News

Recent developments

Queen’s Park, Bolton

Posted On 25 Feb 2016
By John Britton
In

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Course Status
Last checked August 2026. Everything OK.
NB: the cafe (and toilets) have re-opened.
NB: note that post P has been moved out of its bush and across the path.
The previously-missing post G has been relocated about 30m SW to the N side of a pair of trees – get a new map!
Control U has been moved a few metres so it won’t become overgrown in Summer.

Orienteering map details
A4 Landscape, Scale 1:4000. Last updated October 2026.

Start/Finish
There are two different Starts, on opposite sides of the park. The North Start is at the edge of the North car park (the orange marker above); the South start is outside the Cafe, which is about 150m from the new South car park (the red marker).

North car park, Start/Finish post and recommended base for Stars/Loops (B)

North Start/Finish plaque at the edge of the North car park.

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

South Start/Finish in the border outside the Cafe

How to get a map
Queen’s Park, Bolton waterproof print£1.50
Queen’s Park, Bolton waterproof print quantity
Queen’s Park, Bolton PDF£1.50
Queen’s Park, Bolton PDF quantity
Or buy any map from Get a Map

Park Facilities
K Car Parks d Toilets Cafe z Playground

Directions
From the A58 ring road on the West side of Bolton, take the A673 into town for just under 3kms. You will pass Queens Park main pedestrian entrance on your right; take your next right turn into a small, unnamed, street (opposite Park Street) and go through the stone pillars and up to the right for the Car Park.
OS Grid Reference: SD 707 094. Postcodes: BL1 4QT (North Car Park) BL1 4SL (South Car Park)
Public transport options

t-qpb

Control T near the park gates

footbridge-w

Footbridge and lily pads

come-with-me-w

Come with me..

Other useful information
Park contact: by website only www.bolton.gov.uk
Bolton Council web site – Parks Information
Wikipedia entry for Queen’s Park, Bolton
Parks and Gardens UK web site for Queen’s Park, Bolton

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 Tuesday, October 6, 2026 pm31 23:06 PM

Summer vegetation around the lakes.

Queen's Park is a relatively small urban park with gardens, open areas, lakes, woods, suitable for beginner orienteers of all ages. The formal part is at the top of a noticeable slope up from the river.

Review comments: A very interesting park to journey to and around! Queens Park has a rich history, which is displayed on boards around the park. Its Victorian heritage is apparent still in the ponds, fountain and iron footbridge and the flower beds which are still maintained to a high standard. The café is usually open and provides a warm welcome (chips, sandwiches and ice cream!) and a walk around the park will reveal many different views on this steeply sloping site. Children will enjoy the excellent playground and exploring the paths and bushes.

Courses available (see Course Colours)
W
White is the easiest level of course, suitable for young beginners. Controls are fairly close together, and usually at path junctions, or junctions of paths and streams or walls; distance is typically 1-1.5km; the best route should be obvious, along paths, and require very few decisions.

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.

Ch
Wheelchair courses are typically White courses where the path surfaces are suitable for wheelchairs; controls are visible from the paths; lengths are typically 1-1.5km.

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 North Start offers a White/Wheelchair course (1.3km, 9 controls), which goes round the garden areas and lakes. Wheelchairs may need a pusher as there are some slopes. The suggested base for stars and loops exercises is 100m away at a place with good visibility.

The South start offers a Yellow course (1.5km, 10 controls) which climbs the hill to the garden areas; Orange1 (2.1km, 13 controls) and Orange2 (1.7km, 10 controls) courses. which both go round the whole area, but in opposite directions.

Course Status
Last checked August 2026. Everything OK.
NB: the cafe (and toilets) have re-opened.
NB: note that post P has been moved out of its bush and across the path.
The previously-missing post G has been relocated about 30m SW to the N side of a pair of trees - get a new map!
Control U has been moved a few metres so it won't become overgrown in Summer.

Orienteering map details
A4 Landscape, Scale 1:4000. Last updated October 2026.

Start/Finish
There are two different Starts, on opposite sides of the park. The North Start is at the edge of the North car park (the orange marker above); the South start is outside the Cafe, which is about 150m from the new South car park (the red marker).
North car park, Start/Finish post and recommended base for Stars/Loops (B)

North Start/Finish plaque at the edge of the North car park.

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

South Start/Finish in the border outside the Cafe

How to get a map
Queen’s Park, Bolton waterproof print£1.50
Queen’s Park, Bolton waterproof print quantity
Queen’s Park, Bolton PDF£1.50
Queen’s Park, Bolton PDF quantity
Or buy any map from Get a Map

Park Facilities
K Car Parks d Toilets Cafe z Playground

Directions
From the A58 ring road on the West side of Bolton, take the A673 into town for just under 3kms. You will pass Queens Park main pedestrian entrance on your right; take your next right turn into a small, unnamed, street (opposite Park Street) and go through the stone pillars and up to the right for the Car Park.
OS Grid Reference: SD 707 094. Postcodes: BL1 4QT (North Car Park) BL1 4SL (South Car Park)
Public transport options

t-qpb

Control T near the park gates

footbridge-w

Footbridge and lily pads

come-with-me-w

Come with me..

Other useful information
Park contact: by website only www.bolton.gov.uk
Bolton Council web site - Parks Information
Wikipedia entry for Queen's Park, Bolton
Parks and Gardens UK web site for Queen's Park, Bolton

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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