We provide fun, challenge and adventure to over 1400 young people in North Lancashire – #SkillsForLife
We provide fun, challenge and adventure to over 1400 young people in North Lancashire – #SkillsForLife

Littledale Scout Activity Centre

Littledale Scout Activity Centre, formally the T. W. Helme Memorial Campsite, is in Littledale near Brookhouse, Caton, in the delightful Lune Valley.

(OS Ref: SD 5538 6231)

We’ve added the what3words address to our location to make it easier to find. Simply click on the link or enter the 3 words into the free what3words app to view the precise location on a map.

what3words address: ///removals.pink.intervals

Or to see directions on how to find us, please click here.

Photo Gallery

Location

Littledale Scout Activity Centre is situated south of the village of Brookhouse and is eight miles from Lancaster and the site is only eleven miles from Morecambe Bay. It is set in the Forest of Bowland, which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Littledale is ideal for most Scouting and Guiding pursuits and for DoE expeditions.

The campsite is set in fourteen acres of pleasantly wooded valley, bounded on the west side by Artle Beck.

To the South of the site are the moorland fells of the Forest of Bowland and to the North you may go down to the Lune Valley and the River Lune.

The camping areas are suitable for all types of camping.

Click on image for interactive map
Click on image for interactive map

Facilities

“Long Panther” Lodge

LPL-2015This is a refurbished double-glazed building with some facilities for wheelchair users.

The building has accommodation for 30 people, in six dormitories with wooden bunk beds with mattresses.

Room sleeping sizes (4 x 6, 1 x 2, 1 x 4).

The kitchen has stainless steel worktops, 6-burner gas cooker and a water heater.

There is also a small commercial fridge and freezer.

Crockery and cooking utensils for 30 people are provided.

There is an outdoor coat area with heaters for drying wet coats and boots.

For the colder weather central heating is installed within the lodge.

The lodge has its own indoor toilets suitable for wheelchair users, two washrooms and three showers.

The 25 ft square dining room can double up as an activity room, if needed, in bad weather.

The lodge is also a suitable venue for larger training courses for youngsters and adults alike.

The doors on the (4 x 6, 1 x 2, 1 x 4) dormitories have been widened to allow access for wheelchair users.

The Lodge has been approved as a suitable place for Brownie Pack Holidays.

Items that you need to bring to the campsite.

Tea towels, sleeping bags, pillows, personal washing equipment, matches for the gas cooker, food and drink.

The Toilet block

The toilet block (refurbished 2020) with hot showers is available for groups that are camping.

There are toilets available for wheelchair users.

There are water points on site by the main buildings.

The Barn

The barn is open sided and was part of the old mill complex.

It is a multi-purpose area for wet weather activities.

It is open for all to use, both campers and groups using ‘Long Panther’ Lodge.

Camping Areas:-

The Main Field

This is ideal for camping with larger numbers, or two small camps.
It is suitable for team games or large group activities.

The Floodplain

This is near to the beck and is ideal if you wish to include for example:
A small raft building while on your camp. It is large enough for Troop or Pack Camps.

The Millrace

Is suitable for small Troop or Pack Camps.
The camping area is also near the beck and is an ideal area for trying pioneering whilst on your camp.

The Top Field

Has direct access from the Littledale road. The camping area is suitable for one large camp or two small camps with enough space left for team games or activities. There is a small toilet block located between the Top Field and Silver Birch.

Top field toilet block
Top field toilet block

Silver Birch

Has access from the Littledale road by a single small gate.
The area is large enough for Troop or Pack Camps.

The Bowl

Is a flat area by the beck at the far end of the Campsite. It is suitable for backwoods camping.

A car park has been made on the Littledale road for cars to use when we open this part of the campsite for camping in the near future. At the moment people using the campsite can use it for special activities that they may need to do away from the camping areas, e.g. wide games. At certain times of the year the greenery can be used for making bivvys.

To see a map of the site click here

General Information

The campsite has an open-air Chapel and a campfire circle set on a wooded hillside.

The main field is ideal for having joint activities, team games etc with other campers.

The beck is suitable for bridge building, pioneering, small rafts but not paddle sports.

The wooded areas are great for tracking, nature trails, ornithology etc.

The cliffs along the beck are not safe for climbing or abseiling, but the crags nearby (1.5 km, GR SD 543 617) are suitable.

Crate stacking is available – you need to be signed off to run it.

We also have a public telephone in a call box on the campsite. Please note that there is no signal in the valley for mobile phones etc. Wi-Fi is available – please contact the Duty Warden.

Fires

Wood fires are allowed on all camping areas by using altar fires only, which we have available for the campers only. Fires must NOT be lit directly on the grass.

There is also a campfire circle and seating area near to the beck, to the left hand side of the Barn and ‘Long Panther’ Lodge.

First Aid

Groups should provide their own general first aid equipment.
Any accidents must be reported to the campsite warden and details recorded in the site’s Accident Book.

Souvenirs & Tuck Shop

The shop has Scouting and other souvenirs and badges, sweets etc.
The Warden will arrange for it to be opened during your visit.

Places of Worship

Brookhouse (3 km’s) and Caton (4 km’s) have churches for major denominations.

Shops

Caton village has a Co‑op Late Shop, newsagent, butcher, chemist and a post office.

Additional Information

Walks in Littledale:

  1. Littledale Circular (Leaflet) 3.5 miles OS Route Map
  2. Caton Village (Leaflet)  5.4 miles OS Route Map
  3. Riverside Walk (Leaflet) *From Bull Beck SD 542 649 – requires transport 3.6 miles OS Route Map
  4. Annas Ghyll Walk (Leaflet) 5.2 miles OS Route Map

 **The leaflets produced by the local Council only cover parts of the routes for these walks, which in our case mainly start from the Activity Centre. Please print off the maps (links above) to view the whole routes.

Littledale is within one hours drive of the Lake District. The Trough of Bowland is about half an hour away.

Lancaster, Morecambe, Blackpool, Ingleton, the Yorkshire Dales and the caves at Clapham are ideal for day trips out.

Archery, shooting, and bouldering are available through the warden. An assault course is also available at no extra cost.

A full copy of the Campsite Health & Safety Policy Document is available at the Campsite.

Just in Case

Caton Health Centre, Hornby Road, Caton. Tel: 01524 770718
Open Monday to Friday but the times may vary.

Nearest A&E is at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Ashton Road, Lancaster  LA1 4RP  Tel: 01524 65944

Campsite Rules & Brochure

Full campsite rules can be found here.

Bookings

Bookings can be made online, where you can also check to see what facilities are available. The booking calendar is updated as soon as possible after a booking.

Click here to go to the booking page.

Acquisition of Littledale

History of Crossgill Mill