Scout Adventures Great Tower Activity Centre

Scout Adventures Great Tower is a natural home for school and youth groups looking for a brilliant activity day. Our centre is not just a place to visit; it’s a starting point for new adventures, challenges, expeditions and experiences.

We believe in making every visit fun, friendly, adventurous and unforgettable. We’re optimistic about the future and believe anything is possible.

Nestled in the heart of the Lake District near Windermere, Great Tower offers a stunning 250-acre base for adventurous day activities, environmental or field studies and group development exercises. Surrounded by England’s highest peaks, deepest lakes, and breathtaking scenery, Cumbria’s natural wonderland is your playground. 

There’s over 30 on-site and off-site amazing activities to choose from at Great Tower ranging from caving to canoeing, from Ghyll scrambling to mountain expeditions. Our activities are all about values-based team work, and can be tailored to your specific learning objectives.

Scout Adventures Great Tower is owned and operated by The Scout Association – the UK’s leading youth charity in the UK. For over 100 years, we’ve delivered safe, challenging and educational experiences to millions of young people. In line with Scout values (care, respect, integrity, cooperation, exploring our own and others’ beliefs) we believe in preparing young people with skills for life, creating better futures.

We work with schools to deliver amazing and affordable outdoor experiences and help young people achieve their full potential. Our dedicated team can discuss your group’s needs and tailor a package and activity sessions that’s right for your pupils and your budget.

activity centre lake district
outdoor activity centre Cumbria
adventure activity centre windermere

Reach for the stars, feet firmly on the ground, splash about, meet your targets, learn new skills. We have a fantastic range of all-season on site and off site activities to choose from, these include:

Abseiling, Activities in a box, Adventure course, Archery, Backwoods cooking, Bouldering, Bridge building, Campfire, Canoe expedition, Canoeing, Caving, Circus Skills, Crag climbing, Crate stacking, Fell walk, Fire lighting, Gauntlet, Ghyll scrambling, High all aboard, Hike, Jacob’s Ladder, Kayaking, Leap of faith, Low Ropes, Mountain day, Mountain expedition, Orienteering, Pioneering, Raft building, Rafted canoeing, Sensory trail, Shelter building, Stand up paddle boarding, Team building, Tomahawk throwing, Tree climbing.

See all our activities: https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/activities 

Our centres offer a truly unique multi-cultural experience to every school group that visits. Each year, over 120 volunteers from all around the world join our renowned international residential programme. In return they are trained to deliver activities and adventures alongside our professional staff teams that engage, challenge, inspire, and help create memories for young people!

Scout Adventures Great Tower is accredited with the following:

Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge

The LOtC Quality Badge provides a national award combining the essential elements of provision – learning and safety – into one easily recognisable and trusted accreditation scheme for all types of learning outside the classroom provider throughout the UK. This includes museums, art galleries, adventure centres, nature reserves, science learning centres and farms among many other provider types. The scheme is managed and developed by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.

Find out more: www.lotc.org.uk

Adventuremark

Adventuremark is a non-statutory safety scheme devised by the Adventure Activity Industry Advisory Committee (AAIAC) for providers of adventurous activities that are outside the scope of the Adventure Activity Licensing regulations. Adventuremark allows providers to demonstrate that the provider’s arrangements for managing the potential risks of adventure activities have been inspected and found to meet the necessary standards of good practice in the adventure activity industry.

Find out more: www.adventuremark.co.uk

AALA

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) is a UK regulatory body that oversees the safety of providers offering adventure activities to young people under 18. It ensures compliance with safety standards through inspections and licensing, helping to reduce risks in activities like climbing, trekking, and water sports.

Find out more: https://www.hse.gov.uk/aala/

We can accommodate small classes up to full year groups at Scout Adventures Great Tower.

All activity sessions are for a maximum of 12 participants, and each group must have a supervising adult. 

