Dale Fort Outdoor Residential Centre Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council offers fieldwork and outdoor learning for groups of all ages at centres across the UK. Trips use adventure and outdoor learning to expand children’s experiences and teach curriculum focused work to 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. A visit to our 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. Courses can be tailored to your own requirements to ensure you get the most from your visit and trips utilise the local environment to fully engage students.

Dale Fort Outdoor Residential Centre Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire Field Studies Council
Field Studies Wales
Residential school trips Wales
STEM Wales

Dale Fort is set in a spectacular location high on the cliffs within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, perfect for school students and educational groups to experience coastal studies and for accessing Skomer Island with its renowned sea birds.

Dale Fort is a BSAC Snorkeling Centre and has its own RIB boat. It is also close to a range of field sites including rural and urban settlements, coastal landscapes and tourist honeypot areas. The centre also offers adventure activities for all ages, including a brand new climbing wall!

Outdoor Learning courses are created to complement the curriculum, and engage pupils with subjects in fresh, hands-on ways.

Adventure learning encourages children to push beyond their comfort zones and discover what they’re capable of. With carefully tailored, age-appropriate challenges, every child is supported to grow their knowledge and learn in new and exciting ways.

• All our residential centres will provide you with:
• A qualified tutor to oversee your trip
• Pre-trip planning including itinerary, kit lists, and risk assessments
• Centre offers flexible rooming options and all bedding included
• Healthy filling meals from dinner on your first day to a packed lunch on your last day
• We hold Learning Outside the Classroom’s Quality Badge so there is less paperwork for you

LOtC

AALA

AAIAC Adventure Mark

BSAC

The GA Secondary Geography Quality Mark

SGQM Centre of Excellence

DofE Approved Activity provider

Geography:

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

We can deliver 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.

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.

Geology

Based in Pembrokeshire we have some of the most diverse geological scenery in the British Isles and over 250 miles of exposures making it the perfect destination for geology field trips.

Science:

We can offer a range of biology courses from KS2 to curriculum-based A level trips. Students undertake ecological investigations in a variety of inspiring habitats and complete relevant required practicals, from a range of a range of topics.

We can offer a wide range of marine terrestrial and freshwater habitats, including a range of rocky shore exposures, salt marsh and sand dunes, woodlands and grasslands, and various streams, lakes and ponds under a range of different abiotic influences.

We also offer contextualised learning opportunities for KS3 science, where pupils explore a local environment, habitat or ecosystem, eg rocky shore, freshwater or woodland.

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.

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.

Primary:

We have a wide range of activities such as minibeast hunt, pond dipping, hiking, low ropes, eco-activity, rock climbing, bushcraft, orienteering.

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 cater for groups of various sizes. Courses have a minimum of 10 students and have a maximum capacity of 136

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. Tailored resources will be supplied to use before and after your trip to prepare students and encourage follow-up work to be completed.

We provide a variety of resources to support outdoor learning, on the Field Studies Council.

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@field-studies-council.org

We are always looking for ways to make trips affordable for all schools. We currently offer:

15% off for new residential customers

Late availability offer – 25% off school residential trips with an arrival date during the next three months

Off-peak pricing available – Different price bands are offered throughout the year to offer value for money. Many of our visiting groups take advantage of our off-peak prices between November and February. Talk to our team about the best options for your group.

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.

Please contact us regarding your needs, although we provide wellies & waterproofs at our residential centres. We provide a full kit list here

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. This is not available to self-catering groups unless special arrangements are made prior to the visit

Capacity: Dale Fort sleeps 136 comfortably across three blocks (144 if all bed spaces are maximised). There are 33 bedrooms in total (28 with seaviews)

Car Parking: There is on site parking for 20 cars with additional parking outside the fort.

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

Common Room: There is a student common room which has a television, a pool table, piano and a selection of board games; with comfortable sofas it is the perfect place for students to relax. 

Disabled Facilities: We have two dedicated disabled access bedrooms with en-suite facilities including roll-in showers.

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

Kitchen: Fully catered services for most dietary needs are available, as well as packed lunch-making services.

Linen: All bedding is provided. Please strip your beds on departure.

Lounge: There is an adult lounge area, which has a television, comfy sofas and a fully functioning kitchen attached.

Outdoor Clothing: You can borrow wellingtons, waterproof trousers and coats. 

Outdoor Facilities: There is plenty of outdoor seating, including an elevated sun deck with panoramic sea views. Dale Fort also has an outside climbing wall.

Self Catering: Is considered upon specific request.

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

Wi-Fi: Free guest Wi-Fi is available throughout the centre.

Workrooms: We have four workrooms and a Library that can be used as a workroom or conference room. All have interactive whiteboards and WiFi access. Multi-media projection facilities are also available and laptops and iPad.

Disabled Facilities: We have two dedicated disabled access bedrooms with en-suite facilities including roll-in showers.

Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm

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By road – From the M4 (Junction 49) follow the A48 to Carmarthen and then the A40 to Haverfordwest. From Haverfordwest take the B4327 to Dale. Follow the road into the village of Dale. Take the left-hand fork in the road following the waterfront. Just after the Griffin Inn there is a turning to the left sign-posted ‘Field Studies Centre.’ (Not suitable for coaches). The Centre is located at the end of the lane. Please be careful on the lane, it is very narrow with only a few passing places.

By train – The nearest railway station to the Centre is Milford Haven. Visitors arrange their own transfers.

By bus – Please visit https://www.fflecsi.wales/locations/pembrokeshire/. Fflecsi operates within a set zone and is available anytime between 7.30am and 6.30pm (Monday to Saturday). Travel can be booked by downloading the Fflecsi App from the App Store or Play Store. Alternatively, you can book by phoning 0300 234 0300 (Mon-Sat: 7am – 7pm/Sun: 9am – 6pm). There is no coach access to Dale Fort, a drop off in the village is required.