Cheshire Scouts run the outdoor centre at Tatton Park and it is now a County campsite, so it will be possible to book the facilities for camping. 

Facilities available for hire include a large camping field, a kitchen with equipment to cater for large groups, classroom / dining area. Showers / toilets (M&F), all of which is accessible by wheelchair.

Electricity by generator.

Access to Tatton facilities, Orienteering, raft building and County Water Activities by arrangement with the appropriate section contacts.

Day Fee: £2.00 per head

Bookings: Dave Metcalf 22 Station Road, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 7AY  (0709 2293179)  www.cheshirescouts.org.uk , email: tattonbookings@cheshirescouts.org.uk

We have 7 Kayaks on a trailer available for courses or independent use. There are canoes at Forest Camp for use on the round pool. It is possible to use the facilities at the Riverside Centre, Chester and at Tatton.

Tatton Park: 7 GP Kayaks are kept on a trailer with paddles, buoyancy aids and helmets. 4 Open Canoes on a trailer with bouyancy aids and paddles

Cost: Kayak. Single boat, £10.00 per day, £15.00 weekend, £50.00 per week. 7 Boats on the trailer £50.00 per day, £75.00 per weekend, £100.00 per week.

Cost: Open Canoe.  Single boat, £10.00 per day, £15.00 per weekend, £50.00 per week. 4 Boats on trailer, £40.00 per day, £60.00 per weekend, £100.00 per week

Chester: Single boat, £10.00 per day, £1.50 per night

All Boats, £40.00 per day, £10.00 per night.

Bookings:-Alan Reay Clemley View, Ashton Lane, Ashton Chester CH3 8AA (01829 751252)

Canals and Other Waters

The canals, rivers, lakes and meres of Cheshire offer many oppotunities for water activities, but please check the grade of water before you take Scouts out on it.  You will certainly need your D.C's permission, you will usually need a Water Authorisation (Form W) and a current First Aid Certificate.  If you are not sure please ask your District Water Adviser whose name is listed on this site.

This is a developing area in Cheshire Scouting and people wishing to gain an authorisation should seek advice from Garick Barton (01829 733681), an open canoe coach.

Canadians are owned by a number of Groups and Peter Slater has a list of contacts, re. Loans.

Cheshire Scouts have an RYA recognised teaching establishment at TPSC for dinghy sailing levels 1,2,3 and racing level 4. Sailing courses are available at Tatton to suit needs from complete beginner upwards: £10.00 per head per day in groups most weekends from May onwards. Race training courses (Level 4) are available subject to demand.

The fleet consists of 6 toppers, 1 enterprise, 1 Flipper, 1 Splash, an Otter, a Laser fun, 2 Wayfarers and Topaz Trez.

Assistant instructor training will be arranged. The award is valid for 5 years and qualifies the holder for a Scout Instructor badge.

Groups with the appropriate qualifications can apply through us to register boats for use at TSPC for the season or the CSSCA for access to Budworth Mere, and participation in their endurance race and summer / Autumn regattas.

A member of the team may be able to visit your Scout Group to cover the theory element of the RYA sailing awards and prepare for the practical sessions.  Dates in February, March or April preferred, subject to availability of personnel.  A Topper training video is available.

We have our own 40-foot ‘Cheshire Dragon’ at the Riverside Centre, Chester. You provide up to 20 paddlers and a drummer and you must arrange to provide the helmsman. Why not make up a team with another Scout or Guide Group?

DRAGON BOAT PROFICIENCY BADGE. Cheshire’s own badge as featured in Nov 98 Scouting Magazine has now been officialy adopted by The Scout Association. Work towards this badge – book 3 sessions in advance and get a discounted rate of £84. (Subject to change)

Hire Charges: Scouts and Guides £35.00 per evening or half day and £50.00 per day

Non Scouting Organisations £40.00 per session or £60.00 per day

Cheshire Scouts have 4 Bell Boats, 2 at Tatton Mere and 2 at Chester  (as used at Chamboree 98).  These open canoe / catamaran craft are very safe and stable and will each take 10 – 12 paddlers and helm. Why not make up 2 teams and have a race session. Helms trained very quickly.

Hire Charges: Scouts and Guides - £25.00 pr session or £40.00 per day.

Non Scouting Organisations - £40.00 per session or £60.00 per day.

The centre is available for groups to conduct their own water activities e.g. canoeing, as well as Dragon Boating.

Once again we are running other weekends, sailing on 'Therapy', a Feeling 39, from Conwy, by arrangement with Dudley.   We have details of Scout Offshore yachts etc. with places available on Tall Ships Races and Cruises.

Contact: - Dudley Pittman (01606 76270) 

Cheshire Scouts have an RYA recognised teaching establishment at TPSC for power boating levels 1 & 2 (inland) for both displacement and planning craft.

Training/Assessment days are to be held at TPSC, subject to a minimum course size of 4 students.  Direct assessment to level 2 available. 

We would welcome any PL, Explorer Scout or Leader wishing to take up power boating or develop their experience by operating the safety craft for training weekends or dingy sailing.

The 13 ft / 25hp County Dory ‘Cheshire Scout’ is available as a safety boat for events, camps etc. Subject to authorisation.

Hire Cost: £35.00 per head per day

The Authorisation system covers ‘Underwater Swimming’.  Four instructors in 4 one-hour pool sessions can train twenty Scouts for the BSAC Snorkelling Diver Award, with equipment hire from the diving shop in Macclesfield.  About £25 total per Scout.

There are 2 traditional Ironbridge Coracles as seen at Chamboree available for groups to use.

You bring a towel and trainers; we supply the rest at Tatton Mere. After dressing up in a wetsuit, you will get used to a board on the water, learn basic manoeuvres on a land simulator, practise on an anchored board and finally sail free, all on the first day!

Adult help is always welcome.  We can assist with instructor development.

Level 1/2/3 courses available by arrangement if there is sufficient demand

(L1 for Watersports badge.  L2 for authorisation.)

We can bring a video and a board along for a preview.

Bookings: - Mike Walker

Sea Scouting

Vernon Henry (01928 711495) has a wealth of experience, and can help to set up a Sea Scout troop, or offer any other advice on Sea Scouting, Seamanship Badges etc.

Contacts

For any water activity except swimming, even on the safest of water, you need your DC’s agreement. This is to ensure that you know about swimming rules, buoyancy aids, boat inspections, marine insurance and relevant fact sheets.

Each district has a Water Adviser who is there to help in any way possible – usually your best starting point.  

Please see further pages marked :- District Advisers / County Advisers.