Low Mill Outdoor Education Centre CIO School Trip
Leyburn North Yorkshire DL83HZ
Residential Trip Residentials Yorkshire
Low Mill is a converted 19th century water mill situated in the village of Askrigg, Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The mill is ideally placed in one of the most beautiful areas in the North of England for outdoor education, environmental education, and team-building activities.Our dedicated and trusted partners Alfresco Adventures uphold our ethos and advocate 'Real adventure in the real outdoors'. They are fully AALA licensed and, with the help of their instructors, deliver fun and challenging activities that take place both on and off site in locations such as Semer Water, Ribblehead cave systems and Appersett viaduct. Low Mill also provide schools with non-adventurous activities which range from team games and archery to nature walks and campfire singalongs.
Outdoor learning helps build resilience, robustness, independence and confidence in young people. Our core values are kindness, teamwork and communication. At Low Mill, students work together in developing independent living skills which range from bed making to domesticated tasks such as washing up, clearing and resetting after meals. Research on achieving impactful and brilliant residentials underlines the importance of this ethos, building character and providing pupils with an opportunity to learn how to engage with their peers (and teachers!) outside of their normal home life and school schedule.
Our intention is that children depart Low Mill having created memories that will last a lifetime and an appreciation for the outdoors, environment and the teachers, staff and adults at home that made it all happen.
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What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?
Our Centre Manager will work with you to create a bespoke activity programme for your visiting school cohort. Low Mill offers a range of activities and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is the perfect backdrop for pupils to immerse themselves in both the adventurous and non-adventurous activities we offer such as:
Abseiling, Archery, Bushcraft, Campfires, Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Gorge Walking, Hill and Moorland days, Kayaking, Nature Walks, Orienteering, Raft Building, Stand up Paddle-boarding, Team Game Challenges, Zip Wiring...
Abseiling, Archery, Bushcraft, Campfires, Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Gorge Walking, Hill and Moorland days, Kayaking, Nature Walks, Orienteering, Raft Building, Stand up Paddle-boarding, Team Game Challenges, Zip Wiring...
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Physical Education School Trip
Climbing Canoeing Orienteering Archery Kayaking Caving Zip Line Gorge Walking
We run a full programme of adventurous outdoor education activities such as caving, canoeing, climbing, abseiling, archery, orienteering and mountain walks. All of our sessions and programmes are tailored to suit each visiting group.
Programmes and activities can vary depending on the aims and needs of your group. Low Mill can work with school leaders, tailoring programmes to support specific curriculum areas ranging from Key Stage 2 through to GCSE and BTEC physical education
Watersports School Trip
SUP Stand Up Paddleboarding Kayaking Canoeing Raft Building
Our canoeing, kayaking and raft-building sessions take place on Semer Water. Canoes and kayaks are great vehicles for exploring and also developing the three C's Confidence, Cooperation & Communication skills in students.
Our trusted partners Alfresco Adventures' instructors ensure the most professional and safe experience for visitors.
Fieldstudies School Trip
Ecology Ecosystems Rivers Sustainability Mapping
The Yorkshire Dales National Park offers a vast environment with a diverse ecology, perfect for field studies.
Wensleydale and surrounding areas showcase peaks, mountains, river and moorland areas, all waiting to be explored by visitors - even the centre itself is in an area of outstanding beauty!
Through these locations, we can provide bespoke days tailored to your desired course learning outcomes and formative and summative assessments.
Environmental Geography School Trip
Renewable Energy Climate change Conservation Pollution Plastic pollution Sustainable living Materials and recycling
The Yorkshire Dales provides an array of habitats, all of which have seen varying levels of change over recent decades due to manmade interference. Because of this, biodiversity in and around the area has fluctuated.
Residentials at Low Mill offers visitors the opportunity to learn and experience first hand the effects that this interference has on the environment. Notably, through nature walks around these habitats. Participants will also gain a basic level of understanding in tree and plant identification, enhancing their overall understanding of biodiversity.
Participants will also gain a basic understanding of geology first hand through caving expeditions carried out by Alfresco Adventures' Caving instructors. Notably, the nature of limestone in the formation of the cave structures that they will visit.
Sustainability School Trip
Pollution Plastic pollution Materials and recycling Sustainable living Renewable Energy Climate change Conservation
An important part of the ethos here at Low Mill is sustainability. We heat our main building through means of a biomass boiler and enforce the importance of recycling all of our rubbish.
