The Towers

Mountains Experience

The Towers Active Learning Centre is located in the heart of one of the most stunning mountain areas of the UK. Offering a range of challenging offsite outdoor activities, The Towers provides the perfect setting for experiencing the best of what Snowdonia National Park can offer. From rugged, lofty peaks, to wild climbing crags and gorges to both explore and create adventures, we’ll build you an itinerary that will engage your students and inspire.

School Trips

The Towers Active Learning Centre is located to allow easy access to the very best that Snowdonia can offer. Whether it’s whole-day mountain expeditions, climbing on local crags, or exploring local rivers, there’s a whole range of challenging outdoor learning activities that can be tailored for you. You can also expect more relaxing activities to both unwind and help students understand this very special environment.

2 – 5 Day Residentials

Snowdonia, N. Wales

February – November

Summer Residentials

Snowdonia is internationally recognised as an adventure sports playground. We’re pleased to offer a huge range of adventurous experiences across multiple off-site locations that will stretch your students and improve their essential skills. During your outdoor adventure trip, your students can take part in:

Mountain Walking
Canoeing
Rock Climbing & Abseiling
Gorge Scrambling
Beach Visits
Traverse Wall
Mine Exploration
Via Feratta
Orienteering

Our summer trips run from May-July – reach out to our team to create your bespoke school trip.

Autumn Trips

Kickstart the school year at The Towers Active Learning Centre, nestled in the awe-inspiring landscapes of Snowdonia. Our autumn outdoor residential programme offers a unique blend of on-site and off-site activities that harness the natural environment to its fullest. At The Towers, we understand the importance of building strong student-student and student – teacher relationships from the beginning of the academic year. Our carefully crafted activities not only foster connections but also contribute to improved academic success right from the start. By coming on an outdoor residential in autumn you not only solidify early-year learning but also avoid peak summer prices, making the experience both enriching and cost-effective.

Mountain Walking
Canoeing
Rock Climbing & Abseiling
Gorge Scrambling
Beach Visits
Traverse Wall
Mine Exploration
Via Feratta + much more!

Our autumn trips run from September-October – reach out to our team to create your bespoke school trip.

Winter Trips

Our outdoor winter residential programme, set against the stunning backdrop of Snowdonia’s natural beauty, takes students off-site for thrilling activities. Recently refurbished to a high standard, The Towers provides the perfect base for all activities and a cosy hub and welcoming retreat to return to after a day spent braving the elements. Our winter retreat promises a profound experience, focusing on fostering meaningful connections through skill-building activities. Facing the unpredictable winter weather adds a unique dimension to the experience, amplifying the sense of achievement. Talk to a member of our team to learn more.

Mountain Walking
Canoeing
Rock Climbing & Abseiling
Gorge Scrambling
Beach Visits
Traverse Wall
Mine Exploration
Via Feratta + much more!

Our winter trips run from November-April – reach out to our team to create your bespoke school trip. Please note activities are weather dependent.

Curriculum Support

Our Immersive Geography trips blend the exploration of human and physical geography with exciting outdoor activities.

The Towers will place your students amongst the North Wales mountains and valleys. From walking into the dramatic upland landscapes, to exploring the life of a Welsh slate miner, the experiences are as educational as they are exciting!

Physical Geography
Outdoor Activities
Tourism Impacts
Glacial Landscapes

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Training Trips

The Towers outdoor activity centre is a very special place to undertake group or individual training. Whether it’s topic specific student training or trekking expeditions we’ll be happy to work with you to create a bespoke package that meets your needs.

DofE Expedition skills and expeditions
Trekking expeditions
Staff INSET training – general
Staff INSET training – topic specific

To find out how we can support with training, contact a member of our team.

Corporate / Other Activities

Venue Hire and Corporate Days

The Towers is ideally situated in the heart of Snowdonia National Park providing a mountainous backdrop where your teams come together to develop leadership skills and overcome challenges together as a team. During your stay, your staff can take part in a selection of activities to help them bond as a team outside of corporate meetings, including:

Challenging mountain treks
Canoeing
Climbing
Teambuilding & Leadership Days & Courses

Why we do what we do

Essential Skills

By using the Skills Builder Essential Skills Framework we will tailor the activities to focus on selected Essential Skills for each course. Prior to school trips, we liaise with teachers to identify the learning objectives and to discuss reviews following each activity to ensure we maximise growth amongst students.

