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. The area is suitable for colour coded events, up to and including long brown courses.
Planned for full re-mapping in 2009
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 more than 20 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.
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 three maps
Northern part of Rendlesham Forest . An area of coniferous blocks of various ages either side of a small, marshy valley.
Long, but rather narrow and featureless band of coniferous woodland used for an adventure race (when joined to other areas of Rendlesham).
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, centred round the valley of the Tang. The size of the area (about 6 sq km), point feature detail and variety and increasing runnability of vegetation makes the area suited to District events. A permanent course has been set up in conjunction with the Forestry Commission.
Shrubland Park, TM 120 531, Scale 1:10000, 1999
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.
Sutton Common, TM 306 476, Scale 1:10000, Winter 2007
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 an ancient rabbit warren.
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 Badge 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 that 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 District 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 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 .
Currently being mapped.
A combination of the paths over the water meadows alongside the River Gipping west of Ipswich and a small but very complex (and steep) piece of woodland. The area is often flooded in winter.
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.
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..
Private birch and holly woodlands at the head of the Mill river, surrounding the Foxhall speedway stadium, east of Ipswich
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
Currently being mapped for a project in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council
Large park SE of Bury St Edmunds comprising of deciduous woodlands and areas of grass. Dotted with several ponds and other point features.
A area of heathland and woods around the “new” village of Martlesham Heath . It has serveral brown features dating from the areas use as a military airfield and many paths ducking in and out of the mini-housing estates.
Currently being prepared for re-mapping
Orwell Country Park, TM 187 408, Scale 1:10,000, Autumn 2007
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. Only suitable for introductory training (as used by local scout groups) or control-picking exercise.
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
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.
Currently being re-mapped for the CATI in September 2008
The club also has a number of maps produced for training purposes, or use by private organisations
Many of the other clubs in the East Anglian region have mapped areas in Suffolk (though not all the mapped areas may be within the county).
Refer to the home pages of the individual clubs for further details.