Matlock Derbyshire DE4 4LS
Mount Cook Adventure Centre offers world class residentials and activity day trips to Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 4 students. A one-of-it's kind centre, Mount Cook is an entirely independent not for profit centre with a small friendly but highly trained team of professionals who will support you throughout your booking.With a wide range of exciting outdoor activities like zip wire, rock climbing, archery, high ropes and bushcraft, Mount Cook offers activities that not only promote physical fitness and good fun, but also help develop essential life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and resilience. The immersive outdoor environment encourages students to step out of their comfort zones, fostering personal growth and self-confidence
Additionally, Mount Cook Adventure Centre is dedicated to making outdoor experiences accessible to all, with facilities that accommodate various needs and abilities. By combining adventure with learning, Mount Cook creates memorable experiences that leave a lasting impact on participants, enhancing their motivation and engagement in both academic and personal development
Mount Cook also understand that no young person is the same. All of the activities Mount Cook offer are differentiated to cater for all abilities and skills, allowing each pupil the opportunity to progress and grow.
Mount Cook are proud to be an AHOEC Gold Standard Centre, as well as holders of Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge and the AALA licence. They understand that learning can successfully extend beyond the classroom walls and into the great outdoors. When done effectively, learning outside of the classroom transfers into a variety of life skills, and changes in attitudes and behaviours.
Teacher Checklist
Get Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge AALA Licence Institute of Outdoor Learning British Activity Providers Association AHOEC Gold
What activities are available during educational visits in 2026?
Mount Cook is in close proximity to some of Derbyshire's best outdoor activity locations. Our Centre overlooks the jagged face of black rocks, a stones-throw-away from a quarry, and minutes away from Carsington Reservoir. Activities you can enjoy in this beautiful landscape and on our site include:
and much more!
and much more!
Which curriculum topics do we cater for?
Vikings School Trip
Invaders and Settlers Viking Raids and Invasion Viking Trade Mythology and Culture
Immerse yourself in the exciting time of Viking Britain! Chat with a Viking Trader and discover what life would have been like over 1,300 years ago. Uncover primitive tools, coins and pottery from the period with an archaeological dig. Learn to build a fire using traditional methods, and gather round for magical tales of the Norse Gods, myths of monsters and voyages around the world.
Environmental Geography School Trip
Discover the geography and geology of the Peak District National park through map reading skills, fossil hunting in our SSSI quarry and gem panning. Themes of environmentalism, protecting the natural world, and sustainable futures are built into all of our bush craft session.
Prehistory School Trip
Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age
Experience life as a Prehistoric Tribesman and learn how to make a fire using traditional methods. Protect yourself from the elements and build a waterproof shelter using natural materials. Have a go at cave-painting and learn how a tribesman hunted for food using a bow and arrow! Finally, help to build a Celtic roundhouse and learn how prehistoric people manufactured tools and weapons.
Romans School Trip
Boudicca Rebellion Romanisation and ways of life The Roman Army Our Roman Legacy The Roman Conquest and Hadrians Wall
Experience life in Roman times and meet a real life Roman soldier! Dress up in Roman armour and invade our Celtic Roundhouse. Shoot a Roman style bow and arrow, and learn more about Roman roads by building a cart to transport heavy items. Finally, discover and handle artefacts from the period with an archaeological dig.
Bushcraft School Trip
Our activity instructors are highly trained in Bush Craft, meaning that groups can learn and develop skills at a variety of levels. We venture beyond forest school learning to cover friction fire lighting using bow drill and hand drill , woodland survival skills, shelter construction, plant identification, the history of bush craft and much more. Sessions take place in our onsite round house located in the woods, where pupils can immerse themselves in wilderness living.
Physics
>Geology
>Wildlife
>Outdoor Learning
What size groups do we cater for?
We have accommodation for up to 180 in total. We have 140 beds in our Centre, with special access cards which allow certain groups into certain areas to add privacy and security. Each room sleeps 4 people and has an ensuite bathroom!
We have an additional 40 beds in Glamping Pods which are located just outside our main dining hall. Each cosy Glamping Pod sleeps up to 4 people, with toilet and cold water basin. Private showers are available inside the building.
We welcome both small and large groups to our Centre!
We have an additional 40 beds in Glamping Pods which are located just outside our main dining hall. Each cosy Glamping Pod sleeps up to 4 people, with toilet and cold water basin. Private showers are available inside the building.
We welcome both small and large groups to our Centre!
On-site classroom facilities?
We have two private indoor classrooms and workshop spaces within the Centre, as well as our main dining hall which has a large open plan seating area. We have two projectors and audio that is also available for use. We also have several outdoor spaces that would be perfect for an outdoor class room.
