Glyntawe Outdoor Residential Centre Brecon Beacons National Park

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre is a group accommodation site in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The centre offers sole-use accommodation for school and educational groups, providing a safe, relaxed and comfortable base from which to explore the surrounding area.

The centre sleeps up to 35 guests and is particularly suited to school residentials, enrichment trips, outdoor education programmes, CCF visits, Duke of Edinburgh groups and youth organisations.

Accommodation is made up of four dormitories (downstairs) and seven rooms upstairs. Three of the upstairs rooms are en-suite, providing additional flexibility for staff and group leaders. We also have six newly refurbished fully enclosed/private individual wet rooms, making the centre well suited to mixed groups and providing excellent bathroom facilities for both pupils and staff.

Our facilities include a large commercial kitchen, dining room seating up to 35, a comfortable lounge, outdoor seating and firepit areas, BBQ facilities and a large state of the art drying room for wet clothing and equipment.

The centre provides a relaxed and welcoming base for residential trips, with plenty of space for groups to eat, socialise, plan activities and unwind after a busy day outdoors. Its exclusive-use setup means schools have the whole centre to themselves, creating a safe, private and comfortable environment for pupils and staff.

Located in an area renowned for its outdoor environment, the centre provides an excellent opportunity for pupils to develop confidence, independence, teamwork and resilience through outdoor learning and residential experiences.

What makes Glyntawe great is that we are the only sole-use accommodation in an outstanding location within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Schools have the whole centre to themselves, allowing pupils and staff to feel at home while providing teachers with a straightforward and manageable base for their residential.

Glyntawe is ideally located for a wide range of outdoor activities, with many of Wales’ best-known attractions and activity providers close by. We can also help schools organise activities and build a programme around their educational objectives. Every residential is built to the needs of the school or group providing them with a very unique experience.

The centre is particularly popular with schools because of its flexibility. Groups can self-cater using our commercial kitchen, arrange catering with us, or combine accommodation with activities delivered by local outdoor providers.

Being directly opposite the Dan-yr-Ogof Showcaves and close to Henrhyd Waterfall, the Black Mountains and the wider Brecon Beacons, the location provides a fantastic opportunity for outdoor learning.

On site:

• Large commercial kitchen
• Dining room seating up to 35
• Lounge with TV and piano
• Outdoor seating areas
• Firepits
• BBQ area with three fixed BBQs
• Dedicated drying room
• Private car park
• Accessible bathroom facilities
• Sole-use accommodation

Nearby/off site:

• Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves
• Caving
• Gorge walking
• Kayaking and canoeing
• Stand-up paddleboarding
• Mountain biking
• Bushcraft
• Walking and hiking
• Henrhyd Waterfall
• Brecon Beacons National Park
• Gower Peninsula and Swansea Bay
• Outdoor education and team-building activities

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre holds a 4-star Visit Wales rating.

The centre operates with appropriate health and safety procedures, risk assessments and operational procedures for residential groups and works with appropriately qualified activity providers for specialist outdoor activities.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre can accommodate up to 35 guests.

The centre is available on a sole-use basis, meaning groups have exclusive use of the accommodation and facilities during their stay.

This makes it suitable for school groups where staff want pupils to have their own dedicated residential environment.

The centre provides a mixture of dormitory-style and individual bedroom accommodation, sleeping up to 35 guests in total.

On the ground floor, there are four dormitories each sleeping between four and eight guests. The largest dorm sleeps eight, with the other three sleeping four guests each, making the accommodation flexible for different group sizes.

Upstairs, there are seven individual bedrooms, sleeping between one and four guests. These include three en-suite rooms, providing additional privacy and flexibility for teachers, group leaders and smaller groups.

We also have six newly refurbished individual wet rooms, providing modern shower and toilet facilities and making the centre particularly well suited to mixed groups. An accessible bathroom is also available downstairs.

The first floor also features a spacious common room, with comfortable seating for up to 35 people. It provides a great space for groups to relax and socialise after a day of activities, with a large 63″ smart TV, HDMI connection, board games, books, a full-size electric piano and comfortable seating.

Alongside the accommodation, the centre has a large commercial kitchen, dining room, outdoor seating and firepit areas, BBQ facilities and a dedicated drying room. Groups have exclusive use of the centre, giving teachers and pupils a private and comfortable space to enjoy throughout their stay.

The centre operates comprehensive health and safety procedures and risk assessments covering the accommodation and its facilities.

We can provide relevant information and risk assessment documentation to visiting schools to assist teachers with their own educational visit planning and risk assessments.

For specialist outdoor activities, the relevant activity provider is responsible for the activity-specific risk assessment, operating procedures and appropriate instructor qualifications. All activity providers we work with are carefully vetted by Glyntawe Outdoor Centre and hold appropriate AALA accreditation, ensuring they meet the required standards for operating activities with young people.

We work closely with a select group of trusted providers, choosing organisations that not only meet our high standards for safety and professionalism but also provide high-quality, memorable and unique experiences for visiting groups.

We work closely with visiting staff and activity providers throughout each residential to ensure that risks are identified, communicated and managed appropriately.

