PLAS GWYNANT OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE
Plas Gwynant is at the heart of outdoor education and adventure in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Based at the foot of the highest peak in Wales, we combine the power and magic of the natural environment with the challenge of adventurous activities to inspire young people; we'll help them to recognise what they are capable of achieving.
Plas Gwynant Outdoor Education Centre
Nant Gwynant
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 4NR
01766 890212
plas_gwynant@sandwell.gov.uk
Accommodation & Grounds:
Dining Room
Cooked breakfast and home made evening meal. And cookies... great cookies
Outside
20 acres of parkland with woodlands, fields and a stream; excellent for freetime.
Equipment & Drying
All specialist equipment is provided. The drying room (pictured) has individual drying areas.
Gallery:
Facilities:
The centre is in the beautiful Gwynant valley - approximately 20 minutes from Betws y Coed, Llanberis, and the coastal town Porthmadog. Easily reached from the A5, the centre is ideally placed to tackle rock faces, gorges and lakes without additional transport. Facilities and opportunities include:
54 participant beds in 15 rooms
Groups of over 40 have sole occupancy of the centre
2 distinct bedroom areas to accommodate 2 schools or to split male & female students
Staff rooms are all ensuite
Indoor games room with table tennis, pool, table football, stereo etc
Additional seating areas inside and outside with books and games
Comfortable staff room for group leaders with WiFi and kitchen area
Large dining room for a home-cooked meal each evening.
All specialist / technical kit provided; rucksacks, boots, waterproofs, fleece etc
Classroom with full AV facilities
Drying room with dehumidifier, racking, and individual drying areas
School shop with souvenirs, snacks and drinks
Our minibuses provide any transport needed while at the centre
Read more about accessibility here.
Additional Needs and Accessibility:
Accessible facilities and activities are available at Plas Gwynant OEC so that participants can use our stunning grounds and Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) to build new skills, make new friends, increase confidence and have fun. We realise that we are still learning, so if the detail below does not answer your questions about accessibility please do contact us to discuss any additional support required.
Group entrance to the main centre is flat.
Accessible parking and drop-off are near the entrance of the main residential building.
The ground floor has a disabled toilet and shower room which is accessible from the dormitory area.
Corridors throughout the centre are wide with a 70cm gap through doorways and flat floor surfaces throughout.
1 all-terrain wheelchair is available. Please note this isn’t suitable for all users.
You know your students best; we'll speak with you to see whether we are able to provide an appropriate environment, programme, and experience for your group. You would be most welcome to visit the site to take a look around and learn more.
We have a range of specialist equipment that enable us to deliver a range of activities to people with accessibility needs. These activities include:
abseiling
tree climbing
canoeing
journeys and expeditions
beach exploration
orienteering
bushcraft.
We have experience of delivering a wide range of activities and learning opportunities to groups with additional needs. These have included physical impairments, sensory impairments, learning difficulties (ADHD, ASD, MLD, SLD, PMLD, and more), challenging behaviour, acquired brain injuries and life limiting illnesses. Our practitioners have received training on how to communicate and encourage personal and social development for all abilities.
Programmes:
Whether acquiring skills or developing character through experiential learning, we work closely with you to identify outcomes for the group and tailor the programme to suit. We'll translate those experiences in to skills for life. At Plas Gwynant you can expect a culture of high challenge and high support, and our offer includes:
Key Stage 2 to adult / professional development
Tailored learning outcomes and delivery
Curriculum support & enhancement: geography, history, RE, science, numeracy
GCSE, BTEC & OCR Units.
John Muir Award
DofE Expedition training & assessment, including the International Award
Non-school group activity programmes
All programmes provide opportunities for:
developing resilience, confidence & independence
knowing how to keep physically and emotionally healthy
raising aspirations
developing critical thinking & reasoning skills
becoming more environmentally aware
5 day, all inclusive programmes start from just £210pp
Activities:
Activities at Plas Gwynant are designed to help participants exceed their own expectations. They require commitment, endeavour, and resilience; participants leave with a feeling of success and a clear focus on what they are truly capable of achieving.
Water
At some point during the visit, most participants will get wet!
Activities on the water include canoeing, sea kayaking and improvised raft building; all of which involve a journey and a brilliant shared experience.
We use flat water lakes, white-water rivers, and some of the best coastal scenery in Britain
Mountains
There are endless opportunities for hill walking and mountain scrambling on our doorstep.
From gentle hills to rugged and rocky scrambles and exploring the vast network of tunnels and chambers, a day in our magnificent surroundings is full of awe and a provides a real sense of achievement after effort, determination, and sticking at something.
Cliffs
Imagine a journey that involves climbing and scrambling along rocks above waves and water... what an adventure!
Sea Level Traversing, Rock Climbing and Abseiling are among the ways that we use the cliffs.
We help students to look after each other and the equipment to develop trust and confidence in each other.
Beaches
Most groups will visit the beach as part of their stay, and it's often a highlight of the week.
Our local coast line offers all kinds of opportunities: climbing and scrambling, beach exploration, habitats, field studies including coastal processes, environmental studies, and land art.
And icecream. And fun.
Gorges
Climbing up and down steep stream beds, over rocks, under waterfalls and through narrow canyons; the group needs to work brilliantly as a team and be very supportive of each other.
We are lucky to have a number of gorges to suit a range of ages and abilities. It can be wet or dry, we can use ropes, full wetsuits, buoyancy aids and we even can slide down waterfalls in to deep pools.
Activities include:
Mountain walking
Rock Climbing
Abseiling
Gorge Walking
Sea Level Traversing
Canoeing
Kayaking
Raft Building
Orienteering
Mine exploration
Environmental based activities
Problem solving
Bushcraft
Mountain biking
Beach Exploration
