Skern Adventure Residential Centre Abbotsham North Devon

Skern Adventure Abbotsham offers high-quality residential and day experiences designed to inspire and engage young people through outdoor learning.

We provide comfortable accommodation, nutritious meals, and professionally delivered activity programmes that combine adventure with personal development.

Working with primary, secondary and further education groups, we tailor each visit to your aims — whether that’s building confidence, strengthening teamwork, or supporting curriculum-based outcomes.

Set in the beautiful North Devon countryside and just a 10-minute drive from the coast, our centre offers the best of both environments. Students can challenge themselves, learn through real experiences, and develop skills that last well beyond their visit.

Skern Adventure Abbotsham is trusted by schools and youth organisations nationwide for the quality of our programmes, our experienced team, and the lasting impact of our learning experiences.

• Great location: Set in the North Devon countryside and just a 10-minute drive from the coast, offering easy access to a wide range of outdoor environments.
• Proven expertise: 50 years’ experience delivering safe, high-quality and impactful outdoor programmes.
• Fully accredited: LOtC, AALA and AdventureMark approved, giving you complete confidence in everything we deliver.
• Tailored programmes: Every visit is designed around your group’s age, objectives and learning goals.
• Seamless experience: Accommodation, catering, activities and support — all managed by one experienced team.

Schools return to Skern Adventure Abbotsham because we combine adventure with meaningful learning, helping young people build confidence, develop key life skills, and create lasting memories.

Our wide range of on-site and nearby activities includes:

• High ropes course
• climbing wall
• Archery
• water-based ‘wipeout style’ assault course
• Kayaking, canoeing & raft building on the nearby estuary or our own small lake
• Surfing & bodyboarding at nearby beaches (just 10 minutes away)
• Powerboating & coastal exploration
• Mountain boarding
• Disc golf
• Orienteering & problem-solving challenges
• Environmental and fieldwork opportunities
• Classrooms and indoor spaces for group learning

Evening activities and social programmes round off each day, creating a fun, engaging and memorable experience for every group.

Skern Adventure holds multiple nationally recognised accreditations:

• LOtC Quality Badge (Learning Outside the Classroom)
• AALA Licence (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority)
• AdventureMark Accreditation
• Approved Paddle UK and Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre

These demonstrate our commitment to safety, quality, and learning outcomes.

With a total capacity of 450 beds and ample space for additional camping, our site is wonderfully flexible for both large and small groups. The three main accommodation areas are distinct in both location and character:

• The Atlantic Lodges: Bunkbarn-style dorms for a classic, back-to-basics campsite feel.
• The Tarkas: Modern 24-bed lodges featuring twin ensuite rooms for leaders.

The Adventure Barns: Beds sleeping 10 per room, with internal facilities for up to 60 students.

Accommodation at Skern Adventure Abbotsham is warm, comfortable, and designed for groups:

• Bunk-style dormitory rooms for students
• En-suite rooms for staff and group leaders
• Central heating and drying rooms in every block
• Accessible ground-floor rooms with wet-room bathrooms
• Showers, toilets, and Wi-Fi throughout

We provide a safe, homely base where everyone can relax after an active day.

Comprehensive risk assessments are available for all activities and facilities. As an AALA-licensed and LOtC-accredited centre, we are regularly inspected and uphold strict safety standards.

All staff are trained in risk management and group supervision.

Teachers and organisers can access downloadable risk assessment documents upon booking.

Groups are welcome to take photos and videos during their stay.

With parental permission, we encourage you to capture your memories and share them on social media tag us:

Facebook: Skern Adventure Abbotsham

Instagram: @skernadventureabbotsham

X: @skern_abbotsham

LinkedIn: Skern Adventure

Standard school safeguarding policies should still be followed.

Contact our friendly bookings team:

hello@skernadventure.co.uk

01237 475 992

www.skernadventure.co.uk

We’ll help tailor your visit, confirm availability, and provide a detailed quote for your group.

Primary/Secondary – From £180pp +vat

Field Studies – From £186pp +vat

Youth Groups – From £181pp +vat

Further Education Group – From £181pp +vat

Day Visits – From £25pp +va

All instructors and activity leaders are qualified first-aiders, and there is always a trained member of staff on duty, day and night.

A first-aid station is located on-site. Visiting groups are welcome to bring their own designated first-aider in line with school policy.

Skern Adventure Abbotsham offers everything a school group needs for comfort, safety, and fun:

• Spacious dining hall
• Classrooms & meeting spaces
• Drying rooms
• Showers & changing areas
• Shop for essentials & souvenirs
• Free Wi-Fi
• Outdoor games fields & recreation space
• Accessible toilets & wet rooms

We offer full catering with fresh, locally sourced meals — breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided daily. We happily cater for special diets and allergies.

Packed lunches are available for off-site excursions.

Self-catering is not required — our in-house team takes care of everything.

Skern Adventure Abbotsham is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all guests. We work closely with schools, groups, parents and carers to support individuals with additional needs wherever reasonably possible.

Our centre offers a range of accessibility features including wheelchair access to key buildings and fully accessible toilet facilities. We are happy to discuss specific access requirements in advance to ensure we can accommodate individual needs appropriately.

We regularly welcome guests with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and disabilities, and many of our staff have experience supporting young people with additional needs. Activities can often be adapted to suit varying physical, sensory and learning requirements, depending on the individual and the activity involved.

While not all activities or areas of the site are fully wheelchair accessible due to the nature of adventure activities and our coastal location, we always aim to make reasonable adjustments and provide suitable alternatives where possible.

Skern Adventure Abbotsham is open March to November, including weekends and bank holidays. Typical activity times:

• Day groups: 9 am – 4.45 pm
• Evening sessions available for residential guests

“Absolutely amazing place! A lot of activities, including a high rope course, archery, mountain boarding and so on. Lodges are clean and nice with great dorms. Tidy bathrooms and a nice hot shower space just outside the lodges. We were amazed by our staff… all the staff are great fun! Overall, we had an unforgettable experience.”

“Every session is hands-on and designed to build confidence in a safe, supportive environment led by qualified instructors… combining outdoor adventure with meaningful personal development.”

“Some of our group struggled on the high ropes, but our instructor offered the students great reassurance and encouragement. As teachers, it was great to see this support, thank you for the brilliant activities and lots of fun!”

Our sister company Skern Skills offers bespoke programmes, including:

• Team-building and leadership development programmes
• Teacher CPD courses

www.skernskills.co.uk