Millport Outdoor Residential Centre North Ayrshire Scotland 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.

Millport Outdoor Residential Centre North Ayrshire Scotland Field Studies Council
Field studies Scotland
STEM Scotland

Located on the Isle of Cumbrae, Firth of Clyde the field study centre has a rich history as a marine research station. Now its purpose-built accommodation and teaching spaces have been created to provide an excellent range of courses for school groups.

Millport has purpose-built accommodation and teaching spaces which provide an excellent base for a range of courses. It is just 10 minutes by ferry from the mainland. Great base for fun outdoor activities, biology and geography trips at all ages.

As a well equipped outdoor activity centre in Scotland, Millport provides access to a wide range of adventure and team-building experiences that make the most of the stunning island landscape.

The centre has a high standard of accommodation with twin en suite rooms in two blocks.

We have an island location, the centre is right on the coast and close to field sites. It is easily accessible on a 10 minute ferry from the mainland at Largs.

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
• Centres with up to 180 beds, offering 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

The GA Secondary Geography Quality Mark

DofE Approved Activity Provider

John Muir Award

SSI

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.

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 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 154

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.

Capacity: Millport has 154 beds. All of our rooms are ensuite, single, twin or triple.

Car Parking: There is car parking available at the centre. There is convenient access for coaches, 3-4 fit comfortably.

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

Common Room: We have a common room and a games room for students.

Disabled Access: The location has disabled access.

Disabled Facilities: We have two disabled access rooms and other ground floor bedrooms available, with easy access. 

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. 

Library: We have a large well-stocked scientific library. 

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

Lounge: We have an adult lounge area with comfy sofas. 

Outdoor Clothing: You can hire walking boots, wellingtons, small rucksacks, waterproof trousers and coats 

Outdoor Facilities: We have a marine research vessel (RV Actinia) capable of deploying a range of marine sampling equipment, rafting facilities and an on site natural rock climbing wall. 

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 a number of work rooms which all have whiteboards including two classrooms, a brand new lecture theatre seating up to 100 people and four seawater-fed laboratories equipped with microscopy equipment. We also have microscopes available. 

Disabled Access: The location has disabled access.

Disabled Facilities: We have two disabled access rooms and other ground floor bedrooms available, with easy access.

Mon-Fri, 9am–5pm

https://share.google/F5xzUsCqEGwpYwuTn

By road – The motorway network from Glasgow and the M8, takes you to the A737. The A760 then takes you directly to Largs. Many guests choose to leave their car in Largs, either in the car park on the main promenade next to the ferry port (a postcode for those using sat nav. to this location is KA30 8LZ) or on one of the back roads near the ferry terminal. If you choose to come over on the ferry as a foot passenger, once you have parked in Largs or alighted your coach, simply follow the instructions down below from point (1).
For those who choose to bring their cars or coaches over on the ferry; when you come onto the island turn left and stay on the coast road (do not take the right turn directing you into Millport 400m from the ferry). Stay on this road for 3 km and the Centre is the first set of buildings you will see as you come into a 30mph zone.
Postcode for those using sat nav. is KA28 0EG.

By train/ferry – With the proximity of Largs train station to the Millport ferry and the excellent links to Glasgow Central train station, this is understandably a very popular (and low carbon) way of reaching the Centre. Many guests find it cheaper to book tickets to Glasgow, and then buy a separate ticket for the last short leg of the journey from Glasgow Central to Largs.
(1) Once you arrive in Largs train station simply head out the main exit, and once on the high street you will see the slip way, from where the ferry departs, 100 metres to your left.
(2) To the left of the slip way there is a small ferry office where you can buy a return passenger ticket for under £5. Then board the ferry. Tickets need to be shown at both Largs and Cumbrae slips.
(3) Eight minutes after leaving Largs you will arrive on the Cumbrae Slip, where a bus will be waiting. Currently tickets are £2 for a single journey. The bus stops, about 5 minutes later, outside the Centre, which is at the start of the Millport town 30mph zone.

By air – There is a regular bus service from Glasgow airport to Paisley Gilmour Street train station (on most days, throughout the day, this runs every 10 minutes), currently this route is served by the no. 66 and takes 14 minutes. This 2 mile journey is also possible by taxi.
From Gilmour Street a regular direct train service to Largs takes approximately 45 minutes. Once you arrive at Largs simply follow the instructions above from step (1).