There are many permanent orienteering courses (POCs) in the Greater Manchester and surrounding area, normally in large parks or country parks.  They are called permanent courses because the control site markers are left permanently in the ground so that anyone can turn up and have a go at any time.  In nearly all cases, the permanent course maps and instructions can be purchased at a café or shop in the park.

The Greater Manchester Orienteering Activities (GMOA) controls the permanent courses and SELOC helps to administer the recently re-planned permanent course at Lever Park, Rivington, Horwich.  Map packs are available from the Lower Barn café. If you’ve already visited the Lever Park course, check your results here.  Permanent courses can also be found at Haigh Hall, Wigan;  Tandle Hill, near Oldham;  Moses Gate country park, Bolton;  Heaton Park near the M66/M60 junction; and a bit further afield at Witton Park, Blackburn.

For anyone unsure of any control descriptions, a copy of the IOF Control Description Symbols (downloaded from the IOF website) can be found here