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Hampshire and The Isle of Wight

Avon Tyrell Centre, Bransgore

Level 1

Avon Tyrell Activity Centre, Bransgore, Hampshire, BH23 8EE. Tel: 01425 672347

email: info@avontyrell.org.uk website: www.avontyrell.org.uk

This is large mansion converted into an outdoor activity centre which is run on a charitable basis. They run residential courses and day courses; it is possible to book climbing and abseiling sessions on their tower. However they aren't AALA licensed for climbing, and abseiling on towers isn't licenceable, so you'd need to insist on an SPA qualified instructor.

The tower is well constructed with abseiling gates, and climbing holds on one side.

To take a group here yourself you'd need to negotiate with Mat King or Mike Paine.

Bridgenorth Community School, Gosport

Tel: 01329 319966

This school has a wall on the end wall of a sports hall indoors, it was not inspected as by their own admission the wall is rarely used and very dated. They are not aware of the various types of climbing qualification requiredm, and ask to see a county qualification and may accept a Guide Association Level 1 but would need to verify this themselves with the county advisor.

The wall is available 6-9.30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays for hire; if the area is not being used for badminton courts. You would have to provide your own equipment.

Overall, if anyone wants to use this facility it can be visited, but from the information given by telephone it seems as if no Guide groups use it in nay case.

Should you wish to use it please contact us and we will clarify the situation fully.

Cricket Campsite

Paulines Lodge, Manor farm, Pylands Lane, Bursledon, SO31 1BH.

Tel: 01703 405151

This is a scout site with a small scaffold and ply tower. They have scout instructors available but only with M form qualifications (not acceptable to the Guide Association after 31.10.02), and will accept the Guide Association Level 1 Award.

Calshot Centre

Level 1

This is a large outdoor activity centre run by Hampshire County Council, with a range of facilities. The indoor climbing wall is very big, and ideal for groups. There are top ropes in situ. The wall is open to the public in the evenings; groups need to call to book session time.

The person in charge of climbing at Calshot is an MIA, and runs climbing courses for Hampshire County Council. Their waward is a climbing walls award for sites within Hampshire, and is thus equivalent to the Guide Association Lvevel 1 Award. Subject to some discussion on harmonisation of syllabuses it may be the case that you could take part in a Calshot course and be awarded a Guide Associaton Level 1 Award as well.This is recommended ofr those living locally and unable to find a Guide course. To arrange a course, either call Steve Poynton at Hants CC or get 4 people together and they will run a course for you at your convenience.

Foxlease, Lyndhurst

Level 1

The Guide Association, Foxlease, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, SO43 7DE.

Tel: 02380 282638 Contact: Hilary Chittock

This Girguiding site has a 9m high purpose built climbing/abseiling tower. One face was constructed by Livingstone for climbing with good features and bolt-on holds (2 climbs at once), and has topropes with ground belays in place. An internal staircase to the platform provides safe access to the abseiling, with two simultaneous abseils possible. The tower was only built in 1999 (approx.).

Visiting instructors normally require SPA, but as this is a Guide site the Level 1 is accepted.

For more information, please see the Foxlease page in the Girlguiding UK website at: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/info/outabout/article.asp?sectionid=104&id=120

St Mary's Leisure Centre, Southampton

Level 1

This Leisure Centre has a good climbing wall and bouldering room. Ropes are in situ, and the staff there seemed to think that the Level 1 award would be fine. It would be best to check, however - please inform us if there are any problems. They don't have instructional staff available for you to hire for a session.

Woodmill Outdoor Centre, Swaythling

SPA

This outdoor centre is mainly focused on watersports, but it does have a small tower in the grounds. Centre staff hold SPA or an in-house award which is assessed by an MIA and therefore acceptable to the Guide Association. Howver, they will only allow visiting staff to instruct if they hold the SPA.

Lyons Copse, Shedfield

Level 1

This scout site has a steel constructed abseil tower. There are two heights; a practise side and the main face. There are some bolt-on holds on one face for climbing.

The site was empty when visited in winter; we will try to establish the position regarding instruction so if you have any more information please contact us.

Fort Purbrook Climbing Wall

Level 1

This commercial wall is inside an outdoor activity centre in the old fort. It consists of two rooms with a variety of faces, suitable for young people and groups. The wall is not huge but makes up for this with variety.

To instruct there a Level 1 Award is acceptable, but you need to show the Guides insurance and sign a disclaimer. There are no ropes in situ, so you must bring your own and solo up to the scaffold bar if you want to use them.

The in-house staff are assessed by the Hampshire County Council staff from Calshot and are therefore acceptable to the Guide Association.

Runway's End Scout Activity Centre

Level 1

1 Forge Lane, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2HQ. GR 859526 Sheet 186

Tel: 01252 311949; or info Mrs Ann Hall 01252 515767 Mon-Fri 6-9pm

This activity centre has a 30 foot scaffold built climbing and abseiling tower with three routes on one face. The tower is of the standard type of scaffold construction, which means that the top is quite open and participants need to be on a safety rope or tied to the tower for the whole time they are at the top - it would be easy to fall under one of the handrails for a small child. Other than this there are no unusual considerations.

The Level 1 Award is acceptable here. The site currently only have Scout Association qualified staff, and you should insist on a Girlguiding qualification or an SPA The site will however hold training/assessment courses as soon as is practicable and hopefully will have GGUK Level 1 staff soon.

Corf Campsite

Level 1

Corf Road
Shalfleet
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 4NT
Tel: 01983 531455

This Scout site has a 35 foot tower with two sides equipped for climbing, and an abseil side. Belays at the top are on a central post and very secure (if not perfectly positioned, but they are manageable). The abseil takeoff point has been adapted with an A frame, but the construction at present of this is not ideal - it is too low and participants need to crouch to access it. However, it is better than the alternative of low belays further back and is, again, manageable. The tower overall is in very good condition and work is ongoing. Access is via good interior stairs.

The site currently have just two Scout qualified staff and are aware that these cannot take Guides. Visiting instructors are welcome with a Guide Level 1 Award, please bring your own equipment. There may be a Guide Level 1 Instructor available via the Medina Leisure Centre in Newport - please contact them to see if they can help as there is certainly someone on the island.

Medina Leisure Centre, Newport, Isle of Wight

Fairlee Road

Newport

01983 523767

This leisure centre has a very nuce purpose built climbing wall about 5m high (max) with a variety of sections from slabby to overhanging. It is a small facility but ideal for small groups and is well equipped, including ground belays.

Staff onsite include one SPA holder, and centre staff are assessed by an MIC so GGUK members may use them. The centre also has various clubs and courses, please contact them.

Ferny Crofts

Beaulieu, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, SO42 7YQ.

02380 845092

manager@fernycrofts.org.uk

This centre is approved and has been visited; more info here soon. The activity manager is a GGUK trainer and assessor for the climbing award L1, so they have amply qualified staff.

Office hours 830-430 7 days; Dave King - activities manager

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