Fairplay House

In 2013 Fairplay House, based in beautiful Essex, will celebrate our 50th year of offering rewarding and inspiring outdoor adventures to children and adults, helping people to step out of their comfort zone in a safe and fun environment.

As one of the longest running centres running Outdoor Education programs in the United Kingdom, we have a wealth of experience offering a huge range of experiences including:

•    Canoeing
•    Kayaking
•    Rafting
•    Sailing
•    Climbing
•    Archery
•    Caving
•    Mountain Biking
•    Abseiling
•    Orienteering
•    High Ropes Courses

Based in a beautiful country house built in the 1930's on 15 acre's of land, we can accommodate up to 60 people on our site and provide professional and experienced instructors to ensure that everyone has fun in a safe environment.

We are open from January till December so no matter the time of year you can get in contact with Fairplay House to plan an adventure you will never forget.

Join us at Fairplay House Canoeing on the tranquil waters of Essex for a canoeing experience that everyone can enjoy.

We can have up to 3 people in a canoe, working together to paddle along these amazing waterways surrounded by the stunning countryside of Essex as you learn the finer points of canoeing, or if we have younger paddlers or people who cannot swim we can always tie two canoes together to form a near capsize-proof catamaran, providing a stable platform for games and fun.

Our sessions are run for people of all levels of experience and is a great way to build teamwork and communication within a group, making it a favourite of youth groups and Corporate Teambuilding events alike. We provide all the equipment and instruction you will need. All you need to do is contact Fairplay House Canoeing to find out more!

Fairplay House Kayaking takes you on a wonderful tour paddling the local canal and estuary located practically on our doorstep.

We run sessions tailored to the experience of the group, for beginners we head out onto the local canal where we can teach you the skills you will need to navigate and properly propel yourself through the calm waters. For those who have kayaked before we head out on the more open estuary where wonderful sights await you around every corner.

For the more experienced kayaker we can supply supply specialist kayaks and courses in white water kayaking throughout Britain on rivers graded 1 to 4 depending on your level of ability.

Kayaking teaches self-sufficiency in a group environment and a great personal challenge that nearly everyone can enjoy. To find out more, simply contact us at Fairplay House Kayaking.

Bring your group along for a fun experience with Fairplay House Rafting for a unique day on the water full of fun and laughter.

With 4 to 5 people in a team, we will give you all of the raw materials you need to construct your own raft! It will be up to you and your team to design your raft, tie together the barrels and poles that will make up your vessel and then race against the other teams in a race that will determine who built the fastest raft, and who ends up in the water with an unraveled raft around them.

Our instructors will be on hand at all times in the safety boat to fish out anyone that doesn't make it the length of the course, and possibly to provide a few hints and tips to those new to tying knots and designing rafts.

We can accommodate all groups, young and old, on this exciting adventure. Have a chat with the team at Fairplay House Rafting for more information.

Join us on the Blackwater estuary and learn how to sail with the team at Fairplay House Sailing.

We have a fleet of vessels suited to sailors of all levels of experience for you to learn this exciting and rewarding sport. For landlubbers who want to try sailing for the first time we have our Laser Fun Boats, specifically designed with those new to sailing in mind, as well as day boats and dinghies for a range of abilities and learning experiences.

At all times you will be accompanied by our fully trained sailing instructors who will show you the ropes as they ensure everyone has fun in a safe environment.

We can accommodate up to 12 people in a group in an experience that works wonders for how people work as a team. Speak with us at Fairplay House Sailing to book your adventure with us.

Enjoy a thrilling experience climbing at our purpose built facility on the beautiful grounds of Fairplay House Climbing.

Our purpose built, 10 metre high "granite tor" provides a controlled environment in which climbers of all levels of experience can enjoy this exciting sport that sends participants confidence soaring while being a great way to keep fit.

We have a staff of fully qualified and professional staff who will make sure that everyone remains safe as you take on the range of grades of climbs that will put you to the test whether you have taken on climbing before or not.

Our on-site climbing facility can accommodate up to 12 people at a time, and is a great experience for groups of all shapes and sizes. Get in touch with us at Fairplay House Climbing to find out more.

