Our outdoor adventure activities include kayaking, sea kayaking, sailing, climbing, canoeing, expeditions, gorge walking, navigation, bushcraft skills and team building.
Abseiling
Abseiling
What is it?
Abseiling (from the German abseilen, meaning "to rope down"), also called rappelling (mainly in the United States), is a controlled descent down a rock face using a rope, generally whilst using the legs to keep yourself from banging into the rock. Climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection or as a method to access difficult-to-reach areas from above for various industrial applications like maintenance, construction, inspection and welding. Rescue teams also use this method as a way to access injured or stranded victims.
What does it involve?
The activity involves either climbing to a certain point and abseiling down, or starting at the top and making your descent from there. There is normally a team assisting with rope control for beginners that other students can help with, so people can get as involved as much or as little as they like.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Abseiling can build a great sense of being part of a team amongst students as they all complete the task together and help each other out, and can be a big confidence boost for each individual.
What equipment do we need?
The only thing you will need to take care of is the attire of the students - make sure they are dressed appropriately! The venue should provide all the equipment needed to abseil, but check beforehand if you are unsure.
Who is it suitable for?
Most ages of students will enjoy abseiling; there are many varieties of environments to do it in, so if you choose appropriately for the age range of the group then everybody should have a good time.
Costs?
The costs vary greatly depending on the type of abseiling you do, as the activity can vary from a small indoor wall to abseiling down a cliff face; you must decide upon exactly what you wish to do and research the prices of the providers in the desired area.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Younger children may be wary of getting up high, but most students should be fine taking part in abseiling activities. Also, venues who provide abseiling must by law have a valid AALS license - ask to see confirmation if you are unsure.
How do we include?
Students with disabilties may feel left out if they are less physically able and therefore cannot control their movements while climbing, but there are more and more facilties that cater to the disabled who wish to abseil. It's possible for deaf, blind and wheelchair-bound individuals to abseil if the venue is set up for it - check out the venues around you for more information.
Doing it abroad?
Abseiling is reasonably popular the world over thanks to its origins in practicality rather than enjoyment, so if you research providers in the area you are going to ahead of time it's likely there will be an abseiling activity to enjoy no matter where you are!
Main website:
Visit http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=167 for a good overview of the practical elements involved in abseiling.
Venues with this Activity
Set amidst a superbly rugged and unspoilt natural coastal environment, Uist Outdoor Centre offers unique locations, facilities and instruction for individuals, corporate, education and leisure groups seeking unforgettable outdoor experiences.
Northern Ireland's National Outdoor Centre
Tollymore National Outdoor Centre offers a range of one day and weekend courses in rock climbing skills, learning to lead and multi pitch climbing, Canadian canoeing, kayaking and sea kayaking, mountain biking, orienteering and coasteering.
Set in the heart of the beautiful Peak District, our outdoor activity centre provides a wide range of outdoor challenges and experiences such as bushcraft, orienteering, climbing, camping and navigation skills as well as kayaking, canoeing, trekking and mountaineering
Close to the shore of Lake Windermere in the heart of the Lake District National Park, Great Tower Scout Activity Centre is an ideal base for exploring this famous area. Set in 250 acres, the centre offers both sizeable woodland to explore as well as natural rocky crags for climbing.
The centre is perfect for outdoor education – offering instructed activities such as kayaking, climbing, archery and rafting.
Barnstondale is a truly inclusive adventure and activity centre. With outdoor pursuits, team building, sports and excitement to be had, you can create your own adventure at Barnstondale.
Pooles Wharf, Hotwells Road, Bristol. Opened July 2000 to provide water sports and activities for young people, provides accessible facilities to include disabled young people. Sailing, Canoeing, Caving, Abseiling, and Mountain biking.
Plas Pencelli is large outdoor centre located on the edge of the Brecon Beacons in South Wales.
Home of the "Big Canyoning Adventure" and "Flying Fox" Zip line. Other activities include; Gorge walking, Canyoning, cliff jumping, rock climbing, abseiling, raft building, mountain/hill walks, zip lines and more.
Rock UK Whithaugh Park Adventure Centre is nestled away in the beautiful landscape of the Scottish Borders. We share our 110 acre slice of Scottish countryside with red squirrels, deer and a wide variety of other wildlife.
We really are big enough to cope and small enough to care. Our aim is quite simply to offer the very best experience to all our customers.
Perched high on clifftops overlooking the North Norfolk coastline, this centre is set in 30 acres of beautiful pine-fringed grounds
Sweeping cliff top views, beautiful sandy beaches and pine-fringed grounds surround the centre, located in a region boasting wildlife sanctuaries, famous fossils and the biggest skies in the country
Perfectly positioned within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and on a stretch of coastline designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Situated in the glorious Sussex countryside, Blackland Farm is a multi-purpose activity centre. It is located on a 120-acre site, comprising woodland and grassed areas.
Prince's Trust centres currently offer the Fairbridge programme, which is an individually tailored personal development programme combining one-to-one support and group activities.
Originally Fairbridge De Cymru, we became part of The Prince's Trust in 2011.
Torridon Activities is located at foot of Liathach and the shores of Torridon with some of the best walking, mountaineering, rock climbing, and kayaking anywhere in the UK.
We pride ourselves on making the outdoors accessible to anyone and cater for the novice to the expert, offering fun and tuition to develop their skills.
We are a residential outdoor education centre on the shore of Coniston Water in the Lake District.
Outdoor Pursuits, Extreme Sports and Multi-Sport Events is what we're all about. Since 1979 we've been providing high quality outdoor pursuits from our base in Bude located at the heart of the amazing North Cornish Coast. Since then our range of activities and experiences have grown to make us one of the most established and highly qualified outdoor providers in Cornwall.
On the beautiful and historic parkland estate of Shugborough our centre here is ideally placed to take advantage of canoeing and kayaking opportunities on the River Trent. Cannock Chase is right on the centre’s doorstep – a great place to walk and explore and which is home to some of the countries finest bike trails.
Located 14 miles south of Edinburgh, Broomlee Centre still retains a truly rural atmosphere.
Established over 40 years ago, the 25 acre site includes a 10 acre lake, alongside the River Thames, between Richmond and Kingston. Thames Young Mariners (TYM) is surrounded by 200 acres of public open space, which has been designated as a local nature reserve.
The magnificent landscape of Scotland, with its soaring mountains, tranquil lochs and soft lowlands, has drawn awestruck travellers for centuries. Using years of experience and a love of the the outdoors, Biggar Adventure aims to introduce people from all walks of life to adventurous ways of exploring this extraordinary world.
Challenging Disability Through Outdoor Adventure
Founded in 1978, Calvert Trust is the inspiration of John Fryer-Spedding, whose vision was to enable people with disabilities to benefit from outdoor activities in the countryside.
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The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
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