Cumulus Outdoors School Residentials in Swanage Dorset

Residentials at our tented villages run during the school late spring term, summer term and also for September at the start of the Autumn term, all camps have 24-hour pastoral care so teachers can full relax knowing their students are being well cared for.

We are able to welcome schools almost the whole year round at our purpose-built residential centre in Swanage.

We can accommodate up to 240 students across four tented villages or 130 students at the residential centre. Free of charge staff places are on a 1:10 ratio.

We offer bespoke 3 or 5 day residentials which you can plan with us to include the activities you prefer combined with the desired learning outcomes.

All meals are freshly prepared and cooked on site and all dietary requirements are fully catered for.

We arrange transport for the duration of your stay however your journeys to and from the camp are not included, of course we can help with this if required.

The activities we can offer include: coasteering, climbing, high ropes, tunnelling, waterpark and mud run, mackerel fishing, kayaking, SUPS, raft building, axe throwing, air rifle shooting and tag archery amongst others.

A typical residential trip programme:

Day 1. Arrival 12.30pm, introduction to camp/residential centre, lunch and team game activities.

Dinner, evening games and bed time.

Day 2. Breakfast, climbing and abseiling. Lunch. Coasteering. Dinner. Evening games then bed.

Day 3. Breakfast, Bushcraft, lunch, Waterpark, Dinner, Evening games then bed.

Day 4. Breakfast, Kayaking, lunch, Mackerel fishing, Dinner, Evening games then bed.

Day 5. Breakfast, pack up, Waterpark, lunch and depart 12.30pm

You are able to plan your trip to meet your needs and budget, just call us to discuss activity options and dates!

Cumulus Outdoors School Residentials in Swanage Dorset
Residential school trips South West
Bunkhouses South West

Cumulus Outdoors runs a broad range of school and youth activities, from residential stays and one-day activities to Duke of Edinburgh organised expeditions and activities. The carefully selected Cumulus Outdoors staff and instructors have many years of experience, they all have an enhanced DBS certificate and an outdoor first aid qualification and they hold all relevant national governing body activity qualifications to run the adventurous activities such as coasteering.

As well as adventurous activities for team building, leadership, confidence and personal development skills, we also offer field study trips for KS2 with Geography, History, Science and PE topics, we can also arrange for A-Level field studies with a third party provider.

• Clear and concise communication throughout whole enquiry/booking process.
• Teachers are encouraged to attend site visits.
• Wide range of activities to choose from, including mackerel fishing and waterpark.
• Broad range of school and youth activities, from residential stays and one-day activities to Duke of Edinburgh organised expeditions and activities.
• Programmes can be tailored to suit requirements and budgets.
• We encourage and act on feedback to continually improve and innovate.
• Rigorous attention to detail before and during the programme.
• We hold the LOtC Quality Badge mark and also the AdventureMark certificate.
• We have the AALS Licence
• We have BAPA certification
• National Trust links at Studland, Corfe Castle and Brownsea Island
• inclusivity and accessibility
• SEND resources

Football pitch, tag archery, high and low ropes, orienteering route, tunnelling, classrooms, social rooms, bushcraft, campfire areas.

We also offer a wide range of off-site activities including coasteering, climbing, Dorset Water Park, mackerel fishing, kayaking, SUPs, and raft building. All transport costs to these locations are included in the price of the trip.

We hold the following: AALS License, Member of Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL), Member of the National Coasteering Charter NCC, LOtC Quality Badge, AdventureMark, we hold  BAPA certification and we are now Ofsted registered.

All staff are Enhanced DBS checked and First Aid Qualification, plus all are fully qualified in their disciplines.

Residentials at our tented villages run during the school late spring and summer terms with 24 hour pastoral care. Whilst we are able to welcome schools almost the whole year round at our residential centre in Swanage. We can accommodate up to 240 students across 4 tented village camps or 130 students and staff at the residential centre.

We offer bespoke 3 or 5 day residentials which you can plan with us to include the activities you prefer combined with the desired learning outcomes.

All meals are freshly prepared and cooked on site and all dietary requirements are fully catered for.

Residential days generally consist of two adventure activities, self-led or field study activities, and all meals are provided. We arrange transport for the duration of your stay however your journeys to and from the camp are not included, of course we can help with this if required.

A typical residential trip programme:

Day 1. Arrival 12.30pm, introduction to camp/residential centre, lunch and team game activities.

Dinner, evening games and bed time.

Day 2. Breakfast, climbing and abseiling. Lunch. Coasteering. Dinner. Evening games then bed.

Day 3. Breakfast, Bushcraft, lunch, Waterpark, Dinner, Evening games then bed.

Day 4. Breakfast, Kayaking, lunch, Mackerel fishing, Dinner, Evening games then bed.

Day 5. Breakfast, pack up, Waterpark, lunch and depart 12.30pm

You are able to plan your trip to meet your needs and budget, just call us to discuss activity options and dates!

Tented Village: a maximum of 240 students over 4 campsites.

Residential Centre; a maximum of 130 students in 4 dormitories plus teacher beds.