We have a fantastic range of all-season activities which have suitability for ages from 6 to 16 – please visit our website to find out more: 

https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/activities 

We have a full range of planning resources and programme ideas available for schools; visit our website to find out more:  

https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/resources-planning-visit 

https://www.scoutadventures.org.uk/programme-ideas 

Groups are permitted to take photos throughout their activity sessions and their stay. Please notify a member of the team in advance – this is to ensure that correct photo consent protocols are followed for our other guests on site.

Ahead of your booking, we can provide school trip organisers with the following documentation:

-General Scout Adventures Site Risk Assessment
-Great Tower Activities Risk Assessment 
-Public Liability Insurance

Scout Adventures Great Tower operates a peak and off-peak pricing structure:

– Peak: 1st May – 30th September

– Off Peak: 1st January – 30th April & 1st October – 31 December

Our off-peak packages offer flexible, more quieter dates to suit your academic calendar – including Thursday and Friday availability. We can cater for small classes up to entire year groups.

We offer free teacher places for every 12 pupils booked, offered as standard across all our packages.

Prices include VAT on accommodation, camping, catering, equipment and services. All activities and overnight packages are exempt from VAT. Minimum numbers may apply.

Day visit packages

If you’re short on time or looking to fill a gap in your curriculum, come and visit one of centres for the day. We can cater for smaller classes or entire year groups and we have half day and full day package options available, offering two activities or three activities. Choose from a wide range of adventurous activities for a fantastic experience. Our activity days can be structured so your group achieves specific learning objectives, or simply just coming for a fun day out! Add indoor spaces or packed lunches for a hassle-free day.

Programmes will include a mix of both instructed and self-led activities from across categories on our price list, providing a variety of experiences and learning outcomes. We reflect any requests and objectives you give us where possible.

If you would like to stay longer, we also offer several residential packages. Please refer to our residential listing for further details.

We recommend leaving jewellery, valuables and easily damaged items at home.

We recommend wearing quick drying and comfortable light fabrics like fleeces, tracksuits and leggings to allow freedom of movement – avoid jeans, cotton and heavy fabrics. Shorts must be longer than knee length (no skirts or dresses), and tops must cover the whole upper body. 

All long hair must be tied back, ideally secured in a low style to allow for a helmet to be securely worn. Anything around the neck needs to be removed.

Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes. No crocs, sliders, sandals, wellies or high heels. We recommend secure trainers with a good grip!

You may get muddy or wet – please don’t wear your best clothes and bring spares to change into!

We will provide First Aid during instructed activities. Visitors are responsible for their own First Aid at other times, but our staff will offer support if required. 

Defibrillators are located at the main reception building – the code to access these is available from the Duty Manager or the ambulance service.

Wi Fi

Wi-Fi is available from all main buildings – no login details required.

Toilets 

We provide toilet rolls and soap, and clean toilet blocks regularly. Toilet blocks are open to all visitors on centre. We have a number of accessible and all-gender facilities.

Study room or classrooms

If you need a room for any classroom-based sessions, please ask at the time of booking. 

Dining areas

We can arrange packed lunches for your group, or a space for you to eat your own. Please ask at the time of booking. 

Shop

Our on site shop sells a range of snacks, refreshments and gifts. Please ask at reception and the team will be happy to open the shop for you.

We work with groups during our booking process to understand the support requirements for individuals, allowing us to tailor programmes to meet each participant’s needs.

All our sites offer wheelchair accessible indoor accommodation options, and every site has access to equipment and staff trained to support participation in adventurous activities where this is practicable.  Our goal is to ensure that all young people are fully included in the group’s programme, but we also aim to be clear and open with groups when we don’t think we have the skills to support an individual to get the most from their residential.

From start to finish this was an amazing residential for our Year 6 children. The accommodation, the activities, the staff, the food…. all fabulous

Dean Gibson Primary School

We had a fantastic visit from beginning to end. A great experience for both staff and children. Fantastic instructors, delicious food and a warm welcome. Thank you for everything. 

St Thomas’s CE Primary School

Staff and site was great. They really supported our students and ALL staff were amazing. Food was excellent and I would 100% recommend going to this site. The views on the walk were stunning and just made a great experience for all.

Rodillian Multi Academy Trust