To help with your navigational training we have set up a series of ‘virtual’ score courses of varying lengths using the MapRun smartphone app. There are two courses in the Howgills (3- and 6-hours) and four in the Kentmere valley, based around Staveley (2-, 3-, 4.5- and 6-hours). You can run these courses at any time but you’ll need a map showing the control locations and details on how to obtain these are shown below.

The current leader boards for these courses are listed below.

How it works

The courses all consist of a series of controls that can be visited in any order inside a fixed time limit. Controls have different score values and the idea is to maximise your score within the time available. Penalty points are deducted (quite aggressively) for exceeding the course time limit. This is the same format at the Fairfield score course in the SLMM. However, with these ‘virtual’ courses there are no physical control markers on the ground and instead a smartphone app called MapRun uses your phone’s GPS to identify when you have successfully reached each control.

If you have done MapRun events previously this table will provide with the information you need to get started. If you’re unfamiliar with MapRun, read the instructions below.

Course	Starting location	Map required
Howgills (3 and 6 hours)	Fairmile Lane near Tebay Grid Ref SD 62939 98004 Google Map	A3 printed waterproof map available by post from Running Events on Demand
Staveley (2 and 3 hours)	Staveley Mill Yard LA8 9LR Google map	A4 printed waterproof map available either at the Inov8 shop in Staveley or by post from Running Events on Demand
Staveley (4.5 and 6 hours)	Staveley Mill Yard LA8 9LR Google map	A3 printed waterproof map available either at the Inov8 shop in Staveley or by post from Running Events on Demand

HOW TO GET READY TO TAKE PART

You need to install the MapRun on your phone – this is available free on the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android.

Once you have installed it, please fill in your personal details (name, age etc), which are needed to display your results in your age category.

We cannot offer technical support on this app but this link covers some issues that might arise on your phone.

http://maprunners.weebly.com/phone-settings.html

When you are out on the course the app uses GPS and is not reliant on a phone signal. You will need to make sure you start with a full phone battery and, depending on the age of your phone, maybe a power block to recharge if your phone struggles to run with GPS for 6 hours. In our tests we have used a range of phones and were pleased to find most had 50% or more charge at the end. You can turn WIFI, Bluetooth and Mobile Data off but it is best to avoid using battery saving mode as this can impact GPS on some phones.

Before leaving home or whilst you still have access to data you need to download the course from the App. We were fortunate to find we still had 4G coverage at the start both in the Howgills and at Staveley but wouldn’t suggest relying on this.

To download the course to your phone, open the MapRun app and choose Select Event on the Home screen. Choose the folder view (the folder icon, third along at the top) and navigate the folder structure to find our courses which are listed in the UK/Cumbria/Saunders folder. You can then select the course you plan to do and this will download it to your phone. (Please note: if you did our previous Howgills MapRun courses in 2020-21 make sure you download the 2024 version as we have changed the values of the controls.)

You can if you wish download multiple courses and decide which you want to do when you arrive at the start but make sure to select the correct one before you start.

OBTAINING THE MAP

You need a physical copy of the map and these can be ordered for postal delivery from Running Events on Demand here. For the Staveley courses maps can also be obtained from the Inov8 shop in Staveley Mill Yard (open 9-5 normally but closed on Wednesdays and 10-4 Sundays). The two Howgills events use the same A3 map. The longer Staveley courses also use an A3 map and the two shorter courses an A4 map. Maps from Running Events on Demand are £5 for the A4 map and £7.50 for the A3 maps (including delivery). Maps from the Staveley Inov8 shop are subsidised by Inov8 but a donation to the Kendal Mountain Rescue Team is expected (minimum £4 for A4 and £5 for A3).

A sample of the map you will receive is shown here.

Once you have your map you can work out what route you want to take to maximise your score within the time limit allowed. Of course, in the actual Saunders Fairfield (score) event you don’t get this luxury and have to do this planning within your timed run!

