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Oaklands Manor, World Challenge Expeditions' Leadership and Development Centre in Buxton, is set in 38 hectares of private moorland on the edge of the rugged Peak District, with direct access to the surrounding National Park. Five full-time instructors and up to 400 freelance instructors along with 25 centre based staff work at the centre where safety is our top priority to ensure that you and your pupils have a successful, fun and rewarding experience.
Facilities include bunk accommodation for up to 40, a fully equipped lecture hall with capacity to seat 120 and designated camping facilities in the surrounding areas including our own Moss House farm and low ropes course. All camping areas include a base camp where teachers and pupils can enjoy the creature comforts of showers and cook tents.
Situated in the heart of the Peak District National Park, Castleton is a perfect place to study a ‘contrasting locality’, following its development from the building of its Norman castle, the heyday of its lead mining, rope and candle industries through to today’s thriving tourism enterprises. The hostel is within easy walking distance of Castleton’s fascinating caves and mines, the still imposing ruins of Peveril Castle, the village’s 13 th Century church and the National Park Study Centre at Losehill Hall.
The hostel, created from an 18 th Century house and adjacent 19 th Century vicarage, has two lounges and a lounge for group leaders. There are a games room, small library and multi-purpose workrooms ranging in capacity from 12-40. A variety of teaching support resources are available, such as worksheets, trails, quizzes, survey data, led and self led activities and talks. Free coach parking available. Breakfast, picnic lunches and evening meals are available. The hostel also has a licensed bar.
Brancaster Millennium Activity Centre (BMAC) occupies an area at the head of one of the creeks in Brancaster Staithe harbour and is part of the National Trust's NorfolkCoast property. At BMAC, pupils discover more about themselves and the natural world through a mix of field studies, team building challenges and outdoor pursuits. The building itself, with its advanced renewable energy systems and environmentally sustainable features, provides an inspiring and unique backdrop to student learning.During their stay, they are challenged to think of ways in which they can reduce their impact on the natural world and are actively involved in the recycling, composting and water-saving programmes integral to the management of the Centre.
Key Features:
Kingswood's leading Educational Activity centre at Overstrand Hall was once a turn-of-the-century country estate. This has been lovingly transformed into a superb residential educational activity centre set amidst landscaped & wooded grounds. The educational activity centre hosts residential school trips and educational visits throughout the year. A wide variety of programmes are available for all key stages including ICT, science, personal development and Lifeskills.
Originally a dedicated field study centre, the Hall is moments from the North Norfolk coastline which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Overstrand Hall remains one of the most popular residential centres for field trips and environmental study.
Challenging Activities
Close to the main building, set among mature trees and shrubs, is an outdoor activity park where pupils face challenging adventures, which range from abseiling to orienteering. Here too, they can tackle a low ropes course, Quad-biking, laser-quest, submerge underground in our artificial caving system, solve a whole series of demanding initiative exercises, fire an arrow or learn to fence - the list is endless. This is where they discover the importance of teamwork on our challenge course or learn to swallow their fears as they try out the climbing tower.
Norfolk’s leading educational activity centre is a former girls' private boarding school set in pine-fringed grounds. The West Runton educational activity centre hosts residential school trips and educational visits throughout the year. A wide variety of programmes are available for Key Stage 3 students including ICT, environmental field studies, science, personal development and Lifeskills.
Kingswood also has a thrilling adventure activity programme and West Runton facilities include quad and kart tracks, a treetop challenge ropes course, indoor and outdoor climbing facilities, archery ranges, swimming pool, underground caving complex and abseiling towers.
The main building incorporates dormitory and recreational areas including an all-weather activity centre, cinema, entertainment hall, teacher retreat as well as 9 ICT labs and environmental classrooms.
The centre is perfectly appointed, perched on majestic cliff-tops, overlooking the North Norfolk coastline.
