Thurston Outdoor Education Centre
About the centre
Customer Feedback Form
We would love to hear any thoughts, ideas and feedback that may help us improve what we do to make your next experience with us better.
At Thurston Outdoor Education Centre (OEC), we offer:
- fully-catered residential outdoor education courses
- self-catering accommodation
- camping for organised groups
The centre has been providing residential outdoor education courses for over 50 years.
Location
The centre is situated on the shores of Coniston Water in the stunning Lake District, with the majestic "Old Man" as a backdrop and Grizedale Forest close by.
For more information, see contact and directions.
Sustainable energy
Thurston was recently awarded a Sport England grant to implement sustainable and environmental energy measures.
Solar panels and a ground source heat pump have been installed and a small hydro plant is planned for the near future.
Owned by South Tyneside Council
Thurston Outdoor Education Centre is owned and operated by South Tyneside Council.
Residential courses
We have been providing adventurous activity and educational courses for over 50 years.
Organising a residential trip
See information and forms for organising a residential trip.
About the courses
Our courses allow students to develop, in a real setting, the concepts of responsibility, adventure, awareness, trust, co-operation, community and an understanding of safety and risk.
A course at the centre is not a holiday, but a rich and varied learning experience with the emphasis on fun, adventure and learning.
Courses involve:
- tailored outdoor adventurous activities
- helping with the day to day running of the centre, such as making beds and keeping the place clean and tidy
Benefits for young people
We believe that outdoor adventure and residential courses are powerful experiences for developing young people, especially in:
- motivation
- self-confidence
- self-esteem
- resilience
- decision-making
- communication
- teamwork
- leadership
- problem solving
- time management
- goal / target setting
- prioritising
- self-evaluation and review
- compromise and negotiation
- communal living
Accommodation
Student accommodation is in small dormitories with bunk beds.
Showers and toilets are in the main building.
See full details of rooms and floor plans.
Food
For fully catered courses, all meals are provided. Read about meals and an example menu.
What to bring with you
See what to bring with you for a residential course.
Find out more
If you have any questions about our residential courses, please contact us.
Hallway
Hallway
Image Gallery
Activities
Activities we provide at Thurston Outdoor Education Centre:
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Sailing
- Rock climbing
- Abseiling
- Gorge scrambling
- Improvised rafting
- Hill walking and mountaineering
- Sea level traversing
- Mine exploration
- Orienteering
- Paddleboarding
- Rowing
Qualified instructors
All our activities are run by qualified and experienced instructors. Details of our staff qualifications are available on request.
Thurston is inspected and approved to run these activities by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). Our AALA licence reference is R0572. To confirm our licence details, call the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority on (029) 2075 5715.
Awards
We hold these awards:
Self-catering
We have self-catering, hostel-style accommodation available to hire.
We have been assessed by Quality in Tourism and we have a VisitEngland 3-star rating for activity accommodation.
Facilities
- Accommodation for up to 58 people in a mix of en-suite and dormitory style rooms
- Ample private parking
- External games room with wood burner
- Spacious dining and lounge areas
- Large professionally equipped kitchen
- Extensive grounds with lake access
See full details of rooms and floor plans.
Boot store
Boot store
Image Gallery
Cost
For information about costs, please contact the centre directly.
Please note: New pricing will be introduced for the Summer 2023 season (from Easter onwards).
Find out more
For more information about our self-catering facilities, please contact us.
Camping for groups
Our camping facilities are totally separate from the main building.
They are exclusive for organised groups such as:
- Scouts
- Guides
- Duke of Edinburgh's Award
- Community groups
- Extended families
Facilities
- Secure and sheltered victorian walled garden camp site, suitable for about 20 people
- Male and female toilets, showers and washrooms
- Camping barn that sleeps 12 (two bunk dorms sleeping six people each) with a group room and camp kitchen
- Two camping pods (each pod sleeps three people)
- Drying room
- Parking space close by
Camping barn and pod
Camping barn and pod
Image Gallery
Cost
For information about costs, please contact the centre directly.
Please note: New pricing will be introduced for the Summer 2023 season (from Easter onwards).
Booking
We only take group bookings of at least eight people. We do not take individual bookings.
