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  • Breadcrumb

    1. Home
    2. Environment and the outdoors
    3. Forests and outdoor recreation
    4. Forests
    5. Activities in forests

    Orienteering and eco trails in forests

    Orienteering courses are available in some forests throughout Northern Ireland. Eco trails are linked to the sport of orienteering and aimed at young people.

    Orienteering locations

    The forests listed below are normally available for orienteering. Those marked (P) have a permanent course available.

    You can get more details, including maps, from the Northern Ireland Orienteering website.

    • Northern Ireland Orienteering

    Organising orienteering events

    All organised events must be approved before the date they are planned for by applying to the forest recreation manager at Enniskillen Forest office (for events in the western part of Northern Ireland).

    Eastern

    • Ballysallagh Forest (P)
    • Belvoir Park Forest
    • Castlewellan Forest Park (P)
    • Downhill Forest
    • Gortnamoyagh Forest
    • Gosford Forest Park (P)
    • Rostrevor Forest (P)
    • Somerset Forest
    • Springwell Forest

    Western

    • Banagher Forest
    • Drum Manor Forest Park (P)
    • Florence Court Forest Park
    • Gortin Glen Forest Park (P)
    • Necarne Forest (P)
    • Learmount Forest
    • Moydamlaght Forest

    Eco trails

    Eco trails give people an opportunity to develop a knowledge and understanding of, and responsibility to, the local natural and built environment by using the 'outdoor classroom' of the countryside.

    Eco trails available in public forests include both environmental trails and paths.

    Environmental trails

    Environmental trails offer an opportunity to learn more about the cultural history and environmental features of forests.

    Paths

    Paths are an excellent introduction to orienteering. All trails have been purposely designed to allow participants with limited map-reading skills to follow maintained paths between control sites.

    The guides and activity booklets for Parkanaur Forest and Gosford Forest Park are available on the following pages:

    • Parkanaur Forest Park 
    • Gosford Forest Park
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    Activities in forests

    • Camping and touring sites in forests
    • Cycling in forests
    • Forest camping and touring online booking
    • Forest camping and touring terms and conditions
    • Forest campsite and touring rules
    • Forests that you can cycle in
    • Horse riding in forests
    • Organising events and activities in forests
    • Orienteering and eco trails in forests
    • Permits for vehicles and activities in forests
    • Touring in the Trees caravan sites
    • Walking in forests

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