Operated in partnership with the Lake District National Park Authority, the Centre occupies a dramatic setting on the south west side of Blencathra mountain near Keswick. Gardens and grounds with living willow structures and ponds provide interest and inspiration for visitors on a variety of courses. Red squirrels frequent the grounds and can be seen from the comfort of the dining room.The site offers a magnificent panorama of the Lake District with its rich tapestry of England's highest mountains, quiet pastures, wooded valleys, streams, lakes and settlements which provide a focus for the Centre's activities.
Habitats include freshwater, sand dunes and rocky shores together with moorlands and a wide variety of woodlands. For geographers there are opportunities to study upland glaciation, soils, ecosystems, agriculture and hydrology. There are also a wide variety of settlements and Carlisle is only 35 minutes away. The National Park also provides an excellent outdoor classroom for investigating tourisms and conflicts of use.
Castle Head has a secluded setting in the Cartmel peninsular, with the fells and valleys of the Lake District to the north, and the open expanses of Morecambe Bay to the south. Despite its rural location Castle Head is easily accessible by rail and road; Grange Station and the M6 both less than 15 minutes drive away.
The Centre includes a beautiful 1780 country house built by John Wilkinson, the Ironmaster. This original building has been extended to provide comfortable accommodation for up to 120 visitors, including facilities for visitors with disabilities. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. Space and privacy are provided by the 12 hectares of woodlands and meadows of the grounds.
Many of our activities take place in the grounds or within 5 miles of the Centre and with our field work sites all within a 45 minute drive; once you arrive little time is wasted travelling. Castle Head is an ideal location for outdoor learning.
A beautiful Georgian mansion on the north shore of Ullswater in the Lake District. The Centre is set amidst 18 acres of woodland and participants may also stay in our high mountain lodge on Helvellyn, one of England’s highest peaks.
Students – accommodate 124 people in bunk rooms of 4-8 people
Pupil’s toilets and showers adjacent to the rooms or en suite.
Party Leaders – separate accommodation from pupils in rooms of 2 – 4 people
Facilities - Games Room, Shop, Drying Room, Dining Room, Student lounge with TV, Phones and vending machines
Nearest railway station – Penrith
Thorney How was the first property bought by the YHA in 1931 and first built over 350 years ago. The farmhouse retains much of its original character, it has been extended and modernised in other parts to enable easy and flexible use. It’s just a 15-minute walk to Grasmere’s town centre, making this a secluded spot for groups with virtually no passing traffic. Hiking routes to the Lakeland Ridges are easily accessible from the centre and will suit all levels of abilities. The centre can accommodate 51 people in total in comfortable, warm and clean surroundings. The centre is set in it’s own grounds and offers privacy, especially for groups. The centre also has a cosy, traditional lounge dating back 350 years with exposed beams and a lovely open fire. Facilities also include a great drying room, large dining room that can also be used as a classroom or briefing point and plenty of space outside for the youngsters to let off steam. All staff on site are well used to working on outdoor residential visits and can offer help and advice whenever necessary. The centre has a friendly atmosphere and lots of character, a favourite venue for courses such as this.
Originally named after Scout Dike, the 20-acre rural waterside setting which it overlooks, the Kingswood campus is set in 9 acres of parkland with sheltered woodlands and newly equipped activity zones close to the village of Penistone, near Sheffield. Fully supervised water-based activities take place during the summer at the adjacent watersports lake, which we have exclusive use of. Recently installed is a great selection of new adventure activities including High Ropes, Challenge Trails & Quad Bike courses. Children can also try out activities like Abseiling, Climbing, Caving, Laser Zone & Team Tech.
These adventure activities are complemented by excellent new ICT facilities and environmental classrooms, refurbished sleeping accommodation and upgraded group leader / teacher facilities. This is an ideal venue for groups in the great outdoors where young people will relish the opportunity to challenge themselves in beautiful, inspiring surroundings.
FSC Derrygonnelly is located in a region which is a haven for wildlife, boasting an impressive variety of habitats and providing access to remote locations. The local environment is excellent for walking and outdoor activities. For the adrenalin seekers, there is the opportunity for caving, surfing, kayaking, hill walking and orienteering.
