Skern Adventure Appledore Outdoor Learning and Development North Devon

Skern Adventure Appledore delivers engaging and memorable day experiences for schools, combining the energy of outdoor adventure with meaningful learning.

Set on the edge of the Taw and Torridge estuary in North Devon, our location provides a natural environment for full- and half-day programmes that bring together challenge, teamwork and curriculum-linked activity.

From exploring the coastline to taking on high ropes, archery and water-based challenges, every experience is designed to get young people active, involved and learning through doing. We also offer outreach sessions, bringing activities directly to your school.

Whether on site or in school, our programmes are carefully structured to be enjoyable, well-paced and impactful — helping young people build confidence, resilience and essential life skills.

There are several standout reasons schools choose Skern Adventure Appledore:

• Premium setting: Nestled in a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and surrounded by coast, estuary and countryside, our site provides a living outdoor classroom – perfect for exploration, challenge and discovery.
• Proven impact: Our day programmes are designed not just for fun, but for personal and social development — team-building, problem-solving, communication and resilience are built into everything we do.
• Flexibility and customisation: We tailor each day to your school’s priorities — perhaps a focus on transition, behaviour, curriculum topic or simply an active day out. If you’re working on a particular theme, we’ll integrate it.
• Highly experienced team & safe environment: With decades of expertise in outdoor education, our instructors and staff create a nurturing yet challenging environment. Schools return year after year because of the care, quality and results.

Yes. Skern Adventure Appledore holds recognised accreditation credentials: we are awarded the LOtC Quality Badge, hold a licence from the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) and have the AdventureMark accreditation. We are also approved by Paddle UK and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for water‐based instruction.

Our day-visit programmes are mapped to a broad range of Key Stages and curriculum topics — and we will tailor exactly to your group’s age, ability and focus. Some typical options include:

• KS1 & KS2: Adventure & team-challenges, outdoor story-writing (English), myths/legends with a coastal twist, basic orienteering, problem-solving tasks.
• KS2 & KS3: Physical Education – climbing, archery, kayaking; PSHE/team‐work/resilience; Geography & environmental studies – sand dunes, habitat zonation, coastal processes.
• KS3, KS4 & A-Level: Field‐study days: investigating geomorphology, long-shore drift, habitat changes; hypothesis setting, data collection, presentation; linked with your exam requirements or independent investigation (NEA) tasks.
• Specialist topics: Vikings & local history, geology of the North Devon coast, citizenship and personal development days.

We provide teachers with pre-visit information and can adapt the day to reflect the current theme your school is working on.

We cater for a wide range of group sizes for day trips — from smaller class groups to larger cohorts. We regularly work with groups up to around 250 pupils with ease.

Age ranges span from 5 through to University students– activities are adjusted accordingly (for example water-based sessions will have age/ability appropriate instruction).

Absolutely. Skern Adventure offers learning materials and teacher-resources aligned to curriculum topics and key stages. Our staff have developed these in conjunction with subject specialists, and they cover everything from field-study outlines to outdoor problem-solving tasks, myths & legend modules and transition/teamwork activities. We can provide sample resources to teachers ahead of the visit.

With parental permission, you’re welcome to take photos, video and audio recordings during your visit. If you capture a great moment, please feel free to share and tag us on social media.

Facebook: Skern Adventure Appledore 

Instagram: @skernadventureappledore

X: @skernappledore

LinkedIn: Skern Adventure

Comprehensive risk assessments are available for all activities and facilities.
As an AALA-licensed and LOtC-accredited centre, we are regularly inspected and uphold strict safety standards.

All staff are trained in risk management and group supervision.

Teachers and organisers can access downloadable risk assessment documents upon booking.

For day-visit enquiries and educational programme planning, please contact our bookings team:

hello@skernadventure.co.uk
01237 475 992
www.skernadventure.co.uk

Primary/Secondary – From £180pp +vat

Field Studies – From £186pp +vat

Youth Groups – From £181pp +vat

Further Education Group – From £181pp +vat

Day Visits – From £25pp +vat

Yes. For outdoor activity days at Skern Adventure, we ask schools to bring:

• Outdoor clothing suitable for being active in all weathers (warm layers, waterproof outerwear)
• Sturdy shoes or trainers that can get muddy and wet
• If water-based activities form part of the programme: old trainers or wet shoes, extra socks and change of clothes.
  We supply specialist equipment such as harnesses, helmets and wetsuits as required.

Please be assured that you will be provided with a packing list upon booking.

All instructors and staff at Skern Adventure are first-aid trained, and for day-visits groups benefit from our on-site first-aid provision and trained staff. Schools may still bring their own designated first-aider as per their standard policy.

For day-visits we provide a well-equipped base and support facilities:

• On-site changing rooms and wet rooms for water/active sessions
• Toilets and accessible toilets throughout the centre
• Indoor classrooms or meeting/briefing rooms for group work and reflection sessions
• Outdoor activity fields including high-ropes, climbing walls, assault course and archery
• Water-access for a range of water sports including kayaking, surfing, body boarding and rafting
• On-site café/snack provision or space for packed lunch (schools can bring packed lunch and eat on-site)
• Free car-parking for coaches
• We recommend schools bring a small amount of pocket money if they’d like students to purchase light snacks or souvenirs (amount optional as per school’s discretion).

We are open all year round, including weekends and bank holidays. Typical day-visit programme times are from around 9:00 or 9:30 through to late afternoon (exact times vary by session), and we will agree arrival/departure times with each school on booking.

“This is my 10th year at Skern – it continues to deliver year after year! Great staff, great food, great activities – just great! The admin team, catering team, instructors and domestic team are all helpful, have great communication and always do their best to accommodate our needs. We will be back!” 

“Fantastic visit and experience enjoyed by all – you catered to a variety of needs successfully and the pupils were challenged within safe boundaries. All of our staff and pupils had full trust in the competency and experience of your team, who were friendly, professional and listened! Hats off to all of you! Already booked for 2026!”

“The ‘magic’ that is Skern is so hard to pinpoint but whatever it is, it works, please never change. The staff are all exceptional – admin, catering, cleaning, tuck shop, instructors and the management! The location and environment around Skern also make it so special. Hope to see you all again.”

Here are a few additional highlights:

• We can bring our programme to your school grounds if travel is difficult — outreach visits are available.
• We are located within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, giving your pupils access to some of the finest natural learning environments in the UK.
• Our day visits can be combined with optional add-ons (coastal explorations, field study modules) depending on your aims and budget.
• Because we are an all-day activity centre with full instructor support, the logistics for schools are simplified and we deliver a ready-to-go educational day out that complements classroom teaching.