Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1NY
Nestled in the heart of the Peak District, Thornbridge Outdoors offers unforgettable residential experiences designed to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience in young learners. Our 30-acre site, flexible accommodation, and expert instructors make us a trusted choice for primary and secondary schools across the UK.What Makes Us Unique?
Sole-use accommodation: Each group gets exclusive access to their building, complete with kitchen and dining space.
Flexible formats: Choose from fully instructed and catered packages, or lead your own activities with self-catering options.
Tailored programmes: We work with you to design a visit that meets your learning outcomes and pupil needs.
Beautiful grounds & location: Our fantastic 30 acre site and excellent location enable schools to explore the wonderful Peak District including the traffic free Monsal Trail (accessible from our site).
Teacher Checklist
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What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?
Activities That Inspire
On-site and off-site adventures include:
High Ropes: Sky Ropes, Zip Wire, Jacob's Ladder
Bushcraft & Environmental Learning
Problem Solving & Team Building
Cycling & Triking (including accessible options) onsite and on the Monsal Trail
Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Walking
All activities are risk-assessed and led by qualified instructors with outdoor first aid certification.
On-site and off-site adventures include:
High Ropes: Sky Ropes, Zip Wire, Jacob's Ladder
Bushcraft & Environmental Learning
Problem Solving & Team Building
Cycling & Triking (including accessible options) onsite and on the Monsal Trail
Caving, Canoeing, Climbing, Walking
All activities are risk-assessed and led by qualified instructors with outdoor first aid certification.
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Physical Education School Trip
Climbing Canoeing Orienteering High Ropes Caving
A residential visit to Thornbridge Outdoors offers a dynamic extension of the PE curriculum, encouraging pupils to develop physical skills, confidence, and a love for movement surrounded by nature in the heart of the Peak District. Adventurous activities such as climbing, cycling, high ropes, and team challenges promote coordination, strength, and endurance, while also fostering teamwork and resilience. Pupils engage in active learning that supports both physical literacy and personal growth, making PE more meaningful beyond the school gates.
PSHE School Trip
Teamwork and resilience
Residential experiences at Thornbridge Outdoors offer rich opportunities for character, personal, social, and emotional development. Pupils build self-confidence, learn to manage emotions, and develop positive relationships with both peers and school staff through shared challenges and new experiences. Our adventurous activities encourage respect, empathy, and resilience, supporting key PSHE outcomes such as mental well-being, teamwork, and decision-making. These real-world experiences in the Peak District help pupils grow as individuals and improve relationships in and outside of the classroom.
Team Building School Trip
Residential visits at Thornbridge Outdoors are designed to strengthen collaboration, communication, and trust among pupils. Through engaging physical and cognitive group challenges like problem-solving tasks, high ropes, and bushcraft activities, pupils learn to listen actively, support one another, and work towards shared goals. These experiences help develop positive relationships, boost confidence, and foster a strong sense of belonging and teamwork - skills that transfer back into the classroom and beyond.
Outdoor Learning
What size groups do we cater for?
We have indoor accommodation for up to 86 plus our 9 Bell Tents and a camping field. Our indoor accommodation is made up of the 'Lodge' which sleeps 38, the 'Farm House' which sleeps 38 and 'Woodlands' which sleeps 10 (and has accessible features). Each accommodation has a fully equipped kitchen and is self contained, enabling you to create your own ethos during your residential visit.
We can also cater for small and large day visits, please get in touch for details.
We can also cater for small and large day visits, please get in touch for details.
On-site classroom facilities?
We have a number of different spaces that can be used by schools which are equipped with a projector, screen and speakers.
Is there first aid on site?
All our instructors and most of our onsite staff are outdoor first aid qualified. We do not provide first aid cover outside of office hours / when not on an activity with one of our instructors. Therefore we recommend at least one school staff member is suitably first aid qualified. We also run a variety first aid courses, please contact us for further details. Each building has a first aid kit and we also have a defibrillator on-site.
Access for visitors with disabilities
We have an ethos of accessibility for all, our accommodation building Woodlands is designed from the ground up to cater for groups which include those with additional needs. It is all on ground level and contains facilities such as hoists and an accessible shower room. We have an accessibility guide for Woodlands on the Visit England & Scotland Accessibility Guides website. The Lodge also has accessible facilities including a wet room and is ground level throughout making both buildings suitable for wheelchair users and those with mobility difficulties. We also have a variety of activities that are suitable for all abilities, for example bikes, trikes and karts in a range of sizes including a tandem bike. There is an introductory 850m bike and trike trail on site as well as the traffic free Monsal Trail on our doorstep; a perfect way to learn how to ride a bike whilst soaking up the scenery of the beautiful White Peak. We have a variety of high rope activities on site, some of which are accessible by hoist and we can also provide specialist harnesses. Our Sky Ropes has been adapted to allow those with additional needs to have a go.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
We welcome visitors from special schools and through personalised programmes and our experienced instructors we can provide excellent opportunities and experiences. Recent special school programmes include High ropes and cycling days for hearing impaired students; part week and full week residentials for students with communication difficulties; high ropes part days for students with behavioral difficulties. Our accommodation building Woodlands is designed from the ground up to cater for groups which include those with additional needs. It is all on ground level and contains facilities such as hoists and an accessible shower room. We have an accessibility guide for Woodlands on the Visit England & Scotland Accessibility Guides website.
Who are Thornbridge Outdoors?
We have been providing outdoor learning residentials for school groups for over 40 years on a not-for profit basis and are proud of the range and quality of what we offer to schools.
We offer activities to a whole range of people from year 1 to adults including day visits, residentials, outdoor activities at other Peak District venues, in school training and accredited training courses.
We are owned and operated by Sheffield City Council.
Teacher Checklist
Get Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge AALA Licence Institute of Outdoor Learning Adventure Mark Adventure Activity Associates AHOEC Gold £25m PL Insurance
Discover the Power of Outdoor Learning with Thornbridge Outdoors
Physical Education Feature
Widening the horizons of young people through real outdoor adventures in the Peak District. Nestled in the heart of the Peak District, Thornbridge Outdoors offers impactful residential experiences for school groups that go far beyond what pupils experience in the classroom. Whether you're planning...
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