Grafham Water Outdoor Activity Residential Centre Cambridgeshire

Based on the picturesque Grafham Water Reservoir in Perry, Cambridgeshire, Grafham Water Centre (GWC) has over 50 years of experience in delivering adventurous outdoor activities to primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities.

Visitors can choose from 24 activities, all lead by our team of experienced and qualified instructors. With both water-based and land-based activities, there is something for everyone!

Residential groups can choose to stay in our accommodation blocks or our village of bell tents available in the summer months.

All residential visits are fully catered for with three tasty and nutritious meals a day. Our team can provide food options for a wide variety of dietary requirements.

residential activity centre Cambridgeshire

water sports centre Cambridgeshire 

Grafham Outdoor Activity Centre

Residential Centre Cambridgeshire

Based on the shore of the UK’s finest inland sailing venue, the Centre offers an exciting but safe environment to learn in, highlighted by the stunning natural backdrop of the 80-hectare Grafham Water Nature Reserve. The area is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Whether it’s specialised adventure sports tuition, a conference or training venue, a fun family day out or a residential or day experience for a school or youth group, we have it all, and have a proven track record of delivering successfully for over 50 years.

• High ropes (Jacob’s ladder, crate stack, triangle, all aboard)
• Low ropes
• 10m indoor climbing wall
• Archery
• Mountain biking
• Pioneering
• Problem solving
• Powerkiting
• Orienteering
• Grafham challenge
• Bushcraft
• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Paddle boarding
• Raft building
• Grafham boat trip
• Wind surfing
• Sailing (funboats, progressive and keel boats)
• Windsurfing

• AALA Licensed
• AHOEC Gold Standard
• AAIAC Adventure Mark
• Brilliant Residentials
• British Canoeing Delivery Centre
• RYA Training Centre
• Institute for Outdoor Learning
• Mountain Training
• LOtC Quality Badge

We can sleep up to 300 people when our Bell Tent village is erected – we ask that groups have a minimum of 10 participants

We have two main accommodation blocks, made up of dormitory style rooms. We offer a mixture of bunk and single beds, with communal toilet and shower facilities. Teacher/leader ensuite rooms are available. In the summer, our bell tent village is erected, offering a comfortable camping alternative. Two camping pods are available for group leaders.

We have risk assessment and insurance policy information available on our website here.

Photography and filming is permitted – we also ask groups for photograph permission when you book with us.

Booking enquiries should be sent to gwcbookings@cambridgeshire.gov.uk. A member of our dedicated Business Support Team will then pick it u

Please inquire about the prices using the following email address:

gwcbookings@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

All of our staff are fully first aid trained.

• Canteen
• Free Wi-Fi
• Changing areas
• Toilets
• Wet rooms
• Free Wi-Fi
• Kiosk for buying souvenirs
• Group assigned lounges
• Group assigned fridges
• Group assigned smart screens – available in lounges
• Tea and coffee station

• Fully catered
• 3 meals a day
• Can cater to all dietary needs

Our site is completely accessible, with ramps, stairlifts, bathrooms, bedrooms, and wheelchair friendly paths. We have accessible kit, enabling all of our activities to be carried out by people with varying disabilities. We have instructors with experience of working with SEN students and groups.

Open all year round except the Christmas period.

https://www.grafham-water-centre.co.uk/about-us/testimonials

“Having visited Grafham Water in a previous school, I knew when we were looking for something new for our Y6 it was the place to go to. The children love the freedom of the Bell Tent village, which offers a real camping experience (very early mornings are a must). There is a constant flow of conversation between ourselves and the centre which ensures that we always build a trip that suits our pupils’ needs. The instructors bring professionalism, enthusiasm and encouragement to all the tasks ensuring every pupil succeeds at their level. We always promise a good trip but it is the children’s reactions to the various water and land based activities that make it the most rewarding. This is always the highlight of our children’s year and quite often their school journey so far.”

Olivia Petherick, The King’s School, Ely, June 2023

“Another successful trip to Grafham Water Centre. The children enjoy working alongside such enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructors, who take into account the aims and objectives of our visit, ensuring the children are challenged to go push themselves a little bit more, whilst also having fun with their friends and trying out many new activities. The willingness to work alongside school staff and adapt to our needs, both before the trip and during, is very much appreciated.”

Andrew Hastings, Colville Primary School, January 2024

We are situated on the Southern shore of Grafham Water in a small village called Perry in West Cambridgeshire. Our nearest large towns are Huntingdon and St Neots. There is easy access to us from the surrounding area through the A1 and the A14.

We have a Build Your Visit process, meaning that group leaders have full autonomy over the activities they would like us to deliver – we are also fully adaptable and can work with you to design a program which best suits your group, should you wish to theme it, build in revision etc.

We look forward to welcoming you to GWC!