Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling Scheme

This Scout site has a barn, the end of which has been turned into a multi-faceted climbing wall and climbing/abseil tower. The wall was built by Entreprises and is of a good standard. There are several traversing faces as well as some climbs up the tower itself. The tower is accessed by a small door in the climbing wall.

Most instructors are qualified with Scout M forms which are not acceptable to the Guide Association; however there are SPA qualified staff - please ask for these.

Waddecar Scout Camp, Goosnargh, Preston

Tel: Bernard Pendlebury 01995 61336 Home: 01524 791983

Directions: Going N on the M6, take North Preston turn. Keep in L lane & follow Garstang A6 & Lancaster. Go up A6 3-4 miles to Roebuck Pub, turn R immediately after the pub. 3 miles, crossroads at Inglewhite. Turn L, keep going to a T junction, turn R; 1.5 miles at a sharp R turn L on the bend. Waddecar is 100m up here.

General: A scout site with an old tower (one of the oldest in the country apparently) built on a bank at the back of the buildings.

Instruction: They have SPA and Scout Form M instructors available. Guide leaders are reminded that Scout Form M is not an acceptable qualification for the GA; please ask for an SPA qualified instructor. The site are aware of this.

Overall: If you're camping here, okay for an abseil or climbing session, but I wouldn't travel to get here to go climbing. The site staff/management are very friendly and helpful, and the site itself seems to be well run and a good place for a residential.

Tawd Vale, Ormskirk

Level 1

Course Lane, Lathom, Ormskirk, L40 5UQ. Tel: 01695 722866

This Scout site has a large abseil and climbing tower which is owned by the Scout site, but run by an external activities company called Rock and River. This is an AALA licensed provider and therefore instruction on the tower, although out of license scope, is overseen by a body licensed to provide climbing and with a technical expert for climbing (i.e. conforming with Guide Association guidelines). You may check their license by going to www.aala.org.uk and clicking on 'Search for Providers' then typing in 'Rock and River'.

Therefore two sets of conditions apply: (1) If you want to book a session on the tower with instruction provided, you need to contact Rock and River on 01695 51123. (2) If you want to use the tower yourself with your own instructor, you need to contact the campsite warden and show them your Guide Association or SPA award so that you can use the tower.

Fylde District Scout HQ, St Annes on Sea

No longer in operation

Silverhelme Scout Camp, Silverdale

Level 2

The Row, Silverdale, LA5 0OG. Tel: 01524 770268

This Scout campsite has a small crag in the grounds which is a good location for climbing and abseiling. Just 20' high, there are plentiful tree belays at the top and it is thus an ideal Level 2 crag. Note: Please be careful not to use the trees at the very edge of the crag at the top as these, although seemingly sound, are very badly positioned. Use those away from the edge - if you cannot find one in position, look further back - there are plenty.

The crag is more attractive than it looks in the photo below.

Guy's Farm, nr. Forton Services

Level 1

The only contact details for this are: Julie Bell Tel (Home) 01995 603301

This is a Guide Association residential centre which has very recently had extensive work to provide an abseil wall and climbing room on the end of the building. The abseil tower is accessed by stairs at the side and provides a very good working area at the top. However, the ropes for the wall have to be set up by opening 'trap doors' so if you have a group abseiling you will need to put up a handrail to stop them from standing above the wall and generally prevent access to this area (the area with a grilled floor in the photo below).

Bowley Campsite, Blackburn

Level 1

Dean Lane, Great Harwood, Blackburn, BB6 7UN.

Tel:01254 884551 email: bowley@elancsscoutcounty.freeserve.co.uk

This is a scout campsite with a tower including climbing. They will accept the Guide Assocation Level 1 Award; you just need to take along your certificate and complete a form. The site themselves do not use the Scout 'M' form at all; there is an in-house qualification. At present we are trying to establich whether this is acceptable to the Guide Association.

Waddow Hall

Level 2

Waddow Hall is a major Girlguiding UK activity centre, and information is best gleaned from the GGUK website's Waddow page at: http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/xq/asp/sID.111/qx/new/centres/waddow.asp

It is mentioned here as there is a small crag in the grounds, and other activities are available. As this is a GGUK centre there are appropriately qualified staff on hand, and visiting GGUK qualified staff are fine.

Top of page

Cliffs Barn, Mawdesley

Level 1

This is an AALA Licensed centre which also has a public climbing wall. If you are receiving instruction from the centre staff this is therefore approved by GGUK. Please contact the wall yourself if you wish to take a group there and have a GGUK Level 1 qualification.

Website: http://www.rocknriver.co.uk/preston.htm

Kirkham Boys Brigade Centre

Level 1

THE BOYS’ BRIGADE
NORTH WEST DISTRICT
TRAINING & CONFERENCE CENTRE
Carr Lane, Treales,
KIRKHAM, Lancashire, PR4 3SS.
Phone: 01772 685000

This large centre has a small climbing wall of bolt on holds on a mezzanine level of a gym/sports hall. There are only a few routes, and it is possible to put up two ropes.

We await more informaation on the qualifications of staff and the use of equipment.