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the provision of inspiring experiences which renew the life of
the individual |
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Exciting Outdoor Activities |
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We aim to create opportunities that allow participants to explore and experience themselves in a number of different situations and environments. This is achieved by offering people the chance to take acceptable risks - (that is, to freely undertake actions and involve themselves in situations that push against the boundaries of their own capacities). This process fosters the development of skills and is educational, allowing participants to learn through experience what cannot be taught - they have to find out for themselves.
Qualified and very experienced instructors will guide you through every activity, varying the level to individual needs and always with safety as their primary concern. Whenever possible groups will just see one instructor throughout their activity program.
Participants learn through what they do, through what they encounter and through what they discover. Participants learn about the outdoors, discover potential, abilities and interests that surprise themselves and others, while also learning new skills. Active learning readily develops skills of enquiry, experiment, feedback, reflection, review and cooperative learning.
Our instructional staff are able to offer a wide range of activities to suit users of all abilities. We have specialist equipment for use with people with disabilities, that includes; specialist buoyancy aids for water activities and harnesses for climbing and abseiling
With clear boundaries and learning goals to give clear direction, Outdoor Learning draws in energy and inspiration from all around. 'Broadening horizons' is a common outcome. See some example programs
List with links to sections below
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Abseiling [offsite]
Abseiling is offered as a personal challenge, usually at Millersdale Viaduct, which offers a 70 feet high free hanging abseil. Abseiling is descending a fixed rope, a method used by climbers to get off cliff faces and by cavers to get deeper underground.
Benefits – overcoming fears, feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment. A “buzz”. Develop support & encouragement from rest of group.
Abseiling Risk Assessment |
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Archery [onsite]
A great, fun and relatively easy activity to quickly improve at with a bit of coaching & practice. As technique and aim gets better it is possible to have a small competition as a finale. There are many links to history to add interest.
Benefits - a chance to slow the pace down and reflect on other activities and experiences. For a half day session archery combines very well with Orienteering or raft building.
Archery Risk Assessment |
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Bushcraft [onsite]
Stepping back from our modern world, how would you survive? Looking at using our outdoor environment to provide shelter, food & warmth. Fire lighting by friction is a skill that everyone enjoys.
Benefits – New skills take a little time to practice. Can be a chance to get creative. Usually involves a hot chocolate.
Bushcraft Risk Assessment |
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Canoeing & Kayaking [offsite & onsite]
Open Canoes with 2 or 3 persons per boat involves working together and gives a sense of achievement. For younger people the instructor will often start by ‘rafting-up’ a couple of boats into a catamaran. With the whole group working as a team real distance can be covered.
Kayaks are paddled alone and skills can be a little harder to master. We can run a mixed “paddlesport” session so people get a chance to discover both craft.
Benefits – rewarding & fun. Plus a chance to get wet.
Paddlesport Risk Assessment |
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Caving & Mine Exploration [offsite]
Going underground and experiencing total darkness is a true adventure. Explore the exciting and unique underground environment including stalactites & fossils. We’ll kit you out with specialist equipment including; oversuits, wellies, helmets and head lights.
As well as being an adventure, caving is a great team activity - it requires team members to give each other instructions as they travel down the passages, help each other over obstacles and generally be supportive to each other.
Benefits – no visit to Castleton is complete without a trip under ground plus a chance to experience complete darnekness.
Underground activities Risk Assessment |
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Challenge / Team Tasks [onsite]
Problem Solving tasks are one of Hollowford’s strengths. The 7-acre site has numerous tasks to suit everyone from primary age children on school visits to a group of managers undertaking a team building exercise.
These activities are the ideal way to bring a group of people together to form a team. Activities require leadership, planning, and lots of ideas, co-ordination and co-operation. After successful completion, or not, instructors facilitate a debrief so that learning points are recognized and acted on.
Benefits – Fun, challenging and enlightening.
Risk Assessment |
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Educational [offsite & onsite]
There are a huge variety of opportunities within easy reach of Hollowford. We are situated in the Peak District, Britain’s first National Park established in 1951. The area’s special qualities are well known to the people who live in the towns and cities that surround the park but for visitors from further away the magic of the Peak District is just waiting to be discovered.
