Yorkshire Dales Guides Outdoor Education & Adventure Centre

Yorkshire Dales Guides are the adventure specialists, providing unforgettable outdoor learning experiences for schools and other youth groups in the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park. We offer a wide range of single or multi-day activities from our base near Settle, including:

• Adventure Activities: Caving at all levels, Rock climbing, Abseiling, Gorge Walking, Ghyll Scrambling, Mountain Biking and more….
• Environmental Studies: Guided walks & fieldwork support.
• Team Building: Problem-solving challenges, orienteering, trust exercises, our own rescue-themed team building challenge (be a rescue team for a day!). We also find caving an excellent activity to encourage team building, problem solving and resiliency.
• Training: Bespoke courses in navigation, caving, climbing and more….
• Residential Stays: Comfortable accommodation can be provided for multi-day adventures in the 50-bed ‘Hornby Laithe bunkbarn’ as well as camping on site. This is normally self-catered, however, catered provision can be organised if required.

We tailor our programs to meet the specific adventurous and/or educational needs and learning objectives of each school group, ensuring a safe, educational, and fun experience for all.

Here at Yorkshire Dales Guides, we are hugely passionate about outdoor learning, and investing in the future of our young people is at the heart of what motivates us. Outdoor education is invaluable to young people’s interpersonal development, their resiliency and most importantly to their physical and mental wellbeing.

• Expert Guides: Our experienced and qualified instructors are passionate about sharing their love for the outdoors and inspiring young people. Yorkshire Dales Guides also employ staff who are coaches, have BSc’s in Education, PhD’s in Psychology, are experienced members of cave and mountain rescue teams and whom are qualified environmental scientists, chemists, geologists and teachers, so we can offer your group a lot more than just a day out on (or under) the hills.
• Breathtaking Location: The Yorkshire Dales National Park offers a diverse and beautiful landscape for learning and exploration. We have numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest on our doorstop such as the Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent SSSIs. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the finest limestone and karst regions in the UK, with world-class cave systems to explore, as well as fantastic climbing venues and mountain hikes. And of course, superb walking right from the door of our centre!
• Curriculum-Linked Activities: We can provide programs to support the National Curriculum, enhancing learning in subjects like geography, geology, and physical education. We are also keen to try and work alongside local organisations and groups such as Natural England and Wild Ingleborough where possible, and have a close relationship with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
• Focus on Personal Development: We encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience, helping students build confidence and essential life skills. Perfect activities for this include caving, orienteering and team building exercises.
• Great customer service: Mike, our operations manager and director, is on-hand 7-days a week to respond to your enquiry and will be responsible for putting together your bespoke adventure and/or outdoor educational package.

AALA: Provider reference number (R2476), License number (L133394)

Member of AHOEC (Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres)

All school trips are tailored to the exact wishes of the visiting group, be it a fun adventurous day out, or, for example, a guided walk taking in features of geographical, geological or historical interest to suit learning objectives. Directors Mike & Steph both have highly scientific backgrounds – Mike is also a geophysicist with a masters degree in Exploration Geophysics, and Steph, a former pharmaceutical chemist, is now training to be a Clinical Psychologist. So science is very much in our hearts and something we’re keen to incorporate into outdoor learning when required.

Group size varies depending on the activity but ‘typically’ in the region of:

1:8 for caving

1:6 for climbing

1:10 for guided walks

1:8 for ghyll scrambling

The above ratios don’t include the accompanying staff members.

We like to keep group sizes small for both safety and to enhance enjoyment, with the students usually getting much more out of the activity in smaller as opposed to larger groups.

We can cater for groups of ~50 to 60 at a time doing multiple activities such as caving or climbing, and 100+ for less kit intensive activities such as guided walks and orienteering. Even larger group sizes can be catered for over multi-day activity programs.

Any relevant and required information and resources are provided prior to the trip. For adventurous activities, all the required PPE is provided.

Yes, groups are free to take photos, film and record audio as they wish. Our instructors will, with permission from the visiting staff, also take photos during the activity to give to the group as a memento of their amazing experience, and also (with permission) to pop on our social media.

We have risk assessments for all activities, and these will be provided upon request. More detailed site specific risk assessments are also available for those sites which warrant them. Also available on request are our operating and emergency procedures, health and safety policies, and child safeguarding policy.

Mike Bottomley, Operations Manager & Director, info@yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk

Pricing is calculated for the group depending on the activity, number of activities being booked, number of instructors required and group size. Prices are kept competitive with discounts for large group bookings.

As a guide, a single, half day activity such as caving, walking or climbing will likely be somewhere between £35 and £55pp + VAT.

Kit lists detailing what to bring are provided for all activities. Typically this includes warm top and bottom layers, waterproofs, trainers or boots with good grip and a change of clothes. Everything else is provided.

All our instructors are first aid trained and carry first aid kits and emergency shelters with them during off-site activities.

A comprehensive first aid kit is located at our premises. Many of our instructors are also involved with the local mountain and cave rescue team, and hold more advanced first aid certification.

Large, quiet and private site only 2 miles from the nearest town (Settle) with supermarkets.

Activity barn with small indoor climbing wall, indoor archery, indoor team building, and abseiling platform.

50-bed bunkbarn on site.

Huge space for camping with basic facilities (toilets and showers).

Games room, and common room (projector, speakers and screen available for use) – when the bunkbarn is booked.

Field space for games/football/team building games etc.

We have a dedicated room for our most popular activity – caving – allowing groups to be kitted out in all the required equipment indoors before heading to the caving venue, as opposed to changing on the side of the road/lane.

While off-site, groups will need to be self-sufficient, bringing with them snacks, packed lunches, drinks etc.

We believe in making adventure accessible to everyone, although there are some activities which sadly are not suitable for wheelchair users. We have lots of experience of working with SEN groups. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and we’ll do our very best to accommodate your needs.

9.30am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

As our office is not permanently manned and Mike is often out on activity, if you can’t get through please just leave us a voice message or send us an email and we’ll get back to you asap.

“Booked with YDG for the second time. As with our last trip, they arranged a superb package of activities for us of climbing, caving, team building and orienteering. Everyone had blast and the instructors were excellent. Thanks again guys.” Lee Vallett

“A group of 16 kids and 4 adults did caving and ghyll scrambling with Yorkshire Dales Guides and had an amazing experience! The instructors were brilliant and we learned loads. Would definitely recommend and will be back next year :)” Indiana Bonar

“We had a great time with Steph, Mike and local guides challenging us (group >40) for four days with climbing, caving, orienteering and team building activities. Climbing across a thundering waterfall underground, getting lost on the hunt for checkpoints, finding cracks in a rock 10m above ground and putting up a tent blindfolded were unforgettable experiences. We were thrilled by the professionalism and creativity of the guides. We also made use of their indoor facilities for a group conference with scientific talks and networking activities. Highly recommended!!!” Niclas Mueller

We are passionate about providing high-quality outdoor learning experiences that inspire a love of nature and adventure in young people. We are committed to safety and sustainability, and we strive to make our programs accessible to all.

Please note visiting groups will need their own transport for getting to off-site activities, however, we do have an excellent local bus company who can provide transport. Prices available on request.

We look forward to welcoming your school or youth group to the Yorkshire Dales!