Character

We believe that developing character is important to a child’s development and helps with academic success as well as stimulating a global perspective. Our skilled instructors will guide students through the activities, helping them to take ownership of each task. We let students explore their own boundaries while offering support and guidance.

Wellbeing

It has been proven that getting into the Great Outdoors can help to heal, soothe and restore physical and mental wellbeing. We use each of our unique locations (woods, coast and mountains) to offer new physical challenges, while highlighting the benefits of their stunning natural surroundings.

Active Learning Centre Experiences

A new era of outdoor learning

The Towers is the perfect base for all of its engaging and challenging outdoor activities. Watch the video and take a look for yourself.

The Towers offers flexible accommodation options for up to approximately 80 students and staff. For residential school trips, students will stay in bunk rooms, located within the main building. Having been furnished to a high standard, your students will have a comfortable night’s sleep after busy days.

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The Towers Accommodation

Bedrooms

Our bedrooms are made up of bunk bed rooms for 2 – 8 people, with some ensuite rooms. Our building allows us to break down areas of the building to accommodate mixed groups easily. Most of our group leader & teachers rooms are also single bunk rooms and are mainly ensuite, those that aren’t have separate group leader bathrooms.

Facilities

The Towers has a purpose built cloakroom with enough space for everyone’s waterproofs and boots as well as a separate drying room which is heated overnight to dry out any wet clothes and kit from the day’s adventures. We have a number of multi-use room, including a lounge, library, dining area/classroom and a group leader and teachers’ lounge.

What do we eat

Like every other Active Learning Centre, we take pride in providing our guests the best quality food possible to fuel them for the busy days ahead. Menus at The Towers have been carefully crafted to ensure participants are well nourished for their activities. Using locally sourced foods wherever possible, we can also cater for all dietary requirements.

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Guest care

Our stunning house, perched high above the valley just outside Betws -Y Coed, has been comfortably furnished to provide a great base for your multi-activity residential trip. Active Learning Group and ALC are proud to offer the following at The Towers:

Relaxing grounds with picnic areas
Conservatory with valley views
Fully catered
Flexible accommodation options

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First impressions

Thank you for making it an amazing experience for staff and children.

I just wanted to say thank you and to praise your staff at The Towers. My staff are there at the moment with our Year 5 and 6 children and they are in constant touch saying how wonderful the staff are. The latest message tells me that the staff and accommodation are exceptional.

Buglawton Primary School
A brilliantly organised trip from school to venue.

A brilliantly organised trip from school to venue. The structure of the week is fast flowing but so exciting for the children. The activities really stretch the children, but they are totally safe with the brilliant, experienced instructors.

Oakleigh House
School trip to The Towers

As a ‘new’ centre, Phil has created a lovely place to stay with excellent workers; I would consider it an excellent example for other centres to look at and could be used to show how a centre should be run and managed. Thank you for making us feel so welcome and cared for.

Duncombe School
Trip to The Towers

I can confidently say that my stay at The Tower provided the best accommodation experience. I extend my thanks to all staff members for their outstanding work, with a special appreciation for the chef who prepared delicious meals for us.

Student
Instructors are Incredible!

Kids have had a great time and developed many skills and independence. The meals and kitchen staff have been excellent – they looked after us well.

Broughton Fields Primary School
Great Trip!

Professional and friendly, ideally suited to our art class painting and drawing programme.

North Bridge House
Overall, the Children thoroughly enjoyed their stay.

The activities were really enjoyable and the days were well organised.

Churchfields Primary
Fab day, great staff, children had a fab time.

The children were fully engaged and the leaders had great behaviour management skills. As teachers we were able to relax with them in charge! We had a great day.

Panshanger School
School Trip to Cuffley

Thank you for all the care and enthusiasm, the children had an amazing time.

Christ Church School

Where is it?

Located just outside Capel Curig in the heart of Snowdonia, The Towers is easily accessible from the Midlands and the North-West.

