Benmore Outdoor Centre School Trip
Benmore Outdoor Education Centre
Dunoon Argyllshire PA23 8QX
Residential Trip Residentials Scotland
Why choose Benmore? Unrivalled Location:
Set within the world-famous Benmore Botanic Gardens, with wild surroundings on our doorstep which are pinnacle to our activity delivery.
Curriculum Aligned:
We are focused on delivering industry leading outdoor learning skills and activities. We offer a wide range of residential learning experiences which form part of The Curriculum for Excellence, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, JASS and a wide range of other outdoor educational learning courses. We work in partnership with you to create a detailed course which matches your needs, which will be adjusted throughout your stay to maximise participation and achievements and take advantage of what our wild surroundings have to offer. There is a vast range of adventurous activities, mostly offsite.
Expert Instruction:
Each group typically has a dedicated instructor who builds relationships quickly and adjusts the course in partnership with you and the participants to maximise support and challenge. Our NGB qualified instructional staff are focused on providing "lifelong learning". We rely on past experiences to ensure participants achieve and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding within different contexts. Participants will have time to reflect on their experiences and discuss their next challenge.
Cost:
Research indicates that Benmore is competitively priced compared to other providers, especially when considering the quality of provision, inspirational, wild, natural, and adventurous locations, including offsite activity, and a dedicated instructor for each group. For weekend groups you can choose catered or self-catered, depending on budget.
What's included: Our standard residentials include all meals and snacks, accommodation, bedding/linen, instruction, safety equipment, waterproofs, wellies, boots and transport between activities.
Reassurance:
As Benmore is owned by City of Edinburgh Council you can be assured all health & safety, insurances, policies and procedures are in place.
The Pupil Experience:
With our residentials, students get to explore the natural environment. They take part in adventurous sessions like gorge walking, caving, mountain biking, and water sports on our doorstep. Whether they are navigating the high ropes or working together to paddle across Loch Eck, their residential experience will be spent active, engaged and learning. Each activity session are half or full day, which allows all participants time to immerse themselves fully in the activity and environment and learn lifelong skills. Within Benmore House we have plenty space for pupils to enjoy their free time, with 4 breakout rooms which include pools tables, table tennis and more.
Learning Outcomes:
Our course delivery has a growth mindset philosophy and includes our six core elements of teamwork, leadership, resilience, weather, nutrition and positive communication. For schools using the Curriculum for Excellence, CfE, you will have the option to identify and integrate specific experiences and outcomes.
We aim to help pupils understand their own potential and the importance of environmental stewardship. Beyond the adventurous activities, we hope pupils develop:
• Resilience: Overcoming challenges in caves and gorges.
• Teamwork: Essential communication during water-based activities.
• Self-Reliance: Practical skills that influence future careers and personal growth.
Visiting staff support
• Dedicated contact to work with to create a detailed course which matches your needs
• Dedicated MS Teams channel to make communication with Benmore and completing paperwork as easy as possible
• Free supervising staff places offered
• Benmore staff on site 24/7 when groups are in residence
• Offer of a virtual parents evening
• Support with evening activities, including a quiz, scavenger hunt, movie night and the much loved last night disco
• Support creating suitable catering for all
• Private visiting staff lounge and kitchen
• Clever Touch screens in all break out rooms
• Choice to swap round activity groups through out the week to gain insight into lots of pupils successes
• Separate male and female sleeping accommodation is adjacent to pupils' accommodation
Payment arrangements
25% deposit 90 days before arrival
75% final balance at 30 days before arrival
Current special offers for school groups
Autumn/Winter deals. 4 night residentials starting from £375 pp
Still planning your 26/27 residential or study weekend? Benmore has you covered.
We have the following Autumn/Winter late availability, as well as various Friday to Sunday residentials/study weekends.
24-28 August Up to 60 pupils Reduced to £400 pp
07-11 September Up to 60 pupils Reduced to £400 pp
26-30 October Up to 60 pupils Reduced to £400 pp
02-06 November Up to 40 pupils Reduced to £410 pp
09-13 November Up to 40 pupils Reduced to £410 pp
30 Nov - 04 Dec Up to 100 pupils Reduced to £410 pp
07-11 December Up to 20 pupils Reduced to £375 pp
14-18 December Up to 100 pupils Reduced to £375 pp
Short weeks may be available on selected dates.
Get in touch now to discuss securing a date for your schools outdoor learning or study residential.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Team Benmore
valid until: October 2026
Spring/Summer availability. 4 night residentials starting from £385 pp
Still planning your 26/27 residential or study weekend? Benmore has you covered.
We have the following Spring/Summer availability, as well as various Friday to Sunday residentials/study weekends.
15-19 February Up to 100 pupils Reduced to £385 pp
01-05 March Up to 20 pupils Reduced to £430 pp
30 March-2 April Up to 20 pupils Reduced to £430 pp
03-07 May Up to 55 pupils Reduced to £430 pp
14-18 June Up to 100 pupils Reduced to £430 pp
28 June-2 July Up to 100 pupils Reduced to £430 pp
Shorter weeks may be available on selected dates.
Few dates available for groups of 10 through-out the year also remain.
Get in touch now to discuss securing a date for your schools outdoor learning or study residential.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Team Benmore
valid until: April 2027
Teacher Checklist
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What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?
