Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling Scheme

This is a small (10m wide, 8m high) wall of the old type built on wall at the end of the school gym. The school don't use it any more as they have no qualified staff, but is is in quite good condition and would be a quite acceptable wall for a local group.

GA Level 1 qualification acceptable for GA; however Oxford LEA need to be approached with your qualification.

Belays not checked - check before using

There is no instruction or equipment available.

Contact: School 01295 253181 Fiona (booking and general queries)

Proof of qualifications and insurance to: Vick Gore, Oxford LEA (County Hall)

Overall: If you couldn't travel to a good indoor wall, this would be a quite acceptable place to run a session or two for beginners.

Gosford Hill School, Kidlington, Oxfordshire

This wall, although listed as one used locally, hasn't been used since at least 1993 according to the school. It is an outside wall on the back of the gym, about 6m high x 7m wide; brick with incuts etc.

To use contact Mr. English and provide proof of liability insurance. At the time of inspection no access to (or knowledge of) belays was available.

Wroxton School, Oxfordshire

This is a tiny primary school in the village of Wroxton. They've never had, nor even heard of, a climbing wall. However, it does appear on a list of climbing locations, apparently a mistake in the stead of Bloxham School.

Bloxham School, Oxfordshire

Bloxham, near Banbury. Tel: 01295 720072 and ask for the Bursar.

This is a large independent school with a very good purpose built climbing wall. There is no equipment for hire, and the school don't require any particular level of qualification to use the wall. Level 1 is fine.

The wall has 3 sides; 1 featured and 2 with incuts and blocks. It's about 8m high.

Banbury Mountaineering Club use the wall Tuesday evenings.

Oxford Brookes University

Gypsy Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP. Tel 01865 484373. email:climb@brookes.ac.uk

Open Mon-Fri 7.30a.m. -11.00p.m.

Rates: £4pp; group of 10 £40 for an hour's instruction, including equipment.

Qualifications: SPA preferred, but GA Level 1 is accepted with a copy of the Guides' Public Liability insurance.

This is a good, modern purpose built climbing wall. It is housed in the sports centre. One room is about 6-7 m high with plenty of routes of all grades; the other about 15m high and equipped for leading.

The wall runs various courses; contact Richard Cole on 01865 484370 or reception 484373.

Overall: This is a good quality wall, ideal for groups.

Youlbury Scout Site, Oxfordshire

Youlbury International Scout Site, Boars Hill, Oxfordshire.

This large scout site has a scaffolding type tower which has one side for use as a climbing wall. They accept the SPA as a qualification and may accept the GA Level 1, but are awaiting a decision on that (Jan 2001). The site has some SPA qualified people who it can call upon should you need their instruction - they also have Scout Form M qualified people - please remember that this qualification is not acceptable to the Guides and ask for SPA qualified people.

If you hire their instruction equipment is provided; however if you want to instruct yourself then you must provide all your own gear.

Costs: with instructor: £18 per hour without instructor: £12 per hour.

Overall: as with many scaffolding towers, rather unappealing for climbing but okay for abseiling - but in this area with few crags perhaps an option. I'd recommend a trip to Oxford Brookes Uni though.

Didcot Leisure Centre, Oxfordshire

Tel: 01491 833251(general) or Wendy 01491 811250

This is a little used wall on the back of the leisure centre in a fenced off area. It is an old wall with blocks and incuts. Apparently the only person who uses it sometimes is a local instructor called Chris Burnell - it may be possible to contact him via the centre, although there was no knowledge of him, or qualification held, at the centre.

The centre would like it to be used more.

Overall: okay for practise if you are local and can't travel to Oxford.

Horley Scout Camp, Horley

Level 1

This site has a small outdoor wall set into the side of an embankment with some home made wooden holds. It would be possible to abseil down one side of this from the top of the bank.

This facility would be suitable for small children in dry weather. There has been a temporary abseil tower on the site on some occasions, but this facility has now been discontinued.

The only instruction available is from Scout Form M staff, and this is not currently acceptable to the Guide Association. Please contact the Warden ('Snowy') for information.

Jubilee House, Stanton St John

Level 1

This site has a well maintained tower about 20 feet high. Several members of staff locally undertook a Level 1 course in 2002 so there should be plenty of approved instruction available!

There will be more information here as soon as possible.

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