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 June 2026 !

Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre - Swanage

location icon South West
apple iconAccommodation 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, Art, PSHE, Physics


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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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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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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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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school group in wet suits with body boards by the sea in Dorset
Land & Wave Adventure School Trips in Dorset
map pin South West

The Jurassic Coast and Purbeck Hills make an exceptional backdrop for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, and we've been supporting schools with Bronze, Silver and Gold qualifying journeys for years. Our...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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big school camp trailer and camping equipment
Big School Camp South
map pin London & South East, East of England, South West

1. Feral Science deliver Wildlife sessions based on curriculum Biology from Upper KS2 to GCSE outdoors 2. We use a range of outdoor skills and bushcraft to reveal the curriculum science behind...
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group of school children in the sea at portland outdoor centre
Portland Outdoor Centre
map pin South West

All our activity sessions reach beyond traditional indoor classrooms to build confidence, help mental wellbeing, and promote environmental awareness through hands-on engagement with nature
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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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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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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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Image for a residential school trip at Preston Montford Field Centre Outdoor Activity centre in Shropshire KS2 KS3 KS4 Field Studies School Trips
Nettlecombe Court Field Centre
map pin South West

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...
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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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Image for a residential school trip at Slapton Ley Field Centre Activities Outdoor Activity centre in Hampshire KS2 KS3
Slapton Ley Field Centre
map pin South West

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...
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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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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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Free Summer Camping Breaks for Teachers

Mendip Basecamp in Somerset is offering teachers a free summer camping stay as a thank you for their dedication. Teachers can enjoy free camping, discounts on tents and activities, and explore outdoor...

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Opening Adventure to Everyone: Creating Truly Inclusive School Residential Experiences

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...

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School Residential Camps by a beautiful sandy beach in Devon

UNESCO world heritage site, the gateway to the jurassic coast which starts at Orcombe point, Exmouth, Devon. That is where you will find us, our camp and us being busy at one...

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Supporting fieldwork and outdoor learning for all

Top 5 ways The Field Studies Council are supporting teachers, schools, parents and children to benefit from fieldwork and outdoor learning.

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Why book a residential trip in the winter?

There are many benefits to booking a residential trip in the autumn and winter terms, and it can be cheaper out of season

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Helping Young People to Learn Without Walls

Outdoor adventure and learning activities provide students with the opportunity to become physically confident.

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