Ormside

Ormside is a converted railway station on the scenic Settle–Carlisle line. It is approximately two hours drive from Liverpool and lies just three miles from the historic market town of Appleby.

The Centre is available for hire by both school and private parties, offering an ideal base from which to explore the beautiful area of the Lake District.

HOW TO FIND THE CENTRE

THE CENTRE IS EASILY REACHED FROM THE M6.

FOLLOW THE M6 NORTH.
EXIT AT JUNCTION 38 (TEBAY).
AT THE END OF THE SLIP ROAD YOU WILL COME TO A ROUNDABOUT, TAKE THE FIRST EXIT TO THE LEFT (B6260).
FOLLOW THIS FOR ROUGHLY 17KM THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF ORTON, THEN TRAVEL ACROSS THE MOORS BEFORE PASSING THROUGH THE VILLAGES OF HOFF AND BURRELLS.
AT THE TELEPHONE BOX AT THE END OF THE VILLAGE OF BURRELLS, TAKE THE RIGHTHAND TURN SIGNPOSTED TO ORMSIDE.
TAKE THE NEXT TURNING ON THE LEFT.
FOLLOW THIS ROAD UP AS STEEP HILL, JUST OVER THE CREST OF THE HILL TURN RIGHT.
YOU ARE NOW AT ORMSIDE.

FORM

ACCOMMODATION

THE CENTRE OFFERS A HIGH STANDARD OF ACCOMMODATION ALONG THE LINES OF A MODERN YOUTH HOSTEL PRESENTLY IT CONSISTS OF:

TWO DORMITORIES– EACH SLEEPING 12 PEOPLE.
TWO STAFF ROOMS – EACH SLEEPING 2 PEOPLE.
MODERN FITTED KITCHEN DESIGNED FOR SELF CATERING USE.
COMBINED DINING/LIVING ROOM.
RESOURCE ROOM/CLASSROOM.
SEPARATE MALE AND FEMALE SHOWER AND TOILET FACILITIES.
DISABLED SHOWER AND TOILET FACILITIES.
CLOAK/DRYING ROOM.
RECREATION ROOM.
FULL CENTRAL HEATING THROUGHOUT.

PRIVATE USE

ALTHOUGH USED EXTENSIVELY BY SCHOOLS THE COMPACT DESIGN OFTHE CENTRE MAKES IT IDEAL FOR USE BY PRIVATE PARTIES SUCH AS FAMILY GET-TOGETHERS OR EVEN BUSINESSES FOR THOSE IMPORTANT TEAM BUILDING EXERCISES. PROVIDING THAT THE MINIMUM BOOKING FEES COVERED, THE CENTRE CAN BE BOOKED FOR THE SOLE USE OF PRIVATE PARTIES.

INSURANCE

RUFFWOOD PUPILS TAKING PART IN STAFF ORGANISED VISITS ARE FULLY INSURED FOR ALL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING PERSONAL ACCIDENT INSURANCE. HOWEVER, OUTSIDE AGENCIES SUCH AS OTHER VISITING SCHOOLS, MUST TAKE OUT THEIR OWN INSURANCE COVER FOR ACCIDENTS OFF-SITE, EVEN WHEN ACOMPANIED BY RUFFWOOD STAFF.

A FEW CONDITIONS / RULES

WE CERTAINLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN RULES FOR THE SAKE OF RULES BUT SOME THINGS ARE IMPORTANT FOR EVERY ONES SAFETY AND ENJOYMENTAT ORMSIDE.

PLEASE RESPECT THE STATION AND ITS CONTENTS AS YOU WOULD YOUR OWN, AS OTHER VISITORS WILL WISH TO USE THE FACILITIES IN GOOD ORDER, JUST AS YOU WOULD.
PLEASE REMOVE WET/MUDDY FOOTWEAR BEFORE ENTERING THE STATION.
PLEASE KEEP NOISE OUTSIDE, TO A MINIMUM AFTER 10:30 P.M. AS LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE USUALLY IN BED BY THIS TIME.
PLEASE DO NOT USE BLEACH IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AS THE CENTRE OPERATES WITH A SEPTIC TANK.
PLEASE LEAVE THE STATION AND ITS GROUNDS CLEAN AND TIDY READY FOR THE NEXT VISITORS.
YOUR CO-OPERATION WITH THESE RULES WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