There are many other tourist attractions within County Fermanagh, including Enniskillen Castle, Florence Court House, Castle Coole, Devenish Island with its monastic site and round tower, Crom Estate and the famed Marble Arch Caves.
Leave the city behind and explore the Highlands of Scotland from the safety and comfort of FSC Kindrogan. Once the Laird's house in Strathardle, Kindrogan was the centre of a large estate and still sits in its own secluded grounds on the banks of the River Ardle, surrounded by Kindrogan Wood and the mountains of Highland Perthshire.
Kindrogan, set amongst dramatic highland scenery, has the advantage of feeling remote while actually being easily accessible with good road and rail links from the south; Pitlochry station, only 12 miles away, is on the direct London King's Cross to Inverness line, with a journey time of only six and a half hours.
The Centre can comfortably accommodate up to 108 students in the House and Steadings Annexe, and has all the excellent facilities you would expect at an FSC Centre - 5 class/workrooms, computer room, library, games room, common rooms, drying room and outdoor clothing/welly store (for hire).
The low ropes course and exciting zip wire within the grounds, and our Highland location, mean that Kindrogan is ideally placed to deliver a combination of curriculum based field studies and adventurous activities
All staff are friendly, experienced, fully qualified, and know exactly what is needed to make your visit successful and enjoyable.
In a quiet wooded valley in an unspoilt area of the chalk North Downs, Juniper Hall, leased from the National Trust, is a superb country house dating from the 17th century. It is about 1km from Box Hill and only 40km from central London.
Set in an area of outstanding geological, geographical and biological interest, the Centre offers a wide range of habitats - chalk grassland, heathland, woodland, flowing and still freshwater - many of which show the impact of the pressure of people and human management. Being close to London there is also the opportunity to study the effects of a large urban area on the countryside and the way land can be managed to cope with the impact of people.
Gilwell Park Activity Centre, purchased in 1919, is the “Home of Scouting”. Set in 108 acres of beautiful parkland, comprising of fields & woodland. We are situated close to Chingford and Epping Forest
Gilwell Park has two main indoor accommodation buildings; The Dorothy Hughes Centre sleep up to 32 students and 8 staff, in a variety of dormitories, it has a large main hall and fully equipped kitchen.
The Branchet Lodge sleeps 48 students and 8 staff in a variety of dormitories and single rooms, some of which are en-suite. The building has a large main hall and fully equipped kitchen.
Both buildings are centrally heated throughout and have toilets & showers.
Kingswood Isle of Wight Activity Centre covers 100 acres of fields and woodlands. At its heart, our five residential buildings - including an all-weather activity zone - border a tree-lined lane, creating the feel of a college campus & the hub of site activity. Other facilities include state-of-the-art ICT labs, a cinema complex, environmental classrooms and student recreational areas.
The centre has a thrilling adventure activity programme and facilities include quad and kart tracks, a high ropes challenge course, indoor and outdoor climbing facilities, archery ranges, swimming pool, fencing studio, underground caving complex, abseiling towers and zip wire. In the summer the centre is a registered AALA centre and offers a watersports programme.
The nearby coastline is a fossil-rich designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which makes this one of the most perfect field study centres on the Isle of Wight. An abundance of estuaries and scattered sand dunes create ideal features for study, as do inland rivers crossing chalk downs. Just over the ridge is Sandown, a Victorian seaside resort where current trends in tourism dictate local economic prosperity.
PGL Marchants Hill is in a superb location - close to London and set in 45 acres of spacious and tranquil grounds. The National Trust area known as the Devil's Punchbowl – a well known landmark with stunning views - is within easy walking distance, making it an even more appealing place in which to stay.
Children from London first came to this purpose built centre as evacuees in 1939. A great deal has changed since then. PGL acquired the property in 1992 and through a programme of continual investment, has created a high quality venue providing comfortable accommodation and a wide choice of exciting activities.
Three abseiling towers, three zip wire lines and two challenge courses are among the adventure facilities at the centre. In addition there is a brand new sports hall which was opened last year by Dame Kelly Holmes.