Schools and visiting groups are welcome to take photographs, film and record audio during their stay, subject to their own school’s safeguarding and photography policies.

There are no general restrictions on photography or filming at the centre. Groups should ensure that they have the appropriate permissions for photographing or filming pupils and staff.

For bookings and enquiries, please contact:

Stephen Arnold –Centre Manager

info@glyntaweoutdoorcentre.co.uk

Stephen can provide availability, pricing, accommodation information and help schools build a residential programme around their requirements.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre
Heol Callwen
Pen y Cae
Swansea
SA9 1GR

Tel: 01639 874982
Mobile: 07568 230065

What 3 words: https://w3w.co/meaty.treatment.incensed

Please be aware that the centre landline is not manned 7 days a week, if you require a quick response please email us at info@glyntaweoutdoorcentre.co.uk

Glyntawe operates a simple group pricing structure, based on the size of the group rather than charging individual room rates.

• Up to 20 people: £532 per night
• 21–29 people: £532 per night + £26 per additional person per night
• 30+ people: £794 per night

Prices are for the exclusive use of the centre and provide groups with access to the accommodation and centre facilities.

Schools can choose to self-cater using our commercial kitchen or arrange catering separately for additional prices. For school groups, pricing can be tailored depending on the length of stay, group size, activities and catering requirements.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre has first aid equipment available on site, including a fully stocked first aid kit.

Staff working at the centre hold appropriate first aid qualifications, and we work closely with visiting schools to ensure suitable first aid arrangements are in place for each residential.

For school visits, we recommend that the visiting school brings a suitably qualified first aider as part of their own staffing arrangements, particularly where pupils have specific medical or additional needs.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre provides a range of facilities designed specifically for residential and educational groups, including:

• Dining room seating up to 35
• Large commercial kitchen
• Lounge and common room area
• 65” TV and full size piano
• Outdoor seating
• Firepit areas
• BBQ area
• Dedicated drying room
• 6x Shared bathroom facilities
• Three en-suite bedrooms
• Accessible bathroom
• Private car park
• Free Wi-Fi
• Outdoor Yard for Playing in
• Large communal areas for group activities and socialising

The centre provides a relaxed and informal environment where pupils and staff can spend time together outside of their planned activities.

Glyntawe offers flexible catering options to suit different types of educational group.

Self-catering:
Groups can make full use of our large commercial kitchen, which includes an 6-ring gas hob, 1 commercial Gas ovens, large fridge/freezer, commercial dishwasher and microwaves.

Catered options:
Catering can be arranged for groups where required, with options available depending on the size and requirements of the visit.

Packed lunches:
Packed lunches can be arranged for groups undertaking full-day activities away from the centre, allowing schools to take food with them for field trips and outdoor activities.

We can discuss catering requirements, dietary requirements and specific menus with schools in advance of their visit.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre has an accessible bathroom on the ground floor and accessible facilities within the centre.

The centre is suitable for a range of groups with additional needs, although the building is a traditional outdoor centre and not all areas are fully wheelchair accessible.

We are happy to discuss individual accessibility requirements with schools before booking and can work with teachers and group leaders to establish whether the centre is suitable for their particular pupils and needs.

Where pupils have specific SEN, mobility or medical requirements, we recommend discussing these with us in advance so that we can provide appropriate information and help plan the visit safely.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre operates throughout the year and can accommodate groups during weekdays, weekends and school holidays, subject to availability.

There is no standard Monday–Friday restriction, making the centre particularly flexible for weekend residentials, outdoor clubs, university groups and school trips.

Arrival and departure times are agreed with each group in advance to ensure the centre is prepared for their visit.

Please find them here

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre is located in the Swansea Valley within the Brecon Beacons National Park, providing an excellent base for outdoor education and school residential trips.

The centre is situated directly opposite the Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves, making it an ideal base for groups visiting the caves and wider area.

The surrounding landscape offers an exceptional range of opportunities for outdoor learning, including mountains, waterfalls, caves, rivers, forests and coastline.

Nearby attractions and activity locations include:

• Dan-yr-Ogof National Showcaves
• Henrhyd Waterfall
• Brecon Beacons National Park
• Black Mountain
• Gower Peninsula
• Swansea Bay
• Mountain biking trails
• Caving and gorge-walking locations
• Kayaking and paddleboarding locations

The centre’s location also makes it an excellent base for geography, geology, environmental studies, field studies and outdoor education, as well as more traditional residential and team-building programmes.

The area is also within a designated Dark Sky Reserve, providing an additional opportunity for schools to incorporate astronomy and night-sky activities into their residential.

Glyntawe Outdoor Centre offers more than just accommodation. We aim to provide schools with a flexible base for their entire residential experience, helping groups organise accommodation, catering and outdoor activities in one location.

We work with a network of trusted and vetted outdoor activity providers, all of whom are assessed by us before being used with visiting groups. Specialist providers are responsible for their own activity-specific operating procedures, risk assessments and instructor qualifications.

The centre is particularly well suited to schools looking for a residential that combines outdoor adventure, education and personal development.

Glyntawe is also available for CCF groups, Duke of Edinburgh groups, youth organisations, university societies, outdoor clubs and other educational or community groups.