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Capel Curig, Betws-y-Coed LL24 0DR, UK

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Your questions answered about what we do at Active Learning Centres

Food and Accommodation

Health and Safety

Packing and Activities

How many people are there to a room?

Our bedrooms are made up of bunk bed rooms for 2 – 8 people, with some ensuites, bedding is provided by The Towers for your stay. The nature of our building allows us to break down areas of the building to accommodate mixed groups easily. During the booking process we work with you to allocate rooms before you arrive. Most of our group leader & teachers rooms are also single bunk rooms and are mainly ensuite, those that aren’t have separate group leader bathrooms

What food will be on offer?

Healthy, happy and homely is the best way to describe our food. Our menus are designed to cover a broad range of tastes and also fulfil nutritional requirements. Breakfast is usually a choice of cereal or porridge and is followed by a small cooked breakfast. Dinner is a choice of 2 main meals and dessert. Packed lunches are provided and eaten wherever that day’s adventures take your child. Fresh fruit is always available with all meals.

Can food intolerances be catered for?

Yes, during the booking process the group leaders/ teachers will ask for details about dietary requirements and then pass that information to us, we will then ensure everyone is catered for. If you do have any particular concerns please get in touch.

See our other Active Learning Centres

Cuffley

Cuffley, Potters Bar

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Over 100 acres of beautiful woodland wilderness, easily accessible from London.

Based in Hertfordshire, the picturesque woodland setting of Cuffley Active Learning Centre promotes development and growth through engaging outdoor activities.

With the option of staying in our Pod Village or camping in Bell Tents, groups blend into the trees in their own exclusive camp with no crowds or queues.

Find out more

Sealyham

Haverfordwest

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A magnificent coastal centre, delivering unique outdoor adventures.

Based in Pembrokeshire, Sealyham Active Learning Centre is an outdoor paradise, encouraging confidence and personal development through a comprehensive range of coastal-based and inland activities.

Premium accommodation, expert staff, and high quality locally sourced food, create remarkable learning experiences.

Find out more

Accommodation

Investment to improve The Towers has led to our stunning fully-refurbished and modernised centre. The outstanding high-quality accommodation provides a modern and comfortable base that students and teachers adore.

Take a look at the video to immerse yourself in The Towers accommodation.

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FAQs

What makes Wales a good place for ALC outdoor learning centres?

Wales is an excellent location for ALC outdoor learning centres due to two key factors:

Diverse Landscapes: Wales boasts a variety of landscapes, including mountains, coastlines, forests, and rivers. This diversity allows for a wide range of outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, coasteering, canoeing, and hillwalking. The varied terrain ensures that there are always new and exciting challenges for participants.
Rich Biodiversity: The natural environments in Wales are home to a rich array of plant and animal species. This biodiversity provides ample opportunities for learning about ecosystems, conservation, and the natural world. Exploring these environments helps participants develop a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of protecting it.

Overall, Wales’ diverse landscapes and rich biodiversity make it an ideal setting for ALC outdoor learning centres, offering numerous opportunities for adventure, education, and personal development.

What activities take place at ALC outdoor learning centres in Wales?

At The Towers outdoor learning centre in Wales, a variety of exciting and educational activities are available, making the most of the country’s diverse landscapes. Some of the key activities include:

Mine Exploration: Discover the historical and geological aspects of Wales by exploring its old mines. This activity offers a unique glimpse into the past and an adventurous underground experience.
Gorge Scrambling: Navigate through rocky gorges, climbing over boulders and wading through streams. This thrilling activity combines elements of climbing and hiking, providing a fun and challenging way to explore natural watercourses.
Mountain Climbing: Take on the rugged peaks of Wales, including renowned mountains like Snowdon. Mountain climbing offers breathtaking views and a sense of accomplishment while developing physical and mental endurance.
Hiking: Enjoy the scenic trails that wind through Wales’ diverse landscapes, from coastal paths to forest trails and mountain routes. Hiking is a great way to experience the beauty of the natural environment while engaging in healthy physical activity.

These activities, along with many others, ensure that our centre provides a comprehensive and enriching experience for all participants.