The centre provides an excellent range of additional facilities including a new function venue, a cosy lounge for teachers plus a drying room, tuck shop and sick- bay. Accommodation is in chalet style lodges (mostly built in 2006) clustered together on the edge of the woodland, or at Bethany House, a converted convent, set within the grounds.
Barton Hall is set in 46 acres of undulating, mature grounds which fall away to provide stunning views across the surrounding Devon countryside. The centre itself is located just outside Torquay, with easy access to major transport links including the M5.
Our continued investment in facilities at Barton Hall has included refurbishment of the restaurant, teacher accommodation and the grounds, plus a new abseil tower. Barton also boasts four networked ICT suites, each containing 12 Compaq PC’s.
At Barton Hall, accommodation ranges between rooms which sleep between 2 and 8 children, and each room has a private bathroom, with toilet, hand basin, bath or shower
Other Facilities: Activity Zone, outdoor heated pool, seminar room, ICT labs, Field Studies classroom, shop, Dry Ski Slope. Plus a Teachers Lounge with television, computer terminal for email and internet access, tea and coffee
Acommodation: Specific teacher chalets are provided which include facilities for making hot drinks, ensuite bathrooms, and one or more bedrooms. Teachers may share accommodation with their colleagues, although never with staff from another school. Bed linen and towels are provided for teachers, and the rooms are serviced regularly during your stay.
Your teachers are allocated chalets that are located in amongst the children’s accommodation, not only to allow supervision of the group at night time, but also so children who need to speak to the teacher in the evening are never more than a door or two away.
Situated on the coast and in the heart of the Dorset World Heritage site, the 45 acre centre commands panoramic views over Weymouth, Portland and Chesil Beach. Surrounded by the beautiful Thomas Hardy countryside and with its own private beach, Osmington Bay is an ideal location for a residential adventure-based experience.
In addition to the wide range of adventure activities available, the centre benefits from a fully resourced Field Studies lab with chemical testing facilities and remote sensing equipment, plus nine computer labs each containing a wealth of the latest ICT equipment.
Osmington Bay has an Activity Zone, sports hall, meeting rooms, licensed bar, tuck shop and teachers’ lounge and accommodates pupils in comfortable en-suite chalets. Linen and duvets are provided ensuring your group maximum comfort during their stay. All accompanying adults stay in single rooms adjacent to the pupils’ and are provided with tea and coffee making facilities.
This Youth Hostel and activity centre are ideally suited to educational groups. The modular internal design enables schools to have a floor or a section to themselves. It has two rooms that can be booked for sole use by groups. One is suitable for teaching groups, with tables and chairs. The other is used as a games room.
A converted Victorian military fort set on a rocky promontory at the entrance to Milford Haven in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Dale Fort has spectacular views over the sea and is close to some of the most magnificent scenery in Wales.The Centre has easy access to unsurpassed sites for investigating marine biology and is located within the newly designated Special Area of Conservation. The local walks follow the cliff-tops, which in late spring are a blaze of colour with wild flowers. The Centre's boat can be used for visiting offshore bird islands, especially the National Nature Reserve of Skomer, and Grassholm which is the largest gannet colony in the world.
The Centre is close to unsurpassed sites for investigating marine biology. Coastal habitats include wave sheltered and wave exposed rocky shores, estuaries, salt marshes and mudflats, shingle ridges and cliff tops. All are within easy walking distance along with woodlands, grassland and freshwater. Opportunities for geography include physical and human themes.
A Georgian stone house set in a prominent position in the Conwy Valley makes an ideal base for exploring Snowdonia. The Centre is designed for use by groups of students. This includes accommodation for over 80, 4 classrooms, fieldwork and adventure equipment, a Games Cellar and TV Room. As Wales’s first Eco-Centre we are continually improving our green lifestyle experience for visitors. Our environmental award winning grounds include many wildlife habitats, willow classroom and football pitch in a woodland setting.
