Lorne
Contact details:
Lorne House
30 Station Road
Craigavad
Holywood
Co Down
BT18 0BP
Tel: 028 9042 5212
Fax: 028 9042 6025
Email: info@girlguidingulster.org.uk
Website: www.girlguidingulster.org.uk.
Lorne is a 21-acre estate in Northern Ireland with a house and
grounds that provide excellent facilities for all kinds of
guiding activities.
It's an ideal location whether you want to stay on
site, explore local places of interest or enjoy the scenic
beauty of Ulster. The seaside resort of Bangor is just five
miles away and Belfast is only eight miles away.
Built in Scottish-baronial style in 1875 by Henry Campbell,
Lorne takes its name from the hereditary home of the Campbell Clan
in Scotland. In 1946 Ulster Guides purchased the house, which was
officially opened by Her Grace The Duchess of Abercorn in 1947.
A warm welcome awaits whether your visit is for a training or
just for fun.
For guiding and leisure
Activities
Lorne has a great range of both instructor and self-led outdoor
activities. Activities available on-site include archery,
abseiling, river running, bungee trampoline, high-ropes cube
course, crate challenge and many more. There are activities
suitable for all ages and abilities and we have facilities
such as the Rainbow log cabin, which is full of indoor
toys and educational equipment and has an outdoor play
area. There are also a number of indoor activities available for
use.
Wheelchair users are able to take part in archery, and members
with a visual impairment can take part in parachute games, giant
board games, croquet and grass skiing.
Events and business facilities
Lorne can be used for guiding trainings and has excellent
facilities, which include the use of a fully-equipped conference
centre. Events and conferences can be fully catered and adjusted
for any requirements.
Holiday breaks and social functions can be arranged throughout the
year.
Residential
All residential accommodation may be booked by members and
non-members. The indoor accommodation is all suitable for
wheelchair users.
Lorne House, Ranger Cottage and Conference Room have free
Wifi.
Lorne has a number of different residential buildings to
accommodate all sizes of groups. Lorne House currently sleeps 29
and has a range of different-sized rooms, from single occupancy to
dormitories of six. The Coach House sleeps 12 in single or twin
en-suite rooms and can be used with Lorne House for catered
holidays, but also has self-catering facilities. The Marion
Greeves Centre sleeps 38 and comes with a dining room, activity
room, self-catering kitchen and an outdoor patio area. The newly
built Ranger Cottage, located in the woods, sleeps 12 self-catered
with 10 in a dormitory. It has a twin Leaders' room with a sofa bed
in the sitting room for a third Leader. Lorne estate also has
equipped and non-equipped campsites. All sites have access to
modern toilet blocks with showers and most have access to wet
weather shelters, fridges, covered fire places and outside
lighting.
How to find us
By Air - Belfast International Airport (approximately 45
minutes by taxi)
- Belfast City Airport (approximately 15 minutes by taxi)
By Bus - Translink service from Belfast to Bangor. Pass Holywood
village and alight at the stop after the Ulster Folk and Transport
Museum. Turn left into Station Road at the traffic lights, pass
under the railway bridge and Lorne is on the left through
large stone pillars.
By Sea - Belfast docks (approximately 20 minutes)
By Train - Cultra station is approximately 20 minutes' walk on
the Belfast to Bangor Line at the Ulster Folk and Transport
Museum.
By Car - From Belfast follow the A2 signs towards Bangor.
Pass Holywood and follow the signs for Ulster Folk and Transport
Museum. After the museum take the slip road at the next set of
traffic lights. Go under the railway bridge, pass the cottages on
the left and Lorne is through two stone pillars on the
left.