Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling Scheme

Directions: 4 miles SW of Alnwick. There is a long straight road going West, then as this straight ends continue 1 more mile. There are a few rocks on the left skyline by the road. Continue another 200m and on the R (N side of the road) are 2 pull-ins. These are at the top of the crag. The crag faces north.

This is a sandstone crag up to about 18m high in places, excellent for group use and in a scenic setting.

There are some tree and boulder belays, but these don't cover all the climbs and there is some decision making to be made concerning belays - SPA essential.

Overall: a superb crag. Good supervision/belay choice etc. needed.

Whickham Thorns Centre, Gateshead

Whickham Thorns Outdoor Activity Centre, Market Lane, Dunston, Tyne & Wear NE11 9NX.

Tel: 0191 460 1193

Location: Take the A1 north as far as the Metro Centre turn. Turn L at top of slip road; at the mini roundabout turn R; go 700 yards and the centre is on your right.

The climbing wall: This is a small wall made with breeze blocks and incuts with some bolt on holds. There are crash mats at the base, and scaffold bars for the ropes along the top of the wall. Ropes aren't provided. The wall is about 6m high.

Other facilities: There is a ski slope, and the centre run a wide range of other activities Staff: The centre have their own staff and run a variety of climbing sessions. Call for more info.

Qualifications: the centre do not accept the GA Level 1 Award and would require an SPA to instruct there. They don't need to see any proof of liability insurance.

Concordia Leisure Centre, Cramlington

Forum Way, Cramlington, Northumberland, NE23 6YB.

Tel: Bookings: 01670 717421 General: 717423 Fax: 590648

Qualifications: Level 1 acceptable; you just need to sign to verify that you are qualified and don't need to produce liability insurance or evidence of your qualification.

This is a steep wall about 10m high, of good quality. There are no ropes provided so you need to lead to the top. The main wall isn't really suited to groups unless they are quite experienced and the wall is quiet, as the wall is not too wide so floor space is limited. This is mainly a leading wall; the standard is good and most of the wall is overhanging except for small side panels. There is a small side room with block incuts and bricks with scaffold bars for belaying - this would be better for a small group.

Overall: A good wall but really for experienced climbers. You could take a group there at quiet times successfully.

Hawkhirst Scout Camp, Kielder, Northumberland

Hawkhirst Scout Activity Centre
Kielder Water
Hexham
Northumberland NE48 IQZ

Tel: +44 (0) 1434 250 217
Email hawkhirst.activity.centre@scout.org.uk
web: http://www.scouts.org.uk/sac/guide_navigation.php?pageid=2418

Facilities: Camping and indoor accommodation with activities including canoeing, kayaking, rafting, bell boating, climbing, abseiling and archery

This is a 70 acre campsite on the shores of Kielder Water. Sites are in clearing sin the forest and the place is deceptively large.

On site is a scaffold built abseil tower, purpose built by Rockworks. It has 2 abseil sides and one climbing face. There is also a small indoor bouldering facility for bad weather.

Instruction - this is now a Scout National Centre, and therefore activities covered by the Climbing & Abseiling Scheme are approved by Girlguiding UK.

There is a great variety of other activities at this site; it is very remote so generally climbing would be part of a longer camp.

Overall: An average climbing facility, but an excellent campsite so as part of a larger venture this would be ideal.

Dilston Scout Camp, nr. Corbridge, Northumberland

SPA (plus assistant required)

Dilston Scout Camp, Hexham, NE46 1JO. Tel: 01434 633908

Warden: David Hawkins Tel 01434 674059

Web: click here for the Scoutbase entry

This is a lovely campsite next to a river, which has a 15-20 foot stone bridge across it. The side of this bridge provides an abseil down the bank/wall of the bridge. The abseil is fine, but the setup of the anchor needs some care. The tree above the abseil is very large and a suitable anchor, but is not perfectly in line and care is needed in selecting the right part of the tree and lining up the ropes. However any competent SPA should be able to set this up with no problems.

The site don't currently use the abseil much, and there are no instructors or equipment available - but you are welcome to use it.

This site has been given Level 3 rating as the abseil is not entirely straightforward in terms of setup or group management on the bank/bridge. A competent assistant must be used to help with group management; don't forget that water is present and judge conditions carefully.

Moor House Adventure Centre, Rainton, Co Durham

Level 1

Rainton Gate, Houghton le Spring, DH4 6QY.

Tel: 0191 584 1703 Web: www.durhamscouts.org.uk

This is a large adventure centre with an AALA licence as well as the county Scout HQ. There is a high scaffold built abseil/climbing tower with one high side for climbing plus a shorter side, as well as a few abseiling faces. The tower is fine but access to the top is very open and care must be taken with the supervision of participants; all participants MUST be belayed whilst climbing the ladders and clipped on at all times, and instructors must be tied on at all times.

Other facilities: The centre runs a wide range of other activities including Archery, Target shooting, Off-Road buggies, Crate stacking, Pioneering, orienteering and even have a computer suite in the 38-bed accommodation block. National Governing Body award courses are run periodically for SPA, GNAS(Leader),NSRA, Food Hygiene and First Aid.
Off-site courses are also held for Mountain Navigation. Details of all these can be found on their websites: www.durhamscouts.org.uk and www.moor-house.org.uk

The centre offers qualified instruction, and as an AALA centre with offsite climbing too they have staff who are assessed by an MIC - therefore they are acceptable under the GGUK climbing scheme and you are able to use them to instruct your group. The site have a Guider who holds the GGUK Level 1 and 2 Awards on their staff, and accept the Level 1 as appropriate for visiting instructors.

Beanley Scout Site

Level 3 (SPA)

There isn't a permanent scout campsite at Beanley, but periodically camps are held here from which activities are based. This includes climbing which takes place at Corby's Crag (see above). This is run by local Scouts, contact Simon Miller on 07949 247346. Please insist on an SPA (not Scout SPA) qualified instructor - there are at least two available.

Beanley is a small village just east of Powburn, where there is a residential Scout centre.

Beanley Crag

Do not use

This very small crag is mentioned in some guides but really is not worth the walk. About 6m high, there are no belays at all on the bracken-covered top, and the climbs are not suitable for youngsters or a group. There are no belays for abseiling either. It is recommended that GGUK groups do not use this crag.

Details can be found at: http://thenmc.org.uk/onlineguide/index.php?v=4&s=3&sid=1&id=3&sid=1

Eldon Square Leisure Centre, Newcastle

SPA

This council run facility was primarily designed for boulderers, although climbing groups are welcome. All staff who instruct are SPA qualified or assessed by an MIA and are accepted by GGUK.

Eldon Square

Newburn Leisure Centre

Level 1

Grange Road, Newburn, NE15 8ND.

Tel: 0191 264 0014

This well appointed and run leisure centre has a good indoor wall with a variety of routes.

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