Castle Head

Welcome to Castle Head Activity Centre, our dedicated outdoor activity hub located at the southern gateway to the Lake District National Park. Nestled within 20 hectares of private woodland and gardens, our historic Georgian house offers the perfect base for unforgettable outdoor adventures in one of the UK’s most iconic natural landscapes.

The Perfect Lake District Location for Adventure

Situated in beautiful South Cumbria, Castle Head sits between the scenic coast of Morecambe Bay and the breathtaking peaks of the southern Lake District, and is ideally placed for both land and water-based activities. Our Lake District activity centre provides easy access to Windermere, Coniston Water, and the surrounding mountains, making it a great choice for schools, groups, and families looking to explore the great outdoors.

With excellent road and rail connections, reaching Castle Head is simple, yet once yyou arrive, it feels like a true escape into nature.

Outdoor Activity Centre Experiences for All Ages

Whether you’re planning an educational trip, adventure camp or a team-building session, Castle Head offers a wide selection of outdoor activities in the Lake District. Our qualified instructors lead safe, exciting experiences that challenge and inspire visitors of all abilities.

Some of our most popular activities include:

Raft building for stronger team bonds, improved communication skills, and a sense of shared achievement (often with lots of laughter and maybe a few wet clothes!)
Crate stacking is a thrilling team-building challenge where participants work together to safely build and climb a tower of crates as high as possible, testing balance, trust, and communication
Ghyll scrambling is an adventurous activity where participants work together to climb, scramble, and wade through a mountain stream or gorge, building resilience, trust, and teamwork
The vertical challenge is a progressive climbing activity where participants tackle a series of ascending obstacles, building confidence, resilience, and teamwork as they support and encourage one another
The low ropes course is a ground-level obstacle challenge that encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and communication as participants work together to navigate elements requiring balance, coordination, and trust
Canoeing – paddle along local waterways, or lakes, in rafted or individual canoes, promoting teamwork and outdoor exploration
Hill and mountain hikes to explore the iconic peaks the nearby Lake District

All of our activities make the most of our unique surroundings, from the coastal inlets of Morecambe Bay to the glaciated hills and tranquil lakes of the Lake District.

Why Choose Castle Head?

As a well-established activity centre in the Lake District, Castle Head combines expert-led outdoor learning with comfortable accommodation in an historic setting. We welcome schools, youth groups, families, and corporate teams year-round—and tailor each visit to suit your goals, group size, and experience level.

Discover our outdoor activity centre at Castle Head, where adventure, learning, and nature come together. Contact us to plan your visit and experience the best of the Lake District.

Facilities

Bar: We have a licensed bar stocked with local ales and spirits, wines, soft drinks and snacks. This is not available to self-catering groups unless special arrangements are made prior to the visit
Capacity: Castle Head has 33 rooms, which can hold up to 162 people. The accommodation available is spread across two areas.
Car Parking: There is a courtyard with hard parking space for approximately 30 cars, additional soft field parking can be opened (in dry weather) for big events. Large coaches are able to gain access to the centre. Double decker coaches can get down the driveway and turn around. They can either park in the lay-by on the driveway next to the car park (if staying overnight), or they can reverse into the car park and turn around to leave. There is space for three 52 seater coaches.
Children's Facilities: We have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.
Common Room: There are two common rooms at Castle Head. The Hillfoot Common Room (seats around 60 people) and The Chapel (comfortably seats around 80 people or 110 theatre style).
Disabled Access: The location has disabled access.
Disabled Facilities: 1 twin bedroom (room 17) with wheelchair accessible bathroom and shower which can sleep up to 2 wheelchair users.
Games Room: There is a games room which contains a range of games including jenga, connect 4, TV, table tennis, and table football.
Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities accessible around the centre.
Kitchen: Fully catered services for most dietary needs are available, as well as packed lunch making services. Self catering may be available to groups hiring the whole centre.
Library: There is a very small library, often used as a small meeting room for up to 8 people containing round table and chairs.
Linen: All bedding is provided. Please strip your beds on departure.
Lounge: Wilkinson house has an adult lounge (seats around 40 people). It is a comfortable and cosy lounge area with open fire.
Outdoor Clothing: You can hire walking boots, wellingtons, small rucksacks, waterproof trousers and coats
Outdoor Facilities: There is an open-sided bike shelter available. There is also two campfire areas. Firewood is supplied at no additional cost. There is a large front lawn, amphitheatre sloped back lawn, terraced garden and walk along the river. There is an outdoor covered veranda around the building.
Shop: Our shop sells water bottles, snacks and souvenirs as well as a selection of Field Studies Council publications.
Wi-Fi: Free guest Wi-Fi is available throughout the centre.
Workrooms: We have six classrooms located around the centre. All have interactive televisions which can be linked to laptops. We also have one science lab which has a ceiling-mounted projector.

Accommodation

We want your stay to be as comfortable as possible. Our residential centres offer a range of room sizes and layouts from single and twin up to larger dormitories. Note: not all centres have single/twin rooms. All rooms are subject to availability. Some rooms are en suite and others have shower and toilet facilities close by. Please contact us if you want to discuss your room requirements.

Each centre also has places to relax during any free time such as a lounge, games room and outdoor space.

Food

For one day visits you are usually asked to bring a packed lunch unless it is specified otherwise.

Residential visits include freshly prepared seasonal meals, with a hot breakfast, packed lunch and choice of evening meal. Food is sourced locally wherever possible and we can cater for most dietary requirements. All of our residential centres have been awarded the Soil Association’s Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award which recognises organisations which go the extra mile to make sure visitors are receiving healthy, nutritious and sustainable meals.

To get a better idea on what food we offer at our centres, please see our sample meals

Local area

Explore:

Field sites close to the centre

Virtual tour Video tour of the area

Travel to Castle Head

Navigate with:

As part of our environmental commitment we encourage all visitors to travel by coach, train or public transport.

By road – From Ulverston to Castle Head Field Centre: Follow the B5271 to Lindale village. From M6 to Castle Head Field Centre: Exit the M6 at junction 36. Follow the A590 then
the B5277. The postcode in the Satnav will take you to Lindale village. The Centre is signposted off the B5277 just east of Lindale on a sharp bend. Castle Head is about ½ mile down the little lane – you will see the main house in front of you, follow the road round to the right and the car park will be on the left. If arriving by coach, once you arrive at the Centre, due to limited turning area, it is easier to drive past the entrance to the car park and reverse in.

By train – The nearest (local) railway station is one mile away at Grange over Sands (five minutes drive). It is connected to the main west coastline at Lancaster and Preston. Local taxis are available but need to be booked in advance as it’s a rural area.

By bus – The X6 bus connects Ulverston with Lindale. National Express coaches connect with many parts of the country. Minimal public bus services that run past the Centre

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