In an ever-growing uncertainty in relation to the climate, we believe it is our job to do everything we can to aid the world's goal of reaching net zero as soon as possible. Here at Low Mill, we believe it is important to provide visitors with information and education relating to sustainability, offering wider learning on how they can improve their carbon footprint.
Team Building School Trip
All of the activities available at Low Mill promote visitors to work together as a team. From domestic tasks such as making beds, washing-up and cleaning dining areas to conquering fears in the caves and supporting one another on the abseil off Apperset Viaduct!
Every exercise will test the resilience of participants and develop team based skills. We also offer a range of team building games where participants will learn about the ingredients of team work and put their newfound skills to the test.
What size groups do we cater for?
42 total residential capacity, spread across eight bunk-bedded, en-suite rooms of varying sizes.
On-site classroom facilities?
Yes, There is a large stage area perfect for providing group work/group based discussions, as well as a smaller room opposite the stage which could be used as a classroom. There are chairs that can be provided in this case as well as a working projector.
Is there first aid on site?
Yes, all of our partner instructors hold valid outdoor first aid qualifications. Our cook also holds a level 3 indoor first aid qualification and both the Centre Manager and Centre Staff employee hold Medi-Rec 16 hour outdoor first aid qualifications commensurate with Rescue Emergency Care Scheme Guidelines.
Access for visitors with disabilities
The centre is adapted to be fully accessible, with some of the rooms having accessible en-suite wet rooms. We have specialised equipment to allow people with limited mobility to participate in the sessions including canoeing, zipwire and archery.
We also have a lift from the ground floor to the first floor, as well as a stage lift onto the stage to ensure all areas of the centre are inclusive.
We also have a lift from the ground floor to the first floor, as well as a stage lift onto the stage to ensure all areas of the centre are inclusive.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Low Mill Outdoor Education Centre is equipped to cater for visitors with Special Educational needs depending on group size. All of our ensuite bedrooms are fitted with strobe lights which flash in the event of the fire alarms being set off in order to aid those with hearing impairments. Contrastingly, there are bells located throughout the building to aid those with visual impairments. We have and continue to work with SEN groups to help deliver the perfect residential for those with SEN. Namely, tailoring activity programmes so that activities are inclusive of all participants. Our trusted partnership with Alfresco Adventures offer a team of dedicated and highly qualified instructors who are experienced in delivering activities for any participant with a particular need. We also have an outdoor wheelchair to aid those with physical/mobility needs. Low mill also has two lifts, one which is located on the ground floor to enable access to the first floor and a stage lift. This provides quick and efficient access routes for an ease of life whilst in the centre.
Furthermore, the seats in our minibuses can be altered in order to accommodate those who require wheelchair transportation, depending on numbers of the group. Our cook can amend any menu in order to cater for all dietary requirements and we also provide visitors with a personal fridge which can be locked to house any medication in need of refrigeration.
In conclusion, Low Mill is fully equipped to cater for all SEN needs. For anymore information, don't hesitate to contact us.
Anything else?
Our trusted partners, Alfresco Adventures, are fully AALA licensed and offer the services of some of the most experienced instructors in the country. You will have exclusive access to Low Mill giving your stay a real sense of home. The majority of our activities take place off site, in areas of outstanding natural beauty around the Yorkshire Dales National Park. To mention a few, Semer Water Lake, Ribblehead Viaduct (where the Thistle and Runscar cave systems are located) and Appersett, one of the remaining strong holds of the red squirrel populations. We also pride ourselves highly in relation to our catering side of the residential, offering homemade meals of a high standard, showcasing fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our cook can cater for any dietary requirements.
Who are Low Mill Outdoor Education Centre?
Low Mill Outdoor Centre is dedicated to the development of young people through outdoor adventure and has operated as a charity since 1976. School and youth groups usually opt for a week/split week stay that is fully catered and inclusive of multi-activity outdoor sessions, such as caving, canoeing, climbing, abseiling and environmental based activities. All programmes are bespoke and arranged with you in advance of your visit.
Our charitable objectives and overall aims of the trust is to advance the education of children and young people through the provision of; maintaining and managing an outdoor education centre, facilities and equipment the provision of accessible and affordable outdoor education and recreational activities to help support children and young peoples physical, mental and social capabilities. It our also a huge part of our ethos to highlight the importance of the environment, being in an area of outstanding natural beauty, it is fundamental for us to showcase this and to teach young adults and students in methods of preservation/conservation.
Our Reviews from Schools..
★★★★★
enjoy it lot of fun
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