Blencathra Outdoor Residential Centre Keswick Lake District Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use our stunning locations to teach curriculum focused work and inspire everyone about the environment.

Primary field trips enable you to pick and choose from a range of exciting adventure or curriculum sessions to build your own trip. Visits to Blencathra Field Centre will immerse primary school children in the natural world, taking in its sights, sounds and smells.

For secondary and A level groups we offer geography, biology and environmental science courses. Field Studies Council can tailor courses to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Bring your subject to life in the outdoor classroom!

Blencathra Field Centre occupies a dramatic setting at 300m up the south facing slope of Blencathra with an unparalleled panorama across the Lake District National Park. Visit for residential geography and biology trips at all ages.

Blencathra has a spectacular and inspiring location in the heart of the Lake District. It is easy to reach from the M6.

Our courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom.

We have passionate and experienced teaching staff.

Field Studies Council take care of everything once you arrive; comfortable accommodation, all your meals (residential visits) plus transport during the course.

We offer different price bands through the year to offer value for money.

Blencathra Field Centre is part of Field Studies Council, an environmental education charity with 80 years’ experience of providing fieldwork and outdoor learning and a network of UK centres offering day and residential fieldwork opportunities.

Our charity works in many other ways to create a world where everyone feels connected to the environment including through projects working in local communities and lobbying government to include fieldwork in the curriculum.

• LOtC
• AALA

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.

Identify basic survival needs, explore the woods, build a shelter and forage for wild foods. Follow a woodland trail and search for tracks and signs. A day filled with team building and problem solving activities.

We can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. KS2 pupils can look at a range of habitats, learning about microhabitats and how they provide the basic needs for living things. Pupils can learn to identify the different structures of plants and name a variety of common animals. We will mini beast hunt and observe them in their microhabitats.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering human geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We can offer a range of geography courses from KS2 to A level. KS2 pupils can use maps, stories and games to explore the woods. Discover the plants and animals that live here and design and build dens.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering environmental geography through fieldwork. Most sessions have short classroom sessions before and after. Teaching is delivered by fully trained and experienced tutors.

We offer a range of sessions and courses covering field studies. For KS4 and A level students we link all of our courses to the exam board requirements for each subject and can tailor the course to your specific needs.

We have a wide range of activities such as:

Primary: minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock
climbing, bushcraft, orienteering

Secondary/A level: geography independent investigations, adventurous
geography, river study, biology core practicals

We can cater for groups of varying size. Some courses have a minimum of 10
students. This centre has 120 beds.

Field Studies Council courses are created carefully to link to curriculum requirements. We can work with you to tailor content to fit in with work back in the classroom.

We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on our website.

A detailed risk assessment for activities and teaching sites is undertaken which forms the basis of a dynamic approach to assessment by trained staff whilst in the field.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100 or enquiries.bl@field-studies-council.org

Field Studies Council prices include: course planning; fully risk assessed teaching sites; accommodation; specialist tutors; teaching resources; fieldwork equipment; classrooms and food. The only thing you need to add-on is transport. We even provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Between November and February, courses start at just £10 per primary pupil and £22 per secondary student for day courses.

We are always looking for ways to make Field Studies Council trips affordable for all schools. As well as off-peak pricing we work with project funders, and we distribute Grants for Schools to enable access to outdoor learning for everyone.

Please contact us regarding your needs, although we provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres.

All field teachers are trained in first aid and group management.

Bar: We have a licensed bar stocked with local ales and spirits, wines, soft drinks and snacks

Car Parking: There are limited parking facilities available at the centre.

Catering: Self-catering is also considered upon specific request.

Children’s Facilities: We are an Educational Centre and have games and activities on-site for children aged 8+; however, younger children are welcome.

Disabled Access: The location has disabled access.

Disabled Facilities: There are two ground floor bedrooms in the main house offering en-suite wet-rooms and toilet facilities.

Games Room: There is a pool table, football table, and table tennis table

Hot and Cold Drinks: We have hot and cold drinks making facilities accessible around the centre.

Kitchen: Self-catering only offered to groups that hire out the whole Centre. A large kitchen, with everything needed for a self catering stay. Fully fitted kitchen with gas industrial cookers, dishwasher, fridge, freezers, microwave, crockery and utensils etc.

Linen: All bedding is provided

Lounge: We have an adult lounge area with comfy sofas.

Outdoor Facilities: Extensive range of on-site and off-site activities.

Shop: Our shop sells drinks, snacks and souvenirs of your stay as well as a selection of FSC publications.

WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available through-out the centre.

Workrooms: There are six meeting/workrooms with interactive whiteboards and Wi-Fi access. Multi-media projection facilities are also available for use.

Two bedrooms are fully wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, Please contact us regarding your educational groups needs.

By Car
From Junction 40 on the M6 (D) follow A66 to Keswick (C). After about 12 miles turn off right following signpost for Threlkeld. Go through the village and turn right onto Blease Road (B). The centre is located 1 mile up the hill (A).

Alternatively Head toward Keswick along the A591 (A). As you drive down into the town turn right and follow signposts for A66 to Penrith and M6. Follow the A66 for about 2 miles. Turn off left and follow signpost for Threlkeld. Go through the village and turn left onto Blease Road. (B) The centre is located 1 mile up the hill. If you plan on using a Sat Nav to reach the Blencathra centre, the postcode is CA12 4SG.

By Train
The nearest train station is the Penrith Train Station, approximately 18 miles from Threlkeld. Stagecoach operates the X4 and X5 Bus from Penrith train station to Workington which runs every hour and stops in Threlkeld or Keswick. Drop off at Threlkeld 1 mile walk up hill to the centre. Drop off at Keswick, taxi from Keswick to the centre (approx £10). The centre is located 1 mile from the village of Threlkeld up Blease Road.

Capacity: Blencathra has 133 beds across three accommodation blocks. There is a variety of room sizes from single rooms to dormitories with up to six beds.

Each centre also has places to relax during any free time such as a lounge, games room and outdoor space.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

01743-852100 or enquiries.mp@field-studies-council.org