Castleton was an established tourist centre over 400 years ago. The Peak Cavern was listed as one of the 7 Wonders of the Peak in the 17th century and was visited by Mary Queen of Scots. There are many places of interest in and around the village to attract tourists. Treak Cliff Cavern, Speedwell Cavern, Blue John Mine and Peveril Castle are all in the Top Ten most popular attractions in the Peak Park. The Show Caves alone attract many thousands of visitors. However, a hundred meters along Hollowford Lane towards the Centre you leave the hubbub behind and step into the peaceful quiet of the Hope Valley.
There are many topics that can be readily studied including, tourism, land use, conservation, wildlife, farming, erosion & geology. |
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Hill Walking [offsite]
Being in the heart of the Peak District National Park we are an ideal starting point for many excellent walks. Mam Tor the famous shivering mountain overlooks the Centre and is an easy half-day objective, which can be extended to take in the popular ridge eastwards to Lose Hill.
Learn to navigate, improve your navigation skills or simply have a guided walk. We also offer expeditions that would include an overnight away from the centre either in tents or at a simple bunkhouse with groups planning & preparing their meals.
Benefits – a very green activity.
Hill walking Risk Assessment |
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Orienteering [onsite]
Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. You can run, jog or walk; you decide your own pace. Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map. We have a number of introductory courses on-site and a number of courses are available locally.
A great activity for schools with challenging courses for all ages and abilities. Can be used as an element in the National Curriculum for PE, Geography and Mathematics. Once the basic skills are understood decision-making and route planning are key with participants often working in pairs – 2 heads are better then one.
Benefits – burn off some energy running around. Improve navigation skills.
Orienteering Risk Assessment |
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Raft Building [onsite & offsite]
A superb team activity. Everyone has a chance to input ideas, discuss design criteria and then put what they have built to the test. At every stage safety is paramount, the instructor will undertake a pre-launch safety inspection, helmets and buoyancy aids are worn and the instructor will be close at hand. Barrels, Poles and ropes are the basic resources available.
This activity is offered both on-site, where it can be combined with another on-site activity such as Archery or Zip Wire. Or off-site at Todbrook reservoir where it can be combined with canoeing.
Benefits – A fantastic fun team challenge.
Risk Assessment |
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Rock Climbing [offsite]
Participants have an opportunity to climb at a level that they are comfortable with and leave feeling comfortably challenged. A key element of this activity is belaying – this is where other members of the group hold the safety rope of the climber under the close supervision of the instructor. Support, trust & communication are all vital.
A variation on climbing involves more of a scrambling or bouldering session comprising of small challenges without the use of ropes but under the close supervision of the instructor. “Weaselling” often described as outdoor caving, involves exploring between & under rocks in a ‘follow the leader’ manner. Both these variations encourage teamwork, encouragement and support. There is also the added advantage that more of the group is involved in activity more of the time.
Benefits – people travel from all over the world to climb on peak district rock.
Climbing Risk Assessment |
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Ropes Courses [onsite]
We have two ropes courses. Our Low Ropes course is another excellent resource for developing teamwork being impossible to complete without the assistance of another member of the group. Even then it is rare for somebody to make round without learning from a mistake or two.
The High Ropes course is a 40 foot high structure providing a challenging safe experience. This activity is great for all ages, abilities and groups. There are several elements to choose from, some offering an individual challenge and some involving a considerable amount of cooperation to prevent participants being left dangling in mid-air. High ropes elements are; Inclined Log, Vines, Cat walks, Indiana Bridge, Trapeze, High All Aboard, Beer Crate Challenge & Jacobs ladder.
Benefits – fun & challenging at all levels, a great mix of individual & team elements.
Ropes Course Risk Assessment |
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Zip Wire [onsite]
The zip wire provides a significant personal challenge and involves climbing a pole up to the platform to start where the instructor connects you to the wire. When you are ready you then lift your feet and descend the wire down over the pond to be caught in the safety netting at the far end. Once freed from the system it’s then a jog back to return the pulley to the start for the next person.
Being primarily an individual activity, though support, encouragement from fellow group members is vital the zip wire combines well with a more team based activity such as raft-building.
Benefits – fun & challenging, everyone always wants another go.
Risk Assessment |
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Lindley Educational Trust, Hollowford Centre, Castleton, Hope Valley S33 8WB tel: 01433 620 377
Registered in England 867065. Charity No. 247662. | |