The Welsh Centre, close to the coastal village of Aberdovey has the most spectacular views across the Dyfi estuary. Water activities are based at our specialist wharf facility. Our rock climbing and expeditions are based in quiet and remote mountains and sea cliffs near to the centre. Forest cabins are available for overnight expeditions.
Students – accommodate 160 people in rooms of 4-8 people
Pupil’s toilets and showers adjacent to the rooms or en suite.
Party Leaders – separate accommodation from pupils in rooms of 2 – 4 people
Facilities - Dining Room, Washing and Drying Room, Games Room, Common Rooms, Phones and vending machines
Nearest railway station – Aberdyfi
The Centre is in its 21 st year of existence. It is run by the National Trust who place education at the heart of everything they do. Stackpole is situated in the South West corner of Wales, about five miles from the town of Pembroke.
The Centre is based on the old farm on the 2,500 acre National Trust Stackpole Estate. It includes upstairs accommodation for up to 45 people in two separate corridors – most of which is in bunk-beds in rooms for from 2-7 people, with separate staff rooms . Downstairs is a large communal common room and dining area, classroom, showers and a drying room. Outside we have a wildlife garden and a ball games area. We also have access to a heated swimming pool close-by on the estate.
The Centre is staffed by a settled team of National Trust Education staff who are qualified and experienced in all the activities that they lead, as well as Lifesaving and First Aid. All staff have a CRB check. They are all committed to sharing the wonderful environment at Stackpole in innovative and enthusiastic ways. Few children want to leave at the end of a week!
Our two centres, Ty'n y Berth and Bryn Coedwig, are situated close to the village of Corris, just north of the market town of Machynlleth on the southern boundary of the Snowdonia National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty that provides a wonderfully rich and varied learning environment.
We are surrounded by mountains carved and sculptured by glaciers, valleys with oak woodland, coniferous forests and crystal clear lakes and rivers, excellent locations for adventure activities. We are 12 miles from a coastline that offers sandy beaches, sea-cliffs, rock pools, sand dunes, two magnificent unspoilt estuaries and the seaside towns of Barmouth, Tywyn and Aberystwyth.
Each centre can accommodate up to 30, sleeping in bunk beds in dormitories. We will provide all of the specialist equipment required for the course.
Llangollen YHA Centre is easily accessible by major roads from London (approximately 4hrs) and offers all you need for a successful residential visit.
Part of the unique experience, that is a visit to Llangollen YHA Centre, is the fact that you are staying in Tyndwr Hall, a large Victorian manor and coach house built, in the early 1800’s. Situated in over five acres of grounds, it still retains many original features such as stained glass windows, decorative fireplaces and a bell tower.
The surrounding area is ideal for a huge range of adventure activities with climbing crags, rivers and hills all within a few minutes of the centre.
The centre is a dedicated group centre and provides comfortable accommodation all year round and is centrally heated throughout.
All meals are provided and other facilities include games room, chillout areas and internet access.
Our AALA licensed activity partner, who specialises in developing “positive outcomes for young people”, manages the adventure activities on offer.
Orielton is a Georgian mansion set in 48 hectares of wooded grounds near to the coast in Pembrokeshire. All students will be accommodated in small dormitories (4 – 8 beds), whilst staff will be in single rooms nearby. There is a large student common room, games room and comfortable staff sitting room in the main house – the games room includes table tennis, table football, play stations and a CD player for student use.
Outside we have a large lawn with picnic tables, 5-a-side and volleyball areas, and easily followed trails through the woods. The centre is set in a rural landscape, close to the spectacular Pembrokeshire coastline and within easy reach of the Preseli Hills.
Orielton Field Centre has been operating since 1963, and welcomes over 3000 visitors each year. All of our staff have first aid qualifications, and are CRB checked. Our teaching staff are enthusiastic graduates, who will work with your students to ensure they get the most from their stay. A visit to Orielton will be an unforgettable experience for students used to city life, and is an ideal location for a residential study trip.
