South West England Activity Centres

Residential and day activities for schools

PlanMySchoolTrip
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Activities & Residentials South West England

Fun & educational outdoor activities and overnight stays



Enjoy a school residential in the South West of England

We can offer a range of trip types throughout the South West of England, from activity days to residential accommodation only. From multi activity and outdoor pursuits with professional instruction to watersports such as surfing or sailing. We also have a number of centres who specialise in environmental courses or other curriculum subjects. Please get in touch if you are looking for something specific!

On a visit to the South West of England, you are never far from the coast, and perhaps not surprising that among the many excellent residential activity centres we have chosen to feature on this page, a good number of them are at or near the seaside.

The region's oceanic climate, means mild winters, warm summers and a whole heap of rain. This allows activity centres to open and operate a much longer season than in more northern parts of the UK, where centres close for longer during the colder winters (view more school residential trips here)

The types of activities and outdoor pursuits available in this region are many and varied, though it is fair to say that watersports are well catered for! With easy access to such a large extent of natural coastal environments, children enjoying school activity trips in Cornwall and Devon, Dorset or Somerset, are likely to get the opportunity to experience activities such as sailing, sea kayaking, coasteering, surfing and waterskiing.

Want to book South West trips and workshops?

Let us find the best value residential trips in the South West for your school trip.




Popular school trip May 2026 !

Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre - Swanage

location icon School Trip South West
apple icon Subjects: Accommodation Only, Bushcraft, Fieldstudies, Forest School, Geography, Environmental Geography, Human Geography, Physical Geography, Geology, History, Local History, Medieval, Prehistory, Saxons, Victorian, World War, Physical Education, Science, Biology, Team Building, Watersports, Wildlife, SEN, Outdoor Learning


Tailored adventure residentials on the Dorset coast at our residential centre in Swanage, can include activities such as Coasteering, Climbing, Mackerel Fishing, Field Studies, and Bushcraft, delivered by our highly qualified instructors.

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children on an activity obstacle course
Skern Adventure Abbotsham: Residential Trips
map pin South West

Our physical education sessions at Skern Adventure Abbotsham bring energy, challenge and excitement to outdoor learning. Designed to get students fully engaged, our activities encourage effort,...
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view of grittleton manor house
Grittleton Manor House
map pin South West

Grittleton House Adventure Centre is ideal for school groups wanting secure residential accommodation, set in acres of parkland and playing fields, on the edge of the Cotswold National Park. Access to Bath and Bristol is just half an hour away!
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Children climbing at Calvert Devon
Calvert Devon
map pin South West

Increasing physical activity increases concentration, improves information retention and releases vital endorphins for improving mental health. Having a fully accessible centre gives young people...
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View of Durdle Door in Dorset
Dorset - The Jurassic Coast
map pin South West

Discover the Jurassic Coast: an outdoor classroom brimming with adventure! Uncover millions of years of history, explore stunning cliffs, and engage in hands-on learning. Inspire your students with unforgettable experiences and create lasting memorie
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two children with guinea pigs at stone farm study centre
Stone Farm Study Centre
map pin South West

Choose from exciting days out at local activity centres which offer a range of activities, including high ropes, archery, abseiling, climbing and watersports such as kayaking, raft building and sailing.
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Child on a stand up paddle board in Dorset
Your Dorset Adventure Awaits!
map pin South West

We arrange 100% bespoke adventure-based residentials to Dorset and the Jurassic Coast. We can include transport, accommodation, activities, risk assessments and much more, saving you time and stress! Leave the work to us so you can focus on teaching!
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High ropes activity at Skern Adventure Appledore
Skern Adventure Appledore: Residential Trips
map pin South West

Skern Adventure Appledore provides outdoor physical education programmes for students from Key Stage 2 through to A Level, using the unique environments of the North Devon coastline to deliver...
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group canoeing with one child running across the front of each boat
Mendip Activity Centre
map pin South West

Outdoor education allows young people to foster essential team and individual skills that are invaluable for students' personal growth. At Mendip Activity Centre, school residentials are designed...
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three children learning to use a compass during duke of edinburgh training
Bike, Hike & Paddle Ltd
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland

Approved Activity Provider offering Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions across the UK. Combining hiking, cycling and paddling, they deliver fully supported practice and...
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school group learning fire lighting bushcraft skills
The Bushcraft Company - Badminton Woods
map pin South West

