Blencathra FIeld Centre School Trip

Field Studies Council

Keswick CA12 4SG

Residential Trip Residentials North West

- Blencathra has a spectacular and inspiring location in the heart of the Lake District. It is easy to reach from the M6.

- Field Studies Council courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom.

- We have passionate and experienced teaching staff.

- Field Studies Council take care of everything once you arrive; comfortable accommodation, all your meals (residential visits) plus transport during the course.

- There are different price bands throughout the year to offer value for money.

- Blencathra is part of Field Studies Council, an environmental education charity with 80 years’ experience of providing fieldwork and outdoor learning and a network of UK centres offering day and residential fieldwork opportunities.

- Field Studies Council is a charity who works in many other ways to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment, including through projects working in local communities and lobbying government to include fieldwork in the curriculum.

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Free Places for Teachers
Bursaries or Funded Places Available
Resource Packs
LOtC Quality Badge
AALA Licence
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Duke of Edinburgh Award

We can visit your school in: North West

What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?

Blencathra has a wide range of activities such as:
Primary: minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climibing, bushcraft, orienteering
Secondary/A level: geography independent investigations, adventurous geography, river study, biology core practicals

Which curriculum topics do we cater for?

Biology School Trip

Plants Animals including humans Living things and habitats Ecology and environment Life Cycles Minibeasts Habitats Underwater Animals and Habitats

Blencathra can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. KS2 pupils can look at a range of habitats, learning about microhabitats and how they provide the basic needs for living things. Pupils can learn to identify the different structures of plants and name a variety of common animals. There will be mini beast hunt so pupils can observe them in their microhabitats.

Human Geography School Trip

Settlement and land use Natural resources Population Urbanisation

Click to read full text We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after.
Human Geography can be covered through fieldwork in a range of sessions and courses. Depending on the level and course you follow, this may include;
- Discovering the impact of people on the habitat using a range of fieldwork techniques
- Economic Growth and functions
- Regeneration and Placemaking
- Investigate the impact of counter-urbanisation in two contrasting settlements
- A qualitative and a quantitative fieldwork method
- develop an understanding of questions that can be investigated through fieldwork
- data presentation and analysis

Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

Physical Geography School Trip

Water cycles Rivers Map and atlas Mountains Environment Fieldwork Glaciers Coasts and seaside

Click to read full text Geography courses cover KS2 to A level groups. KS2 pupils can use maps, stories and games to explore the woods. Discover the plants and animals that live here and design and build dens.
Our geography fieldwork trips and courses are carefully designed to cover all essential content from the curriculum. We ensure the maximum time outdoors possible, allowing students to take advantage of all benefits resulting from outdoor learning.
The geography fieldwork courses are tailored to curriculum requirements for GCSE, A Level, National, Higher, IB and lower secondary specifications and packed with relevant fieldwork content.
A selection of our popular residential visits to give an idea of what we can offer include:
Rivers - constantly changing, water levels rise and fall after rain and with the seasons. Erosion, transportation and deposition can all alter the characteristics of the channel and the regime of the river
Regeneration - a complex process aiming to turn areas into sustainable, desirable and effective spaces for us to use and enjoy.
Investigations - at a local scale to consider place meaning and representation changing economic function and socio-demographic characteristics of places.
But we can also create a trip that is totally bespoke to your needs.

Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors, to create and deliver geography experiences to suit your requirements. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after.

Environmental Geography School Trip

Extreme Weather Conservation

Click to read full text Environmental geography can be covered through fieldwork in a range of sessions and courses. For KS4 and A level students all courses are linked to the exam board requirements for each subject and the course can be tailored to your specific needs.
Students can cover a range of environmental geography topics looking at different plants and animals.
Dependant on the course you choose, students could have the opportunity to;
- take first hand measurements, make observations of distinctive river land forms found at the fieldwork sites along the river.
- make a comparison of two different areas used to observe the contrasting abundance of plants associated with varying management regimes.
- Investigate how human activity affects biodiversity, local flows, cycles and processes.

Delivered by expert, passionate tutors at the forefront of fieldwork tuition with a wide range of contrasting locations available.

