Sayers Croft Outdoor Learning and Residential Centre Surrey

Sayers Croft Outdoor Learning and Residential Centre is nestled at the foot of the Surrey Hills and provides outdoor experiences for 27,000 visitors p.a. of all ages and abilities. We offer bespoke residential and day visits for schools, community groups and DofE Award participants

Sayers Croft has over 60 activities suitable for a variety of ages and abilities, from high ropes and an artificial caving experience to pond dipping, visiting the Celtic Roundhouse, looking at woodland food chains, compass trails and walks up into the Surrey Hills.  Whether you have a particular focus or require a range we have the expertise to help you plan a visit that meets all your needs.

Sayers Croft tailors your booking to ensure you have everything you need to bring your group away. You are allocated a host instructor who helps guide you through the planning and supports you during your stay.

Sayers Croft has been providing safe, fun and educational residential and day visits for schools and community groups, any age and ability, for over 70 years. We have 56 acres of woodland, meadows, fields, ponds and streams.

All visits are bespoke and developed with you to ensure your groups needs are met, and experienced and friendly staff are there from booking and activities through to meal times to assist you.

You’ll have your own accommodation- no sharing, and a host instructor who is with you from planning the visit to supporting you throughout your stay. We understand that young children on their first trip away from home can be unsure and nervous, looking to find something familiar and comforting. This is where the Sayers Croft team comes in with a warm welcome on arrival, providing a safe, clean and homely environment for the children to relax in. Kind and reassuring, supporting children in making independent food choices, building the foundation of trust to enable them to be brave in the outdoors.

Our residential visits are usually from 2 and 4 night stays, but we can also do 1 night and full weekend to weekend stays where we have availability. With over 200 beds and 6 dormitories, we are able to cope with most group sizes.  We also have camping facilities for those warmer months.

Sayers Croft has over 60 activities suitable for a variety of ages and abilities.  These include:

Adventure: climbing, bouldering, caving, rope courses, gladiator challenge, raft building, archery and axe throwing.

Exploration: clay modelling, earth walks, natural art, orienteering, compass navigation, stream walks, Celtic/Roman roundhouse, WW2 and village study sessions.

Challenge: team play, challenge course, ballista building, shelter building, the maze and blindfold trails.

Discovery: pond dipping, river study, mini beasts, earth walks, nature explorers and full/half day off-site hikes.

Sayers Croft holds the LOtC Quality Badge and has AAIAC Adventuremark accreditation.

We are a 212 bed centre, and we also have camping pitches for the warmer seasons.  Individual accommodation blocks can sleep 24, 34 or 38 with additional adult rooms.

You have your own dormitory accommodation with boys and girls bunkrooms and self-contained ensuite adult rooms, enabling easy group supervision. We have multiple sizes and types of accommodation, so whether your group is large or small or has specific needs, we’ll be able to find a solution that meets your needs.

Risk assessments are available for all activities and areas of site.

Photography is permitted but visitors are asked to respect the privacy of other groups and individuals on site

Please contact our office team at info@sayers-croft.org.uk to discuss your requirements and availability

Our residential pricing is per pupil and seasonal.  Supervising adults are free of charge to a ratio of 1:10 for Year 4 pupils and older, and 1:8 for Year 3 pupils and younger.

Prices include accommodation, all meals and a full programme of instructor-led activities, so the price you see is the price you pay.

We provide 24 hour first aid cover. Our activity and hosting instructors are first aid trained, and we have a duty team to offer support through the night.

Each dormitory has its own boys / girls shower rooms and toilets, a classroom area with smartboard, a drying room and luggage storage. Each has a kitchenette with fridge, sink, kettle and urn for hot drinks.  One dormitory has a fully accessible wet room.  All dormitories have security alarms for peace of mind

We offer full catering in our dining hall and packed lunches for groups to take off site.

All of our accommodation is single story and several dormitories have ramp access.  One in particular has facilities which cater for individuals with accessibility requirements.  Groups are advised to visit to see if they need to hire additional equipment such as a hoist or all-terrain wheelchair to access our woodland activities.  Our paths at the heart of site are easily accessible, along with many of our activities.

Sayers Croft believes everyone should have the right to outdoor experiences, and advise leaders to contact us to discuss how we can best meet the needs of all the individuals in their group.

We are open all year round, apart from bank holidays and the Christmas – New Year fortnight.  Weekend bookings are available by arrangement.

Please find them here

Sayers Croft is located in Ewhurst, within 40mins of the M25, approx. 1.5 hrs from central London.  We are a 56 acre rural site at the foot of the Surrey Hills which is a great walking area with many footpaths and bridleways ideal for DofE expedition groups, or those simply wishing to explore the area.