The “jewel in the crown”. PGL took over Boreatton in 1979 and have invested in the park every year since to create an adventure paradise. The flagship centre now offers an outstanding range of accommodation, adventure activities and watersports. The two picturesque lakes provide a sheltered venue for raft building and kayaking while the River Perry, flowing along the edge of the park, is an excellent location for an introduction to canoeing. The spectacular natural and purpose built activity bases include a sandstone abseiling cliff, a high ropes course and some of the longest zip wires in the country. In fact, PGL have the largest concentration of new high ropes challenges in the UK, all designed to offer exciting opportunities for team and individual achievements. No one forgets a trip to Boreatton Park!
The centre provides an excellent range of additional facilities such as a heated indoor swimming pool, a sports barn, a brand new function room and teachers’ lounge, a drying room, tuck shop and an overnight sick bay.
The Kingswood Activity Centre is our original centre, founded in unspoilt countryside of the Midlands some fifteen years ago. Our educational activity centre was purpose-built for residential school visits and overlooks the picturesque beauty of the Wrekin and Clee Hills.
The main administration office is at the centre of this complex, forming the heart around which everything revolves. All the facilities are within easy reach, enabling close supervision, ideal for younger age groups. This ease of task is furthered by the close proximity of flats for teachers, situated at the end of each pupil dormitory. There’s also a spacious, well-equipped common room, with several adjoining rooms.
Extensive Choice of Adventure Activities
Kingswood educational activity centres offer a full range of adventure activities and our Staffordshire centre has one of the best choices. These include climbing, quad bikes, kart tracks, archery, fencing, abseiling, laser zone, swimming pool and zip wire to name but a few. There is also an all-weather activity zone.
Leading Educational programmes
This compact cluster of modern buildings houses completely refurbished ICT labs and facilities that meet the demands of our programmes that combine cross-curricular subject areas in ICT, Science and environmental including citizenship and PHSE.
YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, a magnificent mansion over 200 years old and set in 3 acres of beautiful grounds, is in the quiet village of Alveston just 1.5 miles from the town of Stratford-upon-Avon. For those studying literature, history, theatre or drama, Stratford is an essential place to visit. Recall the life and times of Shakespeare with visits including his birthplace and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Soak up the atmosphere in one of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theatres. YHA Stratford-upon-Avon is also well placed to explore the Vale of Evesham, the Malverns, and the historic cities of Worcester and Warwick.
The hostel has a self catering kitchen, showers, cycle store, laundry facilities, internet access, one classroom, a games room, TV room, video, OHP and flipchart. Free coach parking spaces are available. Breakfast, picnic lunches and evening meals are provided.
The “jewel in the crown”. PGL took over Boreatton in 1979 and have invested in the park every year since to create an adventure paradise. The flagship centre now offers an outstanding range of accommodation, adventure activities and watersports. The two picturesque lakes provide a sheltered venue for raft building and kayaking while the River Perry, flowing along the edge of the park, is an excellent location for an introduction to canoeing. The spectacular natural and purpose built activity bases include a sandstone abseiling cliff, a high ropes course and some of the longest zip wires in the country. In fact, PGL have the largest concentration of new high ropes challenges in the UK, all designed to offer exciting opportunities for team and individual achievements. No one forgets a trip to Boreatton Park!
The centre provides an excellent range of additional facilities such as a heated indoor swimming pool, a sports barn, a brand new function room and teachers’ lounge, a drying room, tuck shop and an overnight sick bay.
Malham Tarn Field Centre is the focus of an internationally important National Nature Reserve. The Centre stands high up in the Yorkshire Dales in a peaceful woodland setting beneath dramatic cliffs and overlooking Malham Tarn. The area is known for its magnificent limestone scenery and the famous features of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar are within walking distance of the Centre. The Centre buildings are Georgian or Victorian in origin. The setting has always inspired scientists and artists from Darwin to Turner and continues to do so today.
Any Questions?
Please contact the London Challenge Administrator at newviews@field-studies-council.org or
phone 01743 852104
