News

Recent developments

Moss Bank Park

Posted On 25 Feb 2016
By John Britton
In

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Course Status
Last checked January 2023. Everything OK.
NB: C has been replaced at the path junction close to its old spot which is now behind a high fence. 13/6/2022 – overgrown post B has been moved a few metres to the end of the nearby wall.
nb. Swathes of very small new trees have been planted on the hill, and are now on the map.
nb. Changes in park maintenance mean that even more of the open grass (bright yellow) has become much longer rough open grass.

Orienteering map details
A4 Landscape, Scale 1:4000. Last updated January 2023.

Start/Finish
The Start/Finish is a plaque on a fence corner, pretty much in the centre of the park (though you may have to look behind parked vehicles). The main car park (the red marker above) is about 300m away, at the South entrance of the park – the less busy “main attractions” car park (the orange marker) may be a bit closer.

Map detail showing the main car park and the walk in to the Start/Finish

Moss Bank Park Start/Finish plaque

How to get a map
Moss Bank Park waterproof print£1.50
Moss Bank Park waterproof print quantity
Moss Bank Park PDF£1.50
Moss Bank Park PDF quantity
Or buy any map from Get a Map

Park Facilities
K Car Parks d Toilets Cafe z Playground

Directions
On the NW side of Bolton, adjacent to the A58 ring road (Moss Bank Way). Signed from traffic lights into Moss Lane.
Bus route 526 goes around East and North side of the park.
OS Grid Reference: SD 693 109, Nearest Post Code: BL1 6NB
Public transport options
Moss Bank Bee

The Moss Bank spring

The sidings
- Other useful information
- Parks contact: by website only www.bolton.gov.uk
- Bolton Council web site – Parks Information
- Wikipedia entry for Moss Bank Park
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust web site for The Hive at Moss Bank Park
- Course Maintenance
- Maintained by GMOA, supported by Bolton Council.
- Postwatchers, please click here to submit your report.

Bolton

Page last updated by John Britton on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 pm30 14:57 PM

Grassy areas looking towards Smithills Country Park.

Moss Bank Park is a relatively small urban park, with open spaces, woods and facilities such as a miniature railway, suitable for beginner orienteers of all ages.

Reviewer comments: A small and varied park, suitable for beginner orienteering with a whole range of other facilities on site. This includes the Moss Bank Hive: a hub for nature exploration with schools, nature tots activities, volunteering and conservation. There is also a miniature railway operating at weekends in the summer (the Moss Bank Park Engineering Society), fairground rides (summer only) plus childrens playgrounds and the fascinating Moss Bank Rock Garden.

Courses available (see Course Colours)
Y
Yellow is slightly longer and harder than White. Controls may be further apart, and are placed at junctions or obvious features; distance is typically 1-2.5km; the best route should be relatively obvious, but not necessarily along paths.

O
Orange courses are of medium difficulty and distance, suitable for adult beginners - controls may be 50m from paths, and reading map detail such as contours may be necessary; distance is typically 2-3.5km; you may have several choices of route - some of which may be across terrain rather than along paths.

SL
Star and Loop courses are where the group leader chooses a central base, and sends the students out to collect a single control, or pair of controls, and then return to base. They are particularly suitable for very young beginners.

S
Score courses are where you visit as many controls as you can, in any order you choose, usually within some kind of time limit - or see who can visit all the controls in the shortest time.

The Yellow course (1.7km, 15 controls) and the Orange course (2.6km, 14 controls) go round most of the park.

In addition, beginners under supervision can try Stars and Loops exercises - the Start is centrally placed to be a good base for these and there's a couple of extra controls not used by Yellow or Orange.

There are few paths around the park, so a White course cannot be offered - young beginners should start with stars and loops.

Course Status
Last checked January 2023. Everything OK.
NB: C has been replaced at the path junction close to its old spot which is now behind a high fence. 13/6/2022 - overgrown post B has been moved a few metres to the end of the nearby wall.
nb. Swathes of very small new trees have been planted on the hill, and are now on the map.
nb. Changes in park maintenance mean that even more of the open grass (bright yellow) has become much longer rough open grass.

Orienteering map details
A4 Landscape, Scale 1:4000. Last updated January 2023.

Start/Finish
The Start/Finish is a plaque on a fence corner, pretty much in the centre of the park (though you may have to look behind parked vehicles). The main car park (the red marker above) is about 300m away, at the South entrance of the park - the less busy "main attractions" car park (the orange marker) may be a bit closer.
Map detail showing the main car park and the walk in to the Start/Finish

Moss Bank Park Start/Finish plaque

How to get a map
Moss Bank Park waterproof print£1.50
Moss Bank Park waterproof print quantity
Moss Bank Park PDF£1.50
Moss Bank Park PDF quantity
Or buy any map from Get a Map

Park Facilities
K Car Parks d Toilets Cafe z Playground

Directions
On the NW side of Bolton, adjacent to the A58 ring road (Moss Bank Way). Signed from traffic lights into Moss Lane.
Bus route 526 goes around East and North side of the park.
OS Grid Reference: SD 693 109, Nearest Post Code: BL1 6NB
Public transport options
Moss Bank Bee

The Moss Bank spring

The sidings
- Other useful information
- Parks contact: by website only www.bolton.gov.uk
- Bolton Council web site - Parks Information
- Wikipedia entry for Moss Bank Park
- Lancashire Wildlife Trust web site for The Hive at Moss Bank Park
- Course Maintenance
- Maintained by GMOA, supported by Bolton Council.
- Postwatchers, please click here to submit your report.

About us

GMOA is a volunteer organisation which creates and looks after Permanent Orienteering Courses in and around Greater Manchester. Its members come from the two active Orienteering Clubs which cover the area - MDOC (South Manchester) and SELOC (North Manchester).

Address

Email: enquiries@gmoa.org.uk
Phone: 0161 426 0301
Post: GMOA,
28 Turncliff Cres,
Marple,
Stockport,
SK6 6JP

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