Discover this Olympic sport for yourself when you come along to Fairplay House Archery.

Having evolved over thousands of years, the bow and arrow is no longer the exclusive domain of warriors and hunters. Nowadays archery has become a sport that everyone can enjoy, with modern design and materials making for easy-to-draw bows that do not depend on brute force to draw and arrows that fly further and straighter than ever before.

Archery is a very popular event for groups such as youth groups, schools, Corporate Teambuilding and Hen and Stag weekends. We can take groups of up to 15 participants and will supply all of the equipment you will need as well as ongoing training and tuition to help you improve your aim and prepare for the friendly competition the day culminates in.

No matter if you have enjoyed this sport before or not, speak with the team at Fairplay House Archery for more information.

Fairplay House Caving's beautiful country house built in the 1930's, sits atop a purpose built system of caves and tunnels perfect for adventure.

We will provide everything you need, including jumpsuits, knee pads and a minors helmet equipped with a light to help you navigate the dark maze of caverns and tunnels as you search for adventure in this caving system that provides personal challenges in a safe environment.

This is as close as you will get to the real thing and its located right on our site, with stalactites, stalagmites, steep descents and ascents and squeezes and all of the features that you will find in a caving system.

Caving runs year rounds as it is impervious to weather conditions and cold, have a chat with Fairplay House Caving to book your adventure.

Tour the beautiful countryside of Essex with Fairplay House Mountain Biking with a great variety of experiences for people of all levels of ability.

Whether you have ridden a bike or not, you can join us at our beautiful location and learn with our expert instructors too learn to ride or improve your technique off road.

We have a fleet of specialised mountain bikes with all the trimmings including hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension and 24 gears, as well as junior mountain bikes designed especially for children so that everyone can get out in the great outdoors enjoying tours led by fully qualified instructors and tailored for your individual abilities and those of your group.

Our mountain biking experiences are popular with groups such as school outings and Corporate Teambuilding, or just people looking to get out and experience something new. Speak with the staff at Fairplay House Mountain Biking to book your adventure with us.

Step off our 10 metre tall purpose built abseiling tower on Fairplay House Abseiling and have a great time doing it.

Set on our stunning 15 acre site, our specifically designed "granite tor" provides the perfect venue to try abseiling for the first time, or you can combine it with one of the other amazing activities we offer here at Fairplay House Abseiling.

As you step out over the ledge, backwards, you can expect your heart to be thumping in your chest and your knees to shake. Here we enjoy helping others out of their comfort zones, and our 10 metre tall facility helps us do just that in a secure environment. The feeling you will experience when your feet touch the ground and you look up to see what you have just accomplished will be well worth it!

A great experience for adults and children alike, have a chat with Fairplay House Abseiling to find out more.

Explore the stunning countryside of Essex with this entertaining adventure race with Fairplay House Orienteering.

We run a range of orienteering races for people of all levels of fitness and ability, the aim of an orienteering race is to move from one checkpoint to the next as quicly as possible on your way to the finish line. In order to find the checkpoints you need to be able to read a map effectively and navigate using a compass, which is just the reason orienteering is otherwise known as the thinking man's race.

We run introductory session on our 15 acre estate, intermediate courses take you exploring across the heathlands and for the advanced racers the woodlands provide a great experience, not to mention the Heather Hills, or as they are known to some, the widow makers!

Whatever your level of ability or experience , we can take groups of up to 30 people and help them have a great experience with us. Have a chat with Fairplay House Orienteering to find out how.

This is one of our favourite activities; a 13 metre high ropes course that will push you to your limits, Fairplay House Canopy.

Our specially designed course combines 8 elements, challenges high up above your head that all require a different kind of courage. You will have your colleagues and friends by your side, or beneath you on the ground cheering you on as well as your being harnessed in  to ensure you don't fall more than a couple of feet should you slip. Just keep telling yourself, its all in my head and you'll be fine!

Group capacity is set at 15 so that your instructors can supervise and encourage everyone at all times over the 2.5 hour experience. All you have to do is not look down, and get in touch with Fairplay House Canopy to plan your big adventure.