Why should I come to Castlerigg?

..because it is a great chance to spend some time away with your friends and to take some time out of your normal life to think about some things that you may not usually get the chance to think about: things like yourself, the people around you, God, life, how you can play your part in the world... that sort of thing. The vast majority of people who come to Castlerigg have a really good time. Have a look at the guestbook and see what people have said.

Is there any reason for me not to come to Castlerigg?

..absolutely anybody is welcome to come to Castlerigg, as long as they respect the place and the people around them and as long as they are open to what the week/ weekend is about. We don't expect anybody to have any specific talents or abilities and we never ask people why they came. Everybody is welcome. It is worth remembering though that Castlerigg is lots of fun, but it's not just a holiday. A course at Castlerigg has a point to it. If you are just looking for somewhere to have a laugh with your mates, and do nothing else then maybe Castlerigg isn't for you.

I am coming to Castlerigg. What do I need to bring?

..well, you will need the normal things for staying away from home, like clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, toiletries etc. You will also need a towel, since towels and toiletries are not provided. Bedding is provided though so you won't need that. Remember as well that there will probably be a disco on the final night - check with your teachers - so bringing clothes to dress up in might be a good plan. You are also welcome to bring personal items for your own entertainment like mp3 players. Do not bring TV sets though!

Is it dead religious?

..obviously Castlerigg is a Christian centre and we exist to help the Church to present the faith to young people. Having said that though a lot of people turn up at Castlerigg expecting to see Monks in habits, or to be attending Mass at 6am every morning. There are different types of 'religious.' We are very serious about our faith, but we never force that upon anybody and everybody is welcome at Castlerigg no matter what they think about religion or God. The activities we do often look at the Christian view of things, but always in a way that is easy to understand and, we hope, not too preachy!

Can we watch the telly?

..the short answer is no! Castlerigg is about community and about spending time with the people you come away with. since watching TV is a fairly personal activity, it is not something we offer. We do, however, offer lots of different ways for people to amuse themselves during their free time, like pool, table tennis, table football, other games, and... talking to eachother.In the case of really important national events, like England playing in the World Cup for example, we will often make an exception to the no TV rule, but this is very unusual.

What sort of things do we do?

..obviously we don't want to give too much away beause that would ruin the fun, but the activities we do include social stuff, games, reflective times, prayer, discussion groups, team building games and other sessions designed to get us thinking about important issues. None of this requires any preparation or special knowledge. It's all quite easy, quite good fun and very different to what you might be used to at school or at Church.

Will I get a signal on my phone?

..yes. It is very good on all networks, but Keswick is outside the video area for '3' and other video networks. Check with your school to make sure you are allowed to bring your phone, though.

Are we allowed out?

..normally, no. At least not by yourselves. But there are times in the week when we leave the centre for activities. Depending on the type of programme, there may also be a trip to Keswick.

What time do we go to bed?

..If you are in year 10 or above, the activities will end at about 10.40 pm. If you are younger then about 10.15 pm. At that point you will go upstairs and from there it is up to your teachers or group staff to decide when lights out etc happens.

I am not a Catholic. Is that a problem?

..no, not at all. Absolutely everybody is welcome at Castlerigg, whether you are a Catholic, a member of another Christian group, a member of another religion or even totally non-religious. We do ask people to accept that fact that we are Catholic and to expect to take part in a Catholic trip with Catholic things. In other words, don't say we didn't warn you that we may make mention of the Catholic Christian faith, but you are welcome here whoever you are!

Is Castlerigg haunted?

..no, no, no, no and no!

Can I smoke at Castlerigg?

..you cannot smoke in the building at all. Whether you are allowed to smoke outside is up to your teachers or group leaders to decide. Don't get too excited though - they usually say no, as I'm sure you would expect.

What other rules are there?

..we try not to have too many rules and the rules that we do have are really just the rules that you would probably have if you were having somebody to stay at your house. We ask people to respect the house and the people they are with and we ask them to be open to what Castlerigg is about.

Do we really go walking? Is it difficult?

..yes we do and no it's not. There are a few very different walks as part of a normal programme, so that people can see a little bit of the area. Everyone in a group will normally manage them just fine and we don't go up the really big hills!.

Do I need to bring walking gear?

..if you have your own walking boots, you are welcome to bring them, but it's not necessary as we have a large supply of walking boots and jackets to issue.

Who do we share rooms with?

..rooms are shared between about 3 and 8 people, with the larger rooms being for girls. It is entirely up to your school to allocate rooms, so speak to your teachers.

What if I need to arrive late or leave early?

..that shouldn't be a problem at all. People quite often leave during a course for sports matches, family funerals etc. You will obviously have to arrange your own travel though.

What's the food like?

..it is all very nice home cooked good quality stuff. There is toast and cereals for breakfast, something hot for lunch and a small desert - biscuits etc - and a full 2-course evening meal. There is also fruit available as you leave the dining room. For those who can't live without sweets, we also have a tuck shop.

What if I am a vegetarian or allergic to something?

..no problem. Tell your school, they will tell us, and there will be alternative meals waiting for you.

Are there plug sockets available?

..of course there are. It's the 21st century!

What time do we get up in the morning?

..any time from about 8.00 am onwards.

I want to come, but can't come with the school. Help?

..well that is what our open retreats are for. If you are in year 10 or older, there are opportunities to come to Castlerigg by yourself or with your friends. There are SIGNPOSTS weekends in Lent and Advent. Click here for information about the next one.

What do you think about the da vinci code?

..it is a brilliant story, no doubt about it, but the 'facts' that it claims to be based on are not really true. See here for details.