GETTING TO THE START

Howgills courses

The start of both Howgills courses is on Fairmile Lane which runs between Sedbergh and Tebay, parallel with, and East of, the M6. Satnav/Google Maps may direct you off the A685 (Shap Road) on to the B6257 and across the river Lune at Lowgill – this involves crossing a very narrow bridge. It is passable in a medium sized car (VW Golf) but it is not a pleasant experience!  Going via Sedbergh or Tebay avoids this.

The parking area is sufficient for around 10 cars. As we expect visits to be spread out over the next few months, we think there should be plenty of room at all times but please park considerately.

The grid reference for the parking is SD 62939 98004, What3words reference: fragments.encrusted.leap Link to Google Maps

The start itself is 90m north of the Parking area at the wall corner on the west side of the road.

Staveley courses

Parking is available in Staveley Mill Yard LA8 9LR, Google maps (note there is now a charge for this: £5 for up to 3 hours and £10 for longer) or in Staveley village. Please park considerately.

The start of all the courses is on the footbridge over the River Kent. (Grid Ref: SD 47261 98251)

STARTING AND COMPLETING THE COURSE

While still in the parking area, start the MapRun app and make sure the course you want to do is shown under the Select Event button.

Click on “Go to Start” – this will display the map on your phone – but you should use the printed one to navigate.

The course is now live, and your location and track are shown on the screen so that you can see if your GPS is working. These will disappear when your timed run starts. Go towards the start area as shown on the map and get ready to run. The app will automatically start logging your track and time when you pass within about 10m of the Start. The phone will beep indicating your timer has started.

Now just navigate around your course visiting the controls and, as you get within about 15m of each one, your phone will beep and display a message saying the control has been registered. If it doesn’t do this immediately, circle around the control for a bit – it can take a few seconds for your GPS to register your location. If it still doesn’t register, start wondering if you’re in the wrong place!

Remember there will be no indication of control points on the ground (no orange and white kites to find!) but we have visited all the controls ourselves to check they have loaded correctly on MapRun. We are sufficiently confident that we feel we can say that if your phone does not register a control then there is either a problem with your phone or navigation. Unfortunately, we can’t help in either case. Our volunteers have spent quite a lot of time in setting this course up and we can’t operate a technical support or appeals process for those who find their efforts didn’t register as they expected. You can, however, go out and give it another go.

When you get to the finish the timer will stop automatically and you will be given the option to upload your results to the server. This will then allow you to see your position in the rankings for the course. You can also configure MapRun to upload your route directly to Strava, if you use that.

SCORES, PENALTIES AND TIME LIMITS

Each control point displayed on the map has a unique identifying identifying number with its points value shown in brackets – eg “96(100)”. The map also includes a table showing the control descriptions which describes the features on the ground. The control values are aggregated to produce your total score. Each control point only counts on your first visit. Points are subtracted at the rate of 10 points for every minute or part minute over the time limit. So, for example, if you enter the 6 hour course and take 6 hours 13 minutes and 23 seconds to collect 500 points you will lose 140 points and your final score will be 360 points.

The hatched areas on the maps are out of bounds and your score may not be counted if you stray into these.

SAFETY

All those using the app and the course do so entirely at their own risk and need to be aware of the dangers of traversing remote mountains, where communications are poor. We have no control over who uses the courses and do not vet participants.  With everyone taking responsibility for themselves there are therefore no mandatory kit requirements. However, as a general rule for anyone running or walking in the mountains, at any time of year we would suggest taking at least the FRA mandatory kit list, plus sufficient food for a full day out. The FRA list is: waterproof whole body cover (with taped seams and integrated attached hood), hat, gloves, map of the route, compass, whistle and emergency food.

Leaderboards

Here are the links to the results for each of the courses. You can view not only the scores and times taken but also the routes taken by participants.

Staveley 2 hours
Staveley 3 hours
Staveley 4.5 hours
Staveley 6 hours
Howgills 3 hours
Howgills 6 hours