Castle Quarry Training Centre offers a range of courses and activities both indoors and outside on our 30 acre site. Our professional staff can tailor activities and courses to the requirements of corporate groups and youth organisations. The Centre is based at Tytherington, near Thornbury, just North of Bristol and about 5 miles from the M4/M5 junction.

Visitors' Comments, Brief History of the Castle Quarry Centre, About Scout Enterprises

Some of our visitors' comments...

Something people learned about themselves at Castle Quarry Activity Centre:

That I was prepared to throw myself into anything and have fun.

That if I tell myself I can do something, I can probably do it.

If you work as a team you solve things much quicker.

I was determined to do everything..

I can push myself really hard.

I can achieve if I try hard.

I CAN DO IT!

It isn't always as scary as it seems....

... I like cheering people on.

Castle Quarry gets 10 out of 10 because:

Everyone gets included.

It was great fun and challenging, but you have to communicate with others.

The instructors always helped us...

The instructors were really kind and all of the activities were fun and interesting.

Its a brilliant place to have fun..

The activities are really adventurous.

The instructors were friendly and helpful and kept you safe.

It really challenges you mentally and physically.

All the instructors helped you with difficulties.

The activities were fun and rewarding.

The activities kept you interested and the instructors were very patient.

It wasn't all easy, it was challenging at times, but your friends and the instructors boost your confidence.

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A brief history
The idea to convert Castle Quarry in to an activity and training centre was suggested by Tony Spooner (Training and H&S Manager of Scout Enterprises) in 1999, after many years of teaching at this location.  Tony discussed his idea with Ray Smith (CEO of Scout Enterprises) and almost immediately Ray put the idea in to motion after getting the idea passed by the board.  Within months Ray had purchased Castle Quarry from Hanson on behalf of the company and developments were under way to build the first activities which included a tunneling network, an outdoor archery range, team building activities and the reconstruction of the main building in to a climbing and indoor action centre.
Tony surrendered his position as the company training manager to focus on his plans to develop Castle Quarry and the opportunity for 'off site' activities and training courses by securing accreditation by nationally recognised awarding bodies for professional development. Soon after Scout Enterprises were offering Mountain Leadership (MLTB) courses (now known as MLTE - Mountain leader Training England). Canoeing Courses through the British Canoe Union (BCU), and specialised First Aid Courses in namely Aquatic First Aid and High Country First Aid to cater for professionals in the outdoors. These courses have been delivered as far away as the Alps for British Forces and Activity Instructors plus we have local contracts with councils and large businesses.
Alan Peplar who is the Business Manager for the South West of England has moved his office to Castle Quarry and uses this beautiful location for strategy meetings and conferences and to help take our version of 'Eden Project' forward.
In the past few years Scout Enterprises has secured a contract to monitor first aid courses on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) throughout the UK. As a result of this contract Tony no longer offers First Aid at Work out of respect but specilised courses remain.

The action centre is known today as the Nichols Centre, named after David Nichols, Chairman of Scout Enterprises.  This building was reconstructed over a four year period and now offers:  Training Facilities, Meeting Rooms, Indoor Archery, Indoor Shooting, Virtual Ice Climbing Walls, Bouldering Chamber, Climbing Walls with various difficulties, Team building, Abseiling Chimney and just outside there’s a large picnic area.
Phase Two of the project focused on constructing a sustainable lake for water sports and the local environment by working with other charities and having a bore hole developed to fill the lake throughout the year.  Plants and a pump based waterfall have been added for aeration to keep the lake healthy and sustainable.  Today the lake serves as a source of energy for lots of wildlife in the area.
Castle Quarry is today a beautiful activity centre offering an aerial runway across the lake, there’s a second building called The Smith Centre (named after Ray Smith) which businesses can use for meetings and hot desking; fitted with full disabled facilities).   There is a second picnic area next to the lake, the outdoor archery range has been reconstructed in another location to protect local wild life and there are changing rooms with shower blocks available along with a storage building.
Today this is a favourite location for schools and youth groups generally within 20 miles.  We also serve charities, businesses, local government funded schemes and jobcentre plus programmes.
Alongside the development of the activity centre, CQ has continued to serve as a resource centre for professional training courses, especially in First Aid, H&S, Archery, Fire Safety, Minibus Driving, Mountain Leadership, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and Education for all.

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The Rest of Scout Enterprises in England and Wales:

Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd. is a Registered Charity and non-profit Company Limited by Guarantee, formed in 1983 by volunteer adult leaders of the Scout Association in Bristol North West District. The Charity's prime aims are to provide work experience and training for unemployed people; to establish and support schemes and centre's where people may be trained in employment; and to advance the education of the public, in particular those unemployed. The Company started up as a Provider for the Government's Community Programme. Following its success running projects in Bristol, further projects were opened in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Berkshire and South Wales.

When Community Programme finished in September 1988, Scout Enterprises (Western) Limited became an Accredited Training Centre for City and Guilds of London Institute and the Royal Society of Arts; and a Training Manager for the Employment Training Scheme. Training was delivered in a wide variety of technical and non-technical skills, throughout the same areas.

In July 1991, Scout Enterprises (Western) Limited moved into the field of Employment Service (now Job Centre Plus) Programmes, operating Jobclubs and Jobsearch courses throughout England and Wales. We came up with the idea of Mobile Jobclubs, traveling fully equipped to five locations a week, which proved highly successful. Scout Enterprises was a large provider for the ES Community Action programme from 1993 to 1996, running contracts in North and Mid Wales, in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, with considerable success, having in excess of 500 participants before the closure of the programme. The Company also became a large provider to Training and Enterprise Councils for Pre-Vocational Training and Training for Work. We have operated a number of successful pilot projects for the ES, including Project Work Basic Skills and Drop-in Centre's, and created the innovative Lifecycles recycling scheme.

In 1998 the Company secured contracts to operate the New Deal programme in the Gateway, Voluntary and Environmental sections, and to operate Programme Centre's and (in North Wales) Hybu Gwaith, which took over from Jobclubs. Initially through the Training and Enterprise Councils and now through the Learning and Skills Councils, we provide Work Based Learning for Adults, Youth Training and Modern Apprenticeships. Through the Intermediate Labour Market in North Wales and other schemes we offer a computer recycling service combined with a work training and skills programme. The Company has since gained contracts for New Deal 25+ and New Deal for Musicians. It offers a wide range of accredited IT Training, Further Adult education, approved First Aid and other Health & Safety courses, and an increasing range of outdoor activity training. The Company runs various projects funded by the European Social Fund, aimed at getting unemployed people back to work, helping inner city regeneration, and Capacity Building.

With its concern for people at a disadvantage, the Company provides pre-employment training for people recovering from mental illness, in collaboration with Health Authorities and Social Services, running projects in Bristol and Gloucestershire. We are contracted to Job Centre Plus for New Deal for Disabled People in Gloucestershire and the West of England, and for the Work Preparation Programme in the South East, West of England and in North Wales.  In the South East region and in Gloucestershire we provide Support Worker services for those requiring help to stay in employment, through the Access to Work scheme. New programmes focus on helping asylum seekers into employment.

By 2004 when Castle Quarry was officially opened, Scout Enterprises employed some 400 people, working from many premises ranging geographically from North Wales through the Midlands, South West and the South East of England.

Scout Enterprises (Western) Limited and its staff have, over the years, accumulated considerable knowledge and experience of working with and assisting the long term unemployed. The staff are committed to the aims of the charity, and take pride in knowing that they have helped many people achieve their goals. 

For more information please visit the main charity website www.scout-enterprises.co.uk

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