Fieldstudies School Trip

Sampling and Statistics Ecosystems Rivers Towns and Cities

Click to read full text We offer a range of sessions and courses covering field studies. For KS4 and A level students we link all of our courses to the exam board requirements for each subject and can tailor the course to your specific needs.
Field studies can be covered through fieldwork in a range of sessions and courses.
This can include:
- Sampling Statistics
- Fieldwork Methodology
- Investigation Introduction
- Coastal Environments
- Ecosystems
- Mapping
- River Studies
- Habitats etc

For KS4 and A level students all of our courses are linked to the exam board requirements for each subject and can be tailored to meet your specific needs.

Geology School Trip

Geological Processes

KS2 groups will immerse themselves in the impressive rocky outcrops and cliff habitats to become rock detectives, uncovering the secret stories and origins of creatures, rocks, fossils and minerals. This hands-on adventure clambering session, will provide inspiration for scientific questions such as: Why does this live here? Why are the textures different?

Secondary level geology groups can study the geology of the surrounding area contributing to their need to think geologically!

Wildlife School Trip

Click to read full text Students will look at a variety of plants and common animals using age appropriate classification keys to identify living things we find in our woodland and in our pond habitats.
Discover what animals and plants can be found in the local area. Pupils have the opportunity to identify a range of plants and invertebrates and investigate how they interact with each other.
Understand that plants play an important role in the survival of animals by looking at simple food chains/webs. They will investigate how living things are adapted to the environment they live in and how their habitats help them to survive. Investigate the structure of a plant and discover their roles. Classify a variety of invertebrates using their features and investigate how they are adapted to their habitat.

Bushcraft School Trip

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and problem-solving activities.

We offer a range of sessions and courses on bushcraft including den building, fire lighting foraging and more, delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

Team Building School Trip

Click to read full text An exciting and challenging introduction to the concepts of working well together, using a wide variety of fun activities and puzzles designed to encourage problem solving and teamwork.

Courses fuse fieldwork with outdoor activities to give students the opportunity to explore real geographical contexts in an exciting and engaging way. Our courses allows students to get first-hand experiences of a range of physical landscapes and processes and a unique insight into the interaction of people and the environment.
Individuals undertaking the course will be encouraged to develop their team skills and individual motivation whilst involved in activities that promote a healthy lifestyle.

What size groups do we cater for?

We can cater for groups of a range of sizes. Our minimum capacity is 10 students and maximum capacity is 120.

On-site classroom facilities?

Blencathra has several workrooms including one that can be used as a conference room, all have interactive whiteboards.

Is there first aid on site?

All our field teachers are trained in first aid and group management. A qualified first aider is available at the field centre 24 hours a day.

Who are Field Studies Council?

Blencathra offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use our stunning locations to teach curriculum focused work and inspire everyone about the environment.

Primary field trips enable you to pick and choose from a range of exciting adventure or curriculum sessions to build your own trip. A visit to a Field Studies Council centre will immerse primary school children in the natural world, taking in its sights, sounds and smells.

For secondary and A level groups we offer geography, biology and environmental science courses. Courses can be tailored to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Bring your subject to life in the outdoor classroom!

Special rates for schools outside of peak season

Key Stage 3 / S1-S3 residentials from £179 for two nights

Book now for a residential between September 2025 and March 2026 for a discount of over 25% on our usual prices*:

- Two-night residential: £179
- Two-night residential including two adventure activities: £199
- Four-night residential including four adventure activities: £349

Lay strong foundations for secondary school success with a Key Stage 3 course.

Our UK centres host exciting, outdoor experiences for Key Stage 3 and S1-S3 students to foster strong bonds with others and personal growth while also covering curriculum content.

Choose from:
Active Geography: Fuse fieldwork with outdoor activities to explore real geographical contexts in an exciting and engaging way.
Active Science: Benefit from first hand fieldwork experiences in a range of habitats with outdoor activities to develop team skills.
Outdoors and Adventure: An action packed course, set in stunning natural locations and inspiring students to succeed and excel in new physical challenges.
Common Entrance: Cover the stages of the Individual Fieldwork Enquiry for the Geography 13+ Common Entrance Exam.
S1-S3 Environmental Exploration and Adventure: An active outdoor trip covering SQA curriculum content.

