Moorland · Hurstwood, Burnley
Hurstwood
Open moorland, plantation forest, and a network of paths above Hurstwood Reservoir.
- Terrain
- Moorland
Map preview
Live view from RouteGadget — click and drag to pan, scroll to zoom. PFO doesn't host the map itself; it's loaded from RouteGadget where the surveyors have agreed to public display.
Why is the map shown via RouteGadget?
PFO doesn't display orienteering maps on this site because they're derived from Ordnance Survey data under licence restrictions. The map above is loaded from RouteGadget, which already has permission from the surveyors to display each map publicly. We're just embedding their viewer — the map content isn't hosted here.
Important: possession or existence of a map does not imply right of access to the area for orienteering or for any other purpose. Permission must be obtained from the landowner.
Hurstwood sits above Hurstwood Reservoir, just east of Burnley. It’s classic Lancashire moorland — open hill with rough grass and heather, a mosaic of plantation woodland, and the remains of older industrial workings dotted across the higher ground. Very technical area.
A frequent venue for PFO regionals because the terrain rewards real route choice and physical orienteering. Used for the British Orienteering 2018 Senior Home International event.
Access and parking
Park at Hurstwood Reservoir (small free car park) or, for larger events, at Mereclough using event-day signed parking.
Hazards
Open moorland — weather can change quickly. In wet conditions some streams are uncrossable. Watch for old mine workings on the higher ground.