An Overview of Confident Orienteering Book 2:
Planning Reliable Routes

This overview was written by Clive Allen,

an experienced British orienteer and map-maker living in Denmark. He was editor of the IOF magazine Orienteering World from 1993 to 1998 and again from 2012 to 2014, and for many years has been an arena and online commentator for the IOF in footO, skiO and trailO.

‘Confident Orienteering’ – Book 2 now published!

Book 1 in the 3-book series ‘Confident Orienteering’ was published 2 years ago to critical acclaim: “The best orienteering book I’ve ever read” is just one of many positive comments on this ground-breaking coaching manual, more analytical and more systematic in approach than anything ever published before. It covers in depth the fundamentals of navigation technique, the nature of mistakes and the strategies for reducing them.

Now we have Book 2, Planning Reliable Routes, as with Book 1 written for orienteers from intermediate to elite level and coaches. The Introduction sets the scene: “Thorough planning reduces risks, prepares you for possible scenarios during route execution, and helps you perform with confidence”. Here, we get 214 pages of top-class coaching expertise, compared to the 134 pages of Book 1. The format is the same; clear and easy-to-follow text backed up by more than 150 examples, portrayed using clear maps and descriptions, along with many ‘stories’ of successes or mistakes in different situations. The reader will for sure recognize quite a number of these from similar past experience!

The first 3 chapters concentrate on route tracking – recognizing and using ‘collecting features’ to check our location in the terrain, so that we can run confidently forward on the next section of a leg. But why does a book about route planning start here? It’s because a key part of the planning is choosing where and how we check our position along the route. If our route idea lacks clear features, we need to adjust it at the planning stage. These important chapters cover how to improve skills in location-checking, and therefore confidence in route choice, in many different leg and terrain situations. A very useful feature is the ‘Practical Tips’ offered at frequent intervals.

Chapters 4 to 6 concentrate on structured route planning, and how to plan the bearing and linear sections of a leg. “To perform well in real conditions, a route needs a solid foundation,” states the author, “one that takes into account uncertainty of location, physical difficulty, limited visibility, and the presence of similar features in the terrain. These are the key factors that increase the risk of hesitation and deviations if not addressed in advance.” I am learning that a few seconds longer planning my routes, identifying specific linear and bearing sections, will save me many more seconds that I lose due to sloppy route choices traversing grotty terrain with few collecting features or other markers of progress.

Two chapters concentrate on the final parts of a leg – approaching and attacking the control; two vital parts of a leg which sometimes are combined into one. In chapter 8, paragraphs such as ‘Challenges in Locating the Control Flag’, including the practical tips, help avoid losing valuable time in the final metres of a leg. The very thorough analysis of all kinds of control locations here, carefully categorized and with lots of map examples, is typical of the book.

The final chapter teaches a 4-step route choice procedure, starting with Leg Evaluation and ending with On-the-go Finalisation, designed to break the complex planning task into clear, sequential steps. Perhaps the most valuable chapter of all! This last chapter is where we learn all the factors we should consider when planning the whole route, from the initial quick assessment to considerations such as the best control approach and the energy and risk elements of alternative transit sections. Unusually for the book, one specific long leg through varied terrain is used here to illustrate all the many considerations and situations.

This book ends with a useful Glossary, and an insightful ‘Afterword’ written by the Swedish coach Klas Karlsson. His final words perfectly sum up the purpose of this book: “A few individuals reach greatness seemingly through pure talent. But if you find yourself outside that group, you can still thrive by embracing the ‘Confident Orienteering’ approach. Consume the knowledge, practice its application, sharpen your skills - and get out there and nail it!”

Clive Allen, November 2025.

Learn more about the Confident Orienteering book series
Book 1: Fundamentals
Book 2: Planning Reliable Routes