Is there first aid on site?
It is our team's professionalism, experience and enthusiasm which contributes to the overall success of your stay with us. That's why all our activity providers are professionally trained and qualified, with full DBS checks, and First Aid certificates. For further peace of mind, there is also a 24-hour First-Aider available at the Centre.
We hold the AHOEC Gold Standard quality mark which goes beyond the standards set by the other badges that we hold. This demonstrates our high quality provision encompassing not just safety, but also the quality of service and learning.
It is important that young people are given the opportunity to take risks and experience the thrill of adventure sports and activities in a controlled and safe environment. Consideration for your pupils' safety and security is inherent in everything we do. Our centre undergoes regular risk assessments and health and safety checks, carried out internally by our team and by external organisations to ensure we remain at the forefront of good health and safety practice.
We hold the AHOEC Gold Standard quality mark which goes beyond the standards set by the other badges that we hold. This demonstrates our high quality provision encompassing not just safety, but also the quality of service and learning.
It is important that young people are given the opportunity to take risks and experience the thrill of adventure sports and activities in a controlled and safe environment. Consideration for your pupils' safety and security is inherent in everything we do. Our centre undergoes regular risk assessments and health and safety checks, carried out internally by our team and by external organisations to ensure we remain at the forefront of good health and safety practice.
Access for visitors with disabilities
We think it's important that everyone should be able to enjoy the outdoors - For this reason, our Centre is adapted to suit young people with additional learning requirements and physical disabilities. We have two wheelchair accessible rooms with full ensuite wet room facilities, and can arrange for additional equipment to be hired depending on the level of ability The majority of our activities are also inclusive - we work with each individual medical requirement to ensure that the sessions are suitable.
Visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)
We do our absolute best to cater for any Special Educational Needs - please do give us a call to discuss your requirements so that we can provide further information on how our activities and accommodation will be suitable. Mount Cook caters for SEND students and schools, with lots of experience working with a wide variety of additional needs. We offer a reduced cost place for additional 1:1 staff to help support SEN young people.
We offer site visits for participants who may be experiencing anxiety or are nervous about the trip. They will be able to see the centre and where they will be staying, meet some of the team.
We offer three "breakout boxes" which contain items for participants who need some time away from activity sessions. One box contains sensory and tactile items, one contains high energy active games, and one contains games to focus attention.
Anything else?
Why should pupils have all the fun? We also cater for adult groups, offering team bonding activities and experiences that will boost the morale of your teaching staff! Whether you want to stay on site and reach great heights together on the high ropes course, or set off into the wilderness of the Peak District, we are a great place to have your team-building days.
If you have any questions please get in touch!
If you have any questions please get in touch!
Who are Mount Cook?
We are advocates for the benefits of outdoor adventure and learning in young people. Through our engaging activities your pupils will develop important skills from leadership and teamwork, decision-making, and problem-solving. These experiences will broaden their horizons to new, undiscovered opportunities, expand their appetite for learning and education, increase attainment, and will equip your students with valuable social skills which will last a lifetime.
Our flexible approach means we can offer your pupils a programme of activities which will meet your learning objectives and aims.
Our modern Centre has 140 beds all with ensuite bathrooms with 40 beds in additional glamping pods, three classroom areas, an outdoor classroom, full catering facilities, and even an indoor climbing wall. All our rooms are equipped with en suite facilities, and secured with special access key cards. There are also lockers available in the rooms to keep valuables safe whilst your outside having fun!
The Centre is self-sustaining and eco-friendly using solar power to heat water and generate electricity, rain water to flush toilets, and harness waste heat to warm the rooms.
We believe that residential trips offers students an unparalleled opportunity to develop their confidence and independence away from home, whilst creating some fantastic memories with their friends.
To keep energy levels up after a jam-packed day of activities we provide full catering facilities serving nutritious hot meals, and a tuck shop offering snacks for when you get peckish.
Our adventures are a chance to go wild. Whatever activities you choose to do, they are all safe and fun with a focus on working together.
Teacher Checklist
Get Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge AALA Licence Institute of Outdoor Learning British Activity Providers Association AHOEC Gold
The View from the Peak
As we prepare to welcome your group for an unforgettable residential stay in the Peak District, we’re sharing exactly what makes Mount Cook Adventure Centre one of the UK’s premier school trip destinations.
2 minsAmazing Autumn Residentials at Mount Cook Adventure Centre
There are loads of reasons to start your school year with a residential to Mount Cook Adventure Centre
2 minsHistory residentials at Mount Cook get a new look!
History packages with exciting new evening activities. Learn about Vikings Explorers, Roman Invaders or Prehistoric Britain.
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