Portland Outdoor Centre School Trip

Portland DT5 1HB

Residential Trip Residentials South West

Our approach is to provide real outdoor activity experiences balancing safety, fun, learning and challenge. We utilise our local beaches and Portland Harbour as well as the wider landscape of Portland and the Jurassic Coast.

We actively create time to enjoy, understand and respect the environments we explore, rather than rush from activity to activity. Our instructors are flexible in their approach, ensuring we provide engaging experiences to meet the needs of your group.

Our exciting range of activities and excellent facilities in a stunning environment combine with our staff team to ensure Portland provides:

Unique packages tailored to your requirements

Team work and social skills development through out the programme

A moderate capacity so that we deal with people, not numbers

The highest levels of instruction, tutoring and safety

An exceptional service to our guests by listening to their requirements

A safe learning environment in a centre full of character

We are Licensed by AALA and all staff are DBS checked

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Free Places for Teachers
AALA Licence
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Adventure Mark
Duke of Edinburgh Award

We can visit your school in: South West

What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?

Coasteering
Climbing
Abseiling
Weaselling
Sit on top Kayaking
Raft Building
BIG Canoeing
MEGA Stand up Paddle-boarding
Snorkelling
Coastal Bushcraft
Team Building & Initiative challenges
Orienteering
Fossil Hunting
D-Day museum visits
Lighthouse tours

Which curriculum topics do we cater for?

Fieldstudies School Trip

Sampling and Statistics Coastal Geology Towns and Cities Ecology

Possibly the prime location on the Jurassic Coast to reach the Dorset locations often visited by field studies groups.
- Chesil Beach
- Portland Bill
- Lulworth and Durdle Door

Team Building School Trip

Click to read full text Team Tasks and Problem-Solving activities are a staple of any activity week; bringing students together, developing fundamental interpersonal skills and creating bonds to last a lifetime. We have endless tasks and challenges to offer. Whether you are looking to build your group‘s confidence at the start of the week, develop their team working skills and understanding or see what they have learnt by the end of the week, we can tailor the tasks to suit.
Project T.E.A.M (‘Together Everyone Achieves More’) is our fast-paced problem-solving challenge in which groups collect points by completing mini-challenges spread across the centre. Competing to see which team has worked together best. These tasks are great for engaging the whole of a group as each requires different skills and abilities, allowing all participants to contribute to their teams success.

Physical Education School Trip

Climbing Canoeing Orienteering Kayaking Coasteering Gorge Walking

We offer a range of physical activities, and champion team-work, health and wellbeing in all our pursuits. We operate a challenge by choice policy and we ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate and achieve.

Bushcraft School Trip

Coastal foraging, fire lighting and cooking are the key ingredients that make up our Bushcraft sessions.
On the foreshore, the group will have the opportunity to explore and learn about their environment and consider how to survive in the wild!
Water purification, knife skills and fish prep (gutting and descaling) followed by advanced cooking are additional elements that can be added to the session depending on the suitability for the group.

Watersports School Trip

SUP Stand Up Paddleboarding Kayaking Canoeing Bell Boats Raft Building

Our Paddlesports activities take place on Portland Harbour. Our slipway is 300m from our building offering direct access to this sheltered location. We'll be paddling next to Portland Castle (Henry VIII's finest coastal fort) and around the Mulberrys' used as floating docks in WW2!
Its quite common to paddle alongside, and witness the local dolphins too.

Our Coasteering and Snorkelling activities take place in the clear seas at Portland Bill, Church Ope Cove and the southern end of Chesil Beach. Rich in marine-life, these coastal locations provide the perfect balance of adventure, thrills and the chance to educate.

What size groups do we cater for?

Our renovated Victorian Hotel can accommodate up to x120 individuals including staff.

On-site classroom facilities?

We have a dedicated classroom space, with wifi, whiteboards and projectors available to use during your trip.

Is there first aid on site?

All our staff are x16 hour first aid trained as a minimum.

Access for visitors with disabilities

We ask you to please contact us to discuss any disabled facilities required for your trip.

Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)

We do have the capacity to cater for these children, please contact us for further details.

Anything else?

“I was genuinely blown away by the quality, challenge and enjoyment of all the activities on offer. The entire year group attended and all have given glowing reviews. The trip definitely helped them build character, get to know each other and learn new skills. I was really impressed with the way the instructors built a rapport with the boys and helped guide them. The boys certainly appreciated the care shown by the staff during activities, at accommodation and by catering staff too” - St James Boys School

Who are Portland Outdoor Centre?

Established in 2017, thousands of children and young people have visited Portland with the majority of schools returning to us each year. Some enjoy residential programmes, while others come just for the day.
All our visitors love the local environment, from the dramatic sea cliffs to the tranquility of Chesil Beach, and the range of outdoor activities we can offer. We have a strong team of permanent staff, who are supported by experienced seasonal staff, many of whom return for multiple years.
We value relationships we build with schools, and endeavour to create and deliver the best programme possible for your groups needs.

Our Reviews from Schools..

★★★★★
"Portland Outdoor Centre was an incredible experience. Not only were the instructors and activities outstanding, but the Isle is beautiful and the children enjoyed every element of it!"

Ecole Marie D'Orliac