewell Power Station. Just large enough and with sufficient detail to support a modest colour-coded event. A POC created by the county council some 20 years ago is still mainly intact and usable.
An area of heathland and woods around the “new” village of Martlesham Heath . It has serveral brown features dating from the area's use as a military airfield and many paths ducking in and out of the mini-housing estates.
Small country park centred on a water filled gravel pit with nearby pastures, low chalk downland and streets east of the town High Street. Lots of paths and vegetation detail.
Large park SE of Bury St Edmunds comprising of deciduous woodlands and areas of grass. Dotted with several ponds and other point features.
Attractive council managed country park covering three patches of mixed woodland (Bridge Wood, Brazier’s Wood and Piper’s Vale) on slopes leading down to the River Orwell, SE of Ipswich. Lots of contour and vegetation detail, and opportunities to run along the foreshore – tide permitting
Tiny patch of heather and gorse heathland east of Ipswich with many pits and trenches from last war.
An area of gorse heathland and scattered woodland on the eastern outskirts of Ipswich . It is open-access common land and has previously been farmland, a drill area for the army and a decoy target for Nazi bombers. As a golf course uses parts of the heath it is only really suitable for training exercises.
An area of low-lying meadows used for grazing cattle alongside the River Stour, some patches of woodland, many water features and cow pats. Previously mapped by Suffolk County Council, and has POC markers. The area is shared with SOS.
Situated NW of Bury Sr Edmunds. It is a narrow area of mixed woodland and open heathland along the northen bank of the River Lark, containing also a re-contruction of an Anglo-Saxon village (all thatched huts and battle axes) and modern tea rooms (cakes and clean toilets). It has previously supported a permanent O course.
A large number of school sites (about 90) were mapped by club members for the county council education department between 1997 and 2000. More recently (2010) over 100 schools have been mapped by the club and a couple of professional teams in the Bury St Edmunds, Ipswich, Lowestoft and High Suffolk areas. The latter often incorporate village greens, common land or local parks, where possible.
Refer to the home pages of the individual clubs for further details.