EXERCISE might be good for you, but there's no denying that it can be more duty than pleasure. If you find the treadmill tedious and jogging makes you want to scream with boredom (if only you had the breath), perhaps orienteering might be more your cup of tea.

A new permanent course is being opened at Harpenden's Rothamsted Park on April 5 which will give people the chance to experience the sport at their leisure. Leaflets, available at the sports centre for 40p, will give directions to a network of markers designed by the Happy Herts Orienteering Club (HHOC) - all you need is a compass, a pencil and a bit of free time.

Orienteering was invented in Sweden an exercise to keep soldiers fit and came over to this county only 30 or so years ago.

It has since been described as 'trying to do The Times crossword while running for a train', and it is precisely that combination of mental and physical challenge that is the attraction.

According to HHOC's chairman, Eric Brown, although competitions are judged on time many orienteers are fuelled by the desire to complete the perfect course, in other words to find the straightest possible line between each marker and not to deviate an inch (it helps if there are no brambles).

Once you get to more senior levels of competition you may find yourself making your own path across country following a map made up entirely of contour lines, but the course at Rothamsted is beginner level and will be rather easier to get the hang of.

Having found your feet you might want to take part in an orienteering event. The first step up is a 'colour coded' event, where routes are coloured according to their length and difficulty. After that there are badge events, where participants are put in groups according to gender, and age and then the competition really begins.

In the course of a season competitors can find themselves engaged in a tussle with one or two other orienteers that they regularly find themselves up against Never mind the finishing times, by then it's personal!

Happy Herts runs three events a year - for more information visit their website at www.happyherts.org.uk.