Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre

Plas Gwynant Residential Outdoor Education Centre, at the foot of the beautiful Snowdon in North Wales, provides residential outdoor activity and education courses to a wide variety of groups. With a maximum group size of 44, you can be assured that your experience will be an enjoyable one.
Among the many activities that Plas Gwynant Residential Outdoor Education Centre offer are:

• Canoeing – A fun activity for everyone
• Coasteering (Sea Level Traversing) and Gorge Walking – A great way to discover nature from a totally different angle.
• Kayaking – Many different options available no matter what skill level you are.
• Mountain Biking – Explore the beautiful surroundings of the area close to Plas Gwynant Residential Outdoor Education Centre.
• Climbing – Experience the thrill of outdoor rock climbing.
• Orienteering -  A great way to develop navigational skills.
• Abseiling – Combine with rock climbing or just start from the top, Abseiling is a thrilling experience.
• Hiking – whether you want a gentle mountain walk or test yourself with a challenge, there are many places where you can enjoy the environment around Plas Gwynant Residential Outdoor Education Centre.

Plas Gwynant Residential Outdoor Education Centre also offers beach and mine exploration, raft building, environmental based activities, problem solving challenges and bush craft skills.

Originating from North America, canoes are large open craft which can seat one, two or three people and are manoeuvred by participants using a single bladed paddle.

Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre can provide canoeing activity sessions at one of several local lakes.  Where participants have previous experience, or you want to develop canoeing skills as one of your aims, we can provide;

•  The opportunity to undergo a trip on a river, an estuary, a large lake
• A trip on the Menai Straits.
• Overnight Expeditions
• British Canoe Union performance awards.

If you just want to have a taster session, we complete a small journey and can include some bush craft skills as well.  If you require, Canoeing with Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre can be directly linked to GCSE, A Level and BTEC curriculums in both PE and Outdoor Adventurous Activities modules.

Canoeing is a particular all year round favourite with groups here.

If you want to discover the coast from a totally different perspective, at Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre, you can try Coasteering - a very exciting activity that gives groups the chance to investigate the craggy headlands and bays of Anglesey, negotiating sideways along the rocky shores and cliffs.

Learning about climbing and scrambling skills as you go along, you will probably have to use ropes at some stage and may even use tyrolean traverses or other rope systems to bypass difficulties. Participants will usually get wet at some point!

At Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre, Gorge walking is also available – This involves climbing up or down steep stream beds, over rocks, under waterfalls and through canyons. The route can be varied depending on the groups ability level, and you can choose to get wet or stay dry.

At Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre, kayaking features in most of our multi-activity courses.  We have a wide range of kayaking venues on our doorstep including the sea, rivers and lakes. Once the basics have been learned on a flat water lake, there may be the option to take a trip on the sea, exploring the coast or down a river.  We can provide adventurous trips on whitewater or surfing sessions for those that have the necessary experience.

For groups that have or want to learn advanced skills, Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre can offer;

• Sea kayaking
• Kayak surfing
• River trips
• Overnight Expeditions
• British Canoe Union performance awards

Kayaking can be directly linked to GCSE, A Level and BTEC curriculums in both PE and Outdoor Adventurous Activities modules.

Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre is situated in an ideal venue for mountain biking.  We have access to forests, mountains and trail centres.  We are a short distance from Coed y Brenin, Cwm Penmachno, the Marin Trail and Beddgelert forest.  For those that prefer mountain biking in a more natural environment there are plenty of routes to suit all levels of abilities.  We can provide trail leaders and organise bikes for those that want to include mountain biking as part of a course here.

For initial sessions, Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre make use of local forest tracks designed specifically for mountain bikers . After this, they can guide you to the best routes depending on the groups previous experience and ability.

Take the vertical challenge and come have a go at climbing! Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre and their highly experienced staff will provide all climbing adventurers an opportunity to grow as climbers. Enjoy the outdoors with a physical activity that will challenge and help you develop new skills. Snowdonia is considered to provide some of the best rock climbing venues in the UK.

When rock climbing in groups, you will be encouraged to look after a partners ropes yourself, actively fostering a bond and developing teamwork skills. As there are so many places to choose from with varying degrees of difficulty, there is something for all skill levels.

Rock climbing can be directly linked to GCSE, A Level and BTEC curriculums in both PE and Outdoor Adventurous Activities modules.

At Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre,  there are a wide range of orienteering courses on offer.  Whether you are a beginner being introduced to the sport or wish to study orienteering as part of a BTEC or GCSE we have a range of resources to suit you.  

Using a map and compass to move from point to point on a specially designed orienteering map either individually or in small teams, there are a range of courses available on offer for all skill levels.
Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre will provide you with the necessary instruction for map and compass use from our expert leaders before taking you out for a fun and challenging session of navigating!

Orienteering can develop navigational skills, encourages people to make decisions and solve problems, and helps people to gain confidence in themselves.

Abseiling is an adrenalin pumping activity using ropes, harnesses and descending devices to 'slide' down a rope from the top of a cliff to the bottom, controlling your speed as you go.  

Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre offer abseiling as either a stand alone activity or as part of a rock climbing activity session.  There are a number of venues that Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre use. There are many different natural rock faces in the area, ranging from 20 metre high free hanging rock faces to smaller slabs for the more nervous.

Abseiling is a great activity for promoting communication from within a group, as well as helping individuals with their confidence. Group bonding also happens as they support people who are Abseiling down.

Hiking at Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre is tailored for your groups wants and needs. From gentle mountain rambles to the more challenging rocky and rugged scrambles.

Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre  takes primary school aged children on extremely fun and rewarding mountain adventure days, that include climbing a peak, walking in streams, exploring underground mines and more.

For older students, Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre can support people completeing the Duke of Edinburgh scheme by training groups for their Silver and Gold expeditions. If you choose to complete a Mountain Walk, the day can also be linked to the GCSE, A Level and BTEC curriculums for both PE and Outdoor Adventurous Activities modules.