Millport Outdoor Residential Centre North Ayrshire Scotland Field Studies Council

Field Studies Council (FSC) 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 FSC Flatford Mill 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. FSC 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!

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

FSC 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.

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.

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.

FSC 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.

There is an FSC Kids Fund and FSC Bursary Fund available to offer financial support to those who may not otherwise be able to visit us.

FSC Millport is part of FSC, an environmental education charity with 75 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 139 beds.

FSC 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 FSC 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.mil@field-studies-council.org

FSC 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 FSC 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.

Car Parking: There is car parking available at the centre.

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

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.

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

Linen: All bedding is provided

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 FSC publications.

WIFI: Free guest WIFI is available through-out 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.

16 bedrooms have wheelchair access.

At Millport we are just 8 minutes on the ferry from Largs, and within an hour and a half travel of Glasgow.

By Car The motorway network from Glasgow and the M8, takes you to the A737. The A760 then takes you directly to Largs. Many of our 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. Our postcode for those using sat nav. is KA28 0EG.

By Train With the close 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 of our 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 (on the return journey no tickets are collected, so you only need a ticket to get to the island). (3) 8 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). We recommend you take out travel insurance for train and plane fares in case courses are cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances or low bookings.

FSC has developed links with First Travel Solutions (FTS), and we recommend them as a coach travel provider to help reduce the cost of transport for academic groups to our Centres. FTS provide a fully supported, UK wide school travel service, providing a dedicated contact for each coach booking from the initial contact through to tracked delivery with 100% security on all deposits paid. If you would like to receive a quote from First Travel Solutions please enquire here.

Capacity: All of our rooms are ensuite, single, twin or triple and we have 139 beds.

Contact our team for latest prices and availability:

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