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 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 Dale Fort 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!

Dale Fort Field Centre is set in a spectacular location high on the cliffs within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, giving superb views over the sea. It has access to a wide range of  sites for biology, geography and adventure activities at all ages. FSC Dale Fort is a BSAC Snorkelling Centre and has its own RIB boat.

Dale Fort is ideally located for coastal studies and for accessing Skomer Island with its renowned resident sea bird populations, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. 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!

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.

Dale Fort 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 136 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 the 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.df@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 is on site parking for 20 cars with additional parking outside the fort

Children’s Facilities: We are an Educational Centre and 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.

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

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

Linen: All bedding is provided

Lounge: We have a visiting staff 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.

Self Catering: Is considered upon specific request.

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

WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available through-out 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.

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

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.’ 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. The Centre can arrange a coach pick up from the station, please contact for details.

By bus Please visit https://www.traveline.cymru/

Capacity: Dale Fort sleeps 136 in 31 rooms (28 with sea views) across three accommodation blocks. Currently we have one single room (en-suite), five twin rooms (en-suite), 12 triple rooms with communal facilities, 11 dormitory rooms (en-suite) plus two dormitory rooms with communal facilities.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

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