To book, for availability information or further details, contact us.
Safety policies and procedures
At Thurston Outdoor Education Centre, safety is our top priority.
Thurston holds an AALA Licence (Provider Reference R0572), LOTC Quality Badge, Adventuremark, and AHOEC Gold Standard. All staff are highly qualified and hold relevant outdoor qualifications
If you have any questions about our policies or procedures, please get in touch.
Emergencies and planning
Planning for extreme situations
Maintenance and repairs
Repairs and breakages procedure
Behaviour
Guidelines for group leaders - acceptable group behaviour
Child protection
Medication
Administration of medication policy
Activity policies
Bushcraft and wilderness skills
Camping, huts, bothies and bivouacking
Climbing and abseiling - Thurston Trees
Climbing, abseiling - outdoors policy
The Dell (bush and fire craft)
Risk assessments
We carry out detailed risk assessments for all our activities and buildings.
Generic outdoor activity risk assessment
Bushcraft and wilderness skills risk assessment
Camping, bothies, bivouacking risk assessment
Climbing and abseiling (Thurston Trees) risk assessment
Climbing and abseiling (outdoors) risk assessment
Low ropes course risk assessment
Mine exploration risk assessment
Winter mountain walking risk assessment
Mountain walking risk assessment
Mountain biking risk assessment
Problem solving risk assessment
Unaccompanied activities risk assessment
Blue green algae (HABs) risk assessment
Dinghy sailing risk assessment
Drascombe longboats risk assessment
Ghyll scrambling risk assessment
Stand up paddleboarding risk assessment
Paddlesport (no moving water) risk assessment
Paddlesport (moving water) risk assessment
Paddlesport (estuary) risk assessment
Jetty jumping and swimming risk assessment
Friends of Thurston
Friends of Thurston (FOT) is a charitable community group.
The group fundraises to:
- enhance centre resources
- organise working weekends
- advertise the centre
- improve access for all
For more information about the Friends of Thurston group, visit Facebook: Friends of Thurston.
Contact and directions
Phone
0153 944 1218
thurston.info@southtyneside.gov.uk
Social media
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Where to find us
Address: Thurston Outdoor Education Centre, Coniston, Cumbria, LA21 8AB
Directions
Due to past flooding and road closures, we advise you to follow the route below for ease and safety.
From South Tyneside
(136 miles, approximately 3 hours)
- Join the A1(M) heading south to Scotch Corner
- At Scotch Corner join the A66 heading west to Brough
- From Brough head to the M6 South bound, two options depending on your vehicle are;
- follow signs for Kirby Stephen and M6 Junction 37 via the A685, or
- continue on the A66 to Penrith Junction 40
- Join the M6 South bound, follow it down to Junction 36
From the M6 (junction 36)
- At M6 junction 36, follow the A590 sign posted Barrow-in-Furness
- Continue on the A590 to Greenodd
- At the Greenodd junction there is a roundabout, take the second exit (right) A5092
- Follow the A5092 through to Lowick Green and bear left onto the A5084 sign posted Coniston
- Continue following the Coniston sign posts and the A5084 to Torver
- At the T-junction turn right onto the A593, sign posted Coniston
- As you enter Coniston Village there will be a BP garage on the right hand side, at the junction immediately after this take the road on the right, this is the B5285 sign posted Hawkshead, (brown, tourist information, sign posts for Brantwood)
- Continue following this road out of the village, the lake will appear on your right hand side, follow this to the head of the lake and take the road on the right (tourist information signs point to Brantwood). This road becomes narrow in places and services another outdoor education centre, please be conscious you may meet another coach or associated traffic
- Follow this road round the head of the lake, away from the lake briefly and up a short but steep incline
- At the top of the incline the road bears right at a junction, continue round to the right eventually becoming parallel with the lake again
- You will pass a 'Swallows and Amazons' tea shop signposted along the road and an outdoor centre called Low Bank Ground
- After Low Bank Ground the road descends through some woods - the centre is immediately at the end of these - it is signposted on the right hand side
Parking
Coaches are advised to reverse down the drive.
All other vehicles are advised to park in the car park on the right.