Ridgway Adventure · Outdoor activities
Adventure courses for senior schools
The wild natural environment that surrounds Ridgway Adventure provides the perfect setting for ‘real’ adventure and exploration. Our six day courses are designed to stretch and challenge pupils, helping them overcome fears and succeed, individually and as a team.
Individuals grow through their experiences, gaining self-confidence, self-esteem and self-awareness through our ‘can do’ ethos, whilst developing a sense of ownership and responsibility amongst their peers. Qualities such as initiative and speed of thought are encouraged. Self-reliance and self-discipline are often called upon. New challenges are faced, skills developed and friendships forged.
Our facilities and staff are exclusively yours for your course. We accommodate one group per week. You have our undivided attention whilst you are with us. The climbing crag is yours alone, there are no other groups on the water and it is rare to see other walkers in the mountains.
Activities
Your action-packed week will include the following...
Mountain Expedition – wild camp at the base of a mountain and climb to its summit the next day
Sea kayaking – learn to paddle your own kayak in the sheltered sea loch amongst islands rich in birdlife
Climbing and abseiling – on a wild empty crag with breathtaking views out to sea
‘Search to Survive’ – orienteer to win vital equipment for Survival night
Survival skills – learn how to build your own shelter, discover edible wild plants, pick shellfish and seaweed, find water and make a fire
Survival night on an uninhabited island – put skills learnt into practice and sleep out under the stars
Cape Team Challenge – a head–to–head team competition including team tasks, raft building and race
Beach day – Landyachting on one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in Scotland and surfing (bodyboarding) in the fresh west coast surf
End of course Concert – pupils are encouraged to perform in small teams or on their own.
John Muir Award
Pupils take part in The John Muir Discovery Award, an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment and is a great way for pupils to review their experiences focusing on ‘discovery, exploration, conservation and sharing’. They write and draw in a record book and receive a certificate at the end of the course. We promote conservation of water and power, as we supply our own and encourage students not to waste food.
“My association with Ardmore goes back a number of years. Apart from the wilderness and unique beauty of the place, every person who has been there has returned a changed person. Why? Because there is a breadth of experience offered, which allows young people to learn in a few days what might normally take many years, a few days, a week, perhaps a month defines a person for life. Once you have been, you are compelled to return again and again.”
Nick Haddock MBE MA, Headmaster, St. John’s, Leatherhead
‘My association with Ardmore goes back a number of years. Apart from the wilderness and unique beauty of the place, every person who has been there has returned a changed person. Why? Because there is a breadth of experience offered, which allows young people to learn in a few days what might normally take many years, a few days, a week, perhaps a month defines a person for life. Once you have been, you are compelled to return again and again.’
Nick Haddock MBE MA, Headmaster, St. John’s, Leatherhead
During their course, pupils complete the John Muir ‘Discovery’ Award. For more details, see the JMA website.