Benmore Outdoor Centre offers a range of activities including:
Climbing Wall, High and Low Rope Courses, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Orienteering, Kayaking, Caving, Gorge Walking, Abseiling, Wild Swimming, Shore Scrambling, Bush Crafts, Forest Walks, Night Walks, Sailing Problem Solving, support with field work and biology studies.
Climbing Wall, High and Low Rope Courses, Mountain Biking, Canoeing, Orienteering, Kayaking, Caving, Gorge Walking, Abseiling, Wild Swimming, Shore Scrambling, Bush Crafts, Forest Walks, Night Walks, Sailing Problem Solving, support with field work and biology studies.
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Watersports School Trip
Sailing Kayaking Canoeing Raft Building Power Boating
At Benmore we are lucky have both an inland loch and a sea loch right on our doorstep. These are an ideal environments for our sailing, canoeing, kayaking and raft-building. We have staff that are British Canoeing and RYA qualified who provide activity instruction, as well as being able to offer training and assessment courses.
Physical Education
Climbing Canoeing Orienteering Sailing Kayaking High Ropes Coasteering Gorge Walking Caving
We offer gorge walking, caving, climbing, biking, abseiling, high ropes/low ropes course, indoor climbing wall, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, raft building, bush craft and more. With majority being in natural, quality, off site locations.
Outdoor Learning School Trip
Benmore's core adventure outdoor learning residentials are designed around the school curriculum. We build on the four CfE capacities, integrate Learning for Sustainability and challenge participants to think critically and creatively throughout the course. Pupils learn about personal and group risk management through different challenges and experiences. Altogether, this provides a unique opportunity to apply cross-curricular learning via practical outdoor skills.
We work in partnership with you to create a detailed course which matches your needs, which will be adjusted throughout your stay to maximise pupil participation and achievements and take advantage of what our wild surroundings we have to offer.
Each group typically has a dedicated instructor who builds relationships quickly and adjusts the course in partnership with you and the participants to maximise support and challenge. We rely on past experiences to ensure participants achieve and apply their skills, knowledge and understanding within different contexts. Participants will have time to reflect on their experiences and discuss their next challenge.
We offer gorge walking, caving, climbing, biking, abseiling, high ropes/low ropes course, indoor climbing wall, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, orienteering, raft building, bush craft and more. With majority being in natural, wild, off site locations.
Bushcraft School Trip
Bushcraft is about acquiring the skills and knowledge to survive and thrive in the natural environment. Practicing resourcefulness, you will learn to light a fire, cook on an open fire and build a shelter. Bushcraft fosters a close connection with nature and builds confidence and self esteem.
Fieldstudies
Sampling and Statistics Coastal Ecology Ecosystems Rivers Mapping Geology
The spectacular environments around Benmore contains a vast variety of scenery, habitat and land use. Whatever the content of your field studies course, you will be able to come into close contact with lochs and burns, mountains and glens, towns and farms. You will encounter the inhabitants and some of the forces that shape the landscape. In the end, you will have a better understanding of the beauty and complexity of the Scottish countryside. In the Benmore area, field study sites include Strath Eck, Glen Massan.
We offer Benmore for Biology Study, during the week or weekends. We have experience of supporting higher and advanced higher groups. School staff can lead on the studies with the support of our instructional staff to find your group the best natural sites for the subject being studied, and to provide safety support and transport.
Biology
>Accommodation Only
>Wildlife
>Art
Geology
Maths
Music
Performing Arts
PSHE
Religious Education
Seaside
Team Building
Revision Breaks
What size groups do we cater for?
We can accommodate groups from 10 to 120 people. Activity groups are arranged into groups of 10. Our facilities can also be booked for self led activities such as study weekends or other. We have new a self catering kitchen which can be booked by groups.
On-site classroom facilities?
We have various classroom spaces complete with clevertouch interactive screens
Is there first aid on site?
All instructors are Advanced Outdoor First Aid trained.
Access for visitors with disabilities
We have one ground floor twin bedroom with adjacent newly refurbished accessible bathroom.
Our instructors are experienced in working with children with additional needs. Benmore works closely with groups to make the programme as inclusive as possible with specialised equipment and support.
Please contact the Centre to discuss your needs.
Our instructors are experienced in working with children with additional needs. Benmore works closely with groups to make the programme as inclusive as possible with specialised equipment and support.
Please contact the Centre to discuss your needs.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
We are experienced in working with children with a range of Special Educational Needs, and supporting them through their programme of activities.
We have various adaptable safety equipment to be able to support physical needs.
All dining rooms and breakout rooms are wheelchair accessible and we have 1 ground floor twin bedroom, with adjacent accessible bathroom.
Please get in touch to discuss specific issues or general questions.
Who are Benmore Outdoor Education Centre?
At Benmore Outdoor Centre we want to encourage all communities and age groups to discover outdoor environments and activities. We engage individuals, educational bodies and organisations in recreational, adventure, social and personal development through awards and achievement programmes. As a member of the Institute for Outdoor Learning, we share their values and ethical practice.
Teacher Checklist
Get Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers AALA Licence Institute of Outdoor Learning Duke of Edinburgh Award AHOEC Gold £50m PL Insurance
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