Autumn 2025 late availability offer

25% off school residential trips for new customers

Our autumn late availability offer is available on the dates and centres stated below for our full range of courses. If you are interested in booking at the discounted rate, please fill in the form on this page stating which dates you are looking for.

Blencathra, Lake District
Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th September 2025 80 places, Wednesday 10th – Friday 12th September 2025 130 places, Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th September 2025 50 places
Wednesday 1st – Friday 3rd October 2025 70 places, Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th October 2025 90 places, Monday 20th – Friday 24th October 2025 90 places

Castle Head, South Cumbria
Monday 15th – Friday 19th September 2025 90 places, Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th September 2025 100 places, Monday 29th – Wednesday 1st October 2025 160 places
Wednesday 1st October – Friday 3rd October 2025 90 places, Monday 6th – Friday 10th October 2025 90 places, Monday 13th – Friday 17th October 2025 100 places, Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th October 2025 50 places
Monday 3rd – Friday 7th November 2025 60 places, Monday 17th – Friday 21st November 2025 50 places, Monday 24th – Wednesday 26th November 2025 90 places

Rhyd-y-Creuau, North Wales
Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th Sept 2025 50 places, Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th September 2025 65 places, Monday 22nd – Friday 26th September 2025 40 places
Tuesday 30th September – Friday 3rd October 2025 30 places, Wednesday 8th – Monday 13th October 2025 30 places
Monday 3rd – Wednesday 5th November 2025 50 places, Tuesday 11th – Monday 17th November 2025 80 places, Monday 17th – Fri 21st November 2025 50 places

Margam Discovery Centre, Neath Port Talbot
Thursday 2nd – Saturday 4th October 2025 30 places, Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th October 2025 30 places, Monday 20th – Friday 24th October 2025 60 places

Dale Fort, Pembrokeshire
Monday 1st – Friday 5th September 2025 30 places, Thursday 4th – Monday 8th September 2025 60 places, Monday 22nd – Thursday 25th September 2025 100 places
Monday 13th – Sunday 19th October 2025 105 places, Monday 20th -Sunday 26th October 2025 142 places

Preston Montford, Shropshire
Monday 8th – Friday 12th September 2025 40 places, Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th September 2025 90 places, Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th September 2025 90 places
Wednesday 1st – Friday 3rd October 2025 70 places, Monday 20th – Wednesday 22nd October 2025 120 places, Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th October 2025 90 places
Monday 3rd – Wednesday 5th November 2025 40 places, Wedneday 5th – Friday 7th November 2025 50 places, Monday 17th – Friday 21st November 2025 120 places, Monday 24th – Friday 28th November 2025 90 places

Flatford Mill, Suffolk
Monday 1st – Wednesday 3rd September 2025 35 places, Monday 8th – Wednesday 10th September 2025 40 places, Friday 19th – Monday 22nd September 2025 50 places
Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th October 2025 35 places, Friday 17th – Mon 20th October 2025 50 places, Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th October 2025 50 places
Friday 7th – Monday 10th November 2025 60 places, Friday 14th – Monday 17th November 2025 40 places, Monday 17th – Friday 21st November 2025 60 places, Friday 21st – Monday 24th November 2025 60 places

Juniper Hall, Surrey
Monday 8th – Friday 12th September 2025 60 places, Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th September 2025 90 places, Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th September 2025 60 places
Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th October 2025 90 places, Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th October 2025 30 places, Monday 13th – Wednesday 15th October 2025 60 places, Monday 20th – Wednesday 22nd October 2025 60 places
Monday 3rd – Wednesday 5th November 2025 90 places, Monday 17th – Wednesday 19th November 2025 60 places

Nettlecombe Court, Somerset
Monday 8th – Friday 12th September 2025 60 places, Wednesday 17th – Friday 19th September 2025 116 places, Monday 22nd – Wednesday 24th September 2025 30 places
Monday 6th – Friday 10th 2025 30 places, Monday 13th – Wednesday 15th October 2025 40 places, Friday 17th – Friday 24 October 2025 116 places

Slapton Ley, Devon
Wednesday 8th – Friday 10th October 2025 60 places, Friday 10th – Monday 13th October 2025 80 places, Monday 20th – Friday 24th October 2025 80 spaces

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Free Places for Teachers
Bursaries or Funded Places Available
Resource Packs
LOtC Quality Badge
AALA Licence
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Duke of Edinburgh Award