LOTS TO SEE AND DO

Places of Interest

APPLEBY CASTLE — RARE BREED CENTRE AND WATER FOWL COLLECTION, ST. ANNES HOSPITAL (APPLEBY ALMSHOUSES), ST. LAWRENCES CHURCH AND THE TOWN TRAIL, ALL IN APPLEBY. KING ARTHURS ROUND TABLE (EAMONT BRIDGE), MAYBURGH HENGE,BROUGHAM CASTLE, LONG MEG (LITTLE SALKELD). BROUGH CASTLE, PENDRAGON CASTLE (MALLERSTANG VALLEY). ACORN BANK GARDEN (NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTY – TEMPLE SOWERBY), DALEMAIN STATELY HOME (NEAR ULLSWATER) FALCONRY AND CONSERVATION CENTRE ( MALLERSTANG – KIRKBY STEPHEN), HUTTON-IN-THE-FOREST STATELY HOME, LOWTHER LEISURE PARK (NEAR ULLSWATER), WETHERIGGS POTTERY (CLIFTON DYKES), AIRA FORCE WATERFALLS (NEAR ULLSWATER), RUTTER FALLS AND TEA ROOM (NEAR ORMSIDE),WORKING FARM VISITS (CONTACT TOURIST INFORMATION FOR MORE DETAILS).

Recreational Pursuits

APPLEBY RIVERSIDE, WOODLAND AND FELL WALKS, BOWLS AND APPLEBY GOLF COURSE. CUMBRIA CYCLE WAY, FISHING (RIVER EDEN, FLODDERS TARN). RIDING AND TREKKING (SEVERAL LOCAL STABLES CATER FOR ALL DEGREES AND ABILITY. SETTLE/CARLISLE RAILWAY LINE, SQUASH (APPLEBY), TENNIS (APPLEBY, PENRITH OR KIRKBY STEPHEN), SWIMMING (OPEN AIR POOL AT KIRKBY STEPHEN, INDOOR POOLS AT APPLEBY OR PENRITH. A WIDE RANGE OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CLIMBING, SAILING, ABSEILING ETC. ARE ALSO AVAILABLE, FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

APPLEBY TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE. MOOT HALL, BOROUGHGATE, APPLEBY, CUMBRIA, CA16 6XE.

Dear Friend,

I hope you’ll forgive me for writing like this, but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to ORMSIDE.

Since the early 1960’s, Ormside Residential Centre has given young people and parent groups from Kirkby, the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Lake District, meet together in an exciting environment, learn in natures own classroom and reflect on school and community life.

The centre, a picturesque, sandstone railway station based on the scenic Settle-Carlisle railway line was taken over by The Friends Of Ruffwood School in 1963. After a period of intensive fund raising in the community, The Friends were able to purchase the building from British Rail and restore the station to its former glory, facilities have been continually improved with more recent funding kindly donated by The Settle-Carlisle Railway Conservation Area Partnership Scheme in collaboration with English Heritage and Eden District Council.

The Friends can be very proud of this very useful piece of railway heritage which we saved from dereliction and turned into a community facility enjoyed by generations of young people.

Ormside, until now, has been used by mainly groups from Kirkby schools. The Friends are hoping to further develop the centre and extend its use to other community groups, organisations and even business ventures such as team building. To enable this to be a more enjoyable experience The Friends are looking to upgrade the centres on-site amenities, this would enable the facilities and natural environment of the centre to be fully utilised.

We are aware that to take this important step forward , we will need sponsors who will be willing to support this venture and to invest in this important facility.

It is for this reason that we are writing to your organisation to ask if you would kindly consider supporting us, in guaranteeing the future of this important community facility and in developing its use for the pupils, workforce and organisations of Kirkby and surrounding areas, if so, please contact us at the above address/telephone no. in order to discuss your proposal in more detail, alternatively you may wish to make a donation of an amount of your choice, you may even wish to consider a smaller, regular donation by simply completing the enclosed mandate form, either way, we promise to utilise your donation most wisely.

Yours Appreciatively

The Friends Of Ruffwood School

Please make donations payable to: Ormside Residential Centre and addressed to Mrs. Gill Travis c/o Ruffwood Comprehensive School, Roughwood Drive, Kirkby, Knowsley, Merseyside. L33 8XF.

THE FRIENDS OF RUFFWOOD SCHOOL

Ruffwood Comprehensive School.
Roughwood Drive,
Kirkby.
Merseyside. L33 8XF.

Telephone: 0151-546-4394
Mobile: 07769 727036
Fax: 0151-549-1591

TRUSTEES:

Mr. Barry Gilfoyle
Mr. Kevin Dineley
Mrs. Gill Travis
Mrs. Sandra Hobin

Registered Charity No. 526742