The schools are able to take photographs/videos and there are no copyright restrictions.

For more images of the residential centre CLICK HERE

All risk assessments are reviewed in preparation for the start of the residential season and at anytime during the season if an event necessitates it. All risk assessments and relevant policies are available to school staff via our website,

Accommodation forms, kit lists, consent forms and dietary requirement forms are emailed directly to the school trip lead teacher or admin staff.

Typically a 5 day residential at the centre or the tented village with a full programme of activities in the high season is £423.68+VATpp, a 3 day full activity programme residential in the high season is £242.50+VATpp.

We have reduced pricing rates in the low season, please enquire. High season is May – October, low season is November and February to April.

A kit list will be provided.

We do have first aid on site at all activity locations. All of our staff hold current and relevant first aid qualifications so there is no need for the school to specifically supply a qualified staff member.

Tented-Village:

• The exclusive camp sites are surrounded with green fields where the pupils are able to play football, team games and tag archery
• There is a separate teacher area where you can comfortably relax knowing the pupils are safe and busy with our 24/7 pastoral care
• We have onsite portaloos and shower facilities
• All meals are cooked on camp using plenty of fresh local ingredients

Residential Centre:

• Our centre has large open areas for outside activities and indoor recreational rooms for evening fun, football pitch, target sports, bushcraft areas and fire pits
• Classroom facilities for study and field study provision
• Wifi across the site
• Dormitories with ensuite facilities and designated teacher rooms
• All meals freshly prepared and cooked onsite
• On-site staff for 24/7 contact

We are committed to inclusivity and accessibility to enable all students to participate. Due to the nature of some of our activities, some are not suitable for wheelchair users. We do encourage schools to contact us to discuss any requirements.”

Office hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm, plus emergency telephone cover over weekends and social media responses when possible.

Tented village is open are from May – July.

We are contactable over bank holidays and we do lead activities on bank holidays during the spring/summer.

“I have had dealings with this company providing bushcraft and camping facilities for young people in Dorset. It is always a worry about the care that is given to children away from home, and this is one company with proper family values. You get a real sense that you can trust them as they respond at a very human level, whilst maintaining a totally professional approach. Bravo Cumulus, I’m impressed!”

“We have spent the most wonderful week with our Year 6s at Cumulus’ tented village. All of the staff were incredibly skilled, helpful and approachable and formed wonderful relationships with our children. The activities offered were thoroughly enjoyable for the students and staff alike and the instructors made sure that all of our additional needs were considered and adapted them perfectly to ensure that all children could participate (even those with broken limbs!). The on-site chef was amazing at creating delicious meals and adapting menus to fit with a multitude of allergies and intolerances. The facilities were wonderful and have given the children excellent experiences of camping. The site was in the most beautiful area and was extremely safe and welcoming. We have had the most amazing time and cannot wait to visit again!”

R Hedges
School Visit

The location is fantastic, the accommodation is fantastic, the food is fantastic, but best of all the people are outstanding. We visited as a school party in March 2022 for the first time and was blown away, not by the coastal winds, but by the friendliness of all the staff. I am not one to write reviews but I really felt my experience needed to be shared with others. Decent fieldwork/outdoor centres are hard to find, but this one was such a great discovery 🙂

Melanie Collins
Field Studies Trip

We ask all schools who are interested in an activity day or residential to contact us to talk through any specific requirements or potential issues. Nothing is too difficult as long as we have the relevant information and time to plan. Call us and see!

The tented villages camp sites are all located close to Corfe Castle which makes educational trips to the castle very easy. The various adventure activities take place in different locations within the Isle of Purbeck and many are on the Jurassic Coast itself or the waters surrounding again making educational input from the Jurassic Coast Trust easily accessible.

The residential centre is in a quiet location in Swanage backing onto the Townsend Nature Reserve. It is approximately 10 minutes walking to the town centre, the pier and facilities plus the safe sandy beach with educational opportunities.

Address: Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre, Cobbler’s Lane, Swanage, Dorset BH19 2PX

All of our tented village residentials are under canvas in an exclusive campsite on the shores of Poole Harbour. The tents can sleep between 6 and 8 pupils and are arranged around a central communal tipi with a fire pit for group sessions, meals and evening activities. The tented village maximum number is 240 students across 4 sites

• There is a separate teacher area where you can comfortably relax knowing the pupils are safe and busy with our 24/7 pastoral care
• We have onsite portaloos and shower facilities
• All meals are cooked on camp using plenty of fresh local ingredients

The residential centre has beds for 110 students plus 11 teachers in purpose-built dormitories with bathroom facilities many of which are ensuite

• All meals are freshly prepared and cooked on-site within our kitchen and there is ample dining space.
• Both indoor and outdoor activity facilities are provided which you can access during your stay
• Classrooms and field study equipment are also available to enable a full learning residential

Julia Munn  Tel: 01929 422480 or e-mail: bookings@cumulusoutdoors.com

Initial enquiries can be made through: info@cumulusoutdoors.com