Great things happen in the great outdoors! Taking place in the tranquillity of the woods, students will engage and connect with the natural world in a way that possibly they have never done so before....
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Crate stacking activity at Encompass Training
Encompass Training
map pin South West

We offer a wide range of authentic outdoor education activities, both at Great Potheridge and throughout the beautiful Devon countryside. Our courses are led by a dedicated team of experienced and...
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school group in wet suits with body boards by the sea in Dorset
Land & Wave Adventure School Trips in Dorset
map pin South West

We offer Outdoor Instructor Training for ages 16+. We work with careers advisors to provide engaging Career Development Days to show how exciting and rewarding a career in the outdoors can really be....
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aerial view of beach with lots of sailing boats
Watersports Residential Trips
map pin South West

All our activities promote a healthy lifestyle, from the food we serve to the activities we engage them in. As well as the listed activities, in the evenings we run games from Ultimate Frisbee to Volleyball.
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children on jacobs ladder
Outdoor & Adventure School Residential Trips
map pin South West

With over 96 acres at our disposal, we incorporate physical education throughout your stay, including evening entertainments such as organised criekt and football and field games.
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children in zorbing balls
Adventure Bristol Residential
map pin South West

We provide a large range of outdoor physical activities, based around climbing and adventurous pursuits.
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Image for a residential school trip in Dorset KS2 KS3 KS4
Cumulus Outdoors Tented Village - Corfe Castle
map pin South West

We use team challenges, our ethos of 'challenge by choice' and leadership skills in all of our physical activities. The activities can be physically challenging but all students are supported and...
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group of school children in the sea at portland outdoor centre
Portland Outdoor Centre
map pin South West

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
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accommodation at cumulus outdoors
Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre - Swanage
map pin South West

With spiralling travel costs, have you considered the possibility of holding a school residential on your own grounds to reduce the overall price of a school educational visit? We can come to you and provide a valuable experience for your students. At Cumulus Outdoors we recognise that sometimes,
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school children in a line during an activity at braeside adventure centre
Braeside Residential Adventure Centre
map pin South West

Roundway Down History Walk: A full days walking with a morning focusing on map & compass work and the afternoon looking at the historic 'Mother Anthony's Well'. & 'Oliver's Castle' - the site of a...
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big school camp equipment
Big School Camp Midlands
map pin East Midlands, West Midlands, London & South East, East of England, South West, North East, North West, Yorkshire

Big School Camps model to impacts greatly on each individual child's ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to make appropriate choices about their physical health and...
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Special Offers: South West

Want to make your South West activity trip even better value? Here are a few of the best deals currently on offer to schools visiting PlanMySchoolTrip!

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Opening Adventure to Everyone: Creating Truly Inclusive School Residential Experiences
Residential School Trip Devon

Calvert Devon delivers inclusive school residential trips that support students of all abilities, including SEND groups and mixed-ability classes. With over 30 years' experience in outdoor education, we provide safe, supportive residential experiences that build confidence, teamwork and...

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+Adventure: Going beyond the expected - Q&A
Residential School Trip Somerset

We talk to Matt Healey, Adventure Growth Lead at Field Studies Council about their new +Adventure residential trips.

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The Power of Place: Learning in Dorset’s Natural Landscape
Residential School Trip Dorset

Where a child learns can be just as important as what they learn. At Cumulus Outdoors, we are lucky to be based in one of the most visually striking landscapes in the UK. The area around Swanage offers a natural classroom where coast, countryside and history come together to create meaningful...

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How Cumulus Outdoors Helps Anxious Pupils Emotionally Prepare For Residential Trips
Residential School Trip Dorset

A school residential should feel exciting for pupils and reassuring for families, yet it is completely normal for some children and parents to feel nervous in the lead up to the trip. At Cumulus Outdoors we understand this anticipation and work hard to create a safe, supportive and predictable...

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Creating Lasting Memories: Affordable School Trips with Cumulus
Residential School Trip Dorset

As teachers and parents, we all remember our own school trips and we want the same for our own children.

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Young People Love Learning When Learning Is So Much Fun!
Residential School Trip Dorset

Research supports the fact that children learn faster and more effectively when they are engaged in enjoyable and playful activities.

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