Pupils

You’ll be taking part in a unique residential programme based in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The programme runs from Monday until Friday. Each day you’ll be doing different outdoor activities such as mountain biking, bushcraft, hillwalking, fun teambuilding games and learning about Alladale’s exciting rewilding work.

You’ll be in smaller groups during the day, while out on activities. In the evenings you take turns with other group members and share (outdoor) cooking tasks.

There will be camp fires, a night walk, movie night, craft workshops and other fun activities waiting for you in the evenings.

Click on the link to view our Alladale Kit List.

Breakfast: Each day starts with a big breakfast buffet with a selection of cereals, fruit, sandwiches and warm drinks.

Lunch: Sandwiches and snacks.

Dinner: You’ll take turns with other group members and share (outdoor) cooking tasks. We’ll provide you with recipes, ingredients and cooking utensils then help you to turn the ingredients into a delicious meal. Please let us know what food/meals you like in the consent form, and we’ll come up with a menu for the week.

Dessert: There will be opportunities to cook dessert on the fire. Did you know that you can cook delicious apple crumble, popcorn and orange brownies on the fire?

It is important that you inform us about any allergies and additional needs in the consent form. We’ll take your allergies/intolerances into account when creating the menu and make sure that there are suitable options for everyone.

Our outdoor leaders are highly experienced and flexible and everyone’s main priority is to support you as much as possible. Please let us know in the consent form if you require any additional support during the programme.

The closest shop is about 20 miles down the road…

During the first three nights you’ll be sharing a big tent with up to five other pupils, just outside our main lodge. Most adults will be sleeping inside the lodge but there will always be at least one outdoor leader sleeping in a separate tent, not far from yours, who you can contact anytime. The final night will be spent hammocking up in the trees.

There is no phone reception at Alladale. In case of any emergencies the Aban team will be able to call your parents from a landline phone in the lodge.

No doubt, it can be a scary thought to be away from home and out in nature for such a long period of time. However, you are in safe and very experienced hands, and we will make each day fun and exciting. Our outdoor leaders are all qualified and nobody will force you to do anything you don’t want to do. Our outdoor leaders always have an open ear – if you are scared or not quite sure about specific activities, please let them know. Remember that your familiar school teachers will be there with you as well.

All our activities are carefully put together and assessed before we take out any groups. Our outdoor leaders are fully qualified for any activities they run and bring many years of experience working with young people in the outdoors. We will provide you with well maintained and good quality equipment. However, outdoor activities do involve a certain amount of risk and it is important that you always follows instructions. You’ll be directly supervised throughout the programme, led by our experienced staff.

Àban is based in Inverness and runs weekly afterschool programmes such as Girls’ Bike Club, a Mountaineering Club and an Outdoor Swimming Academy for only £1 per session. We also run Duke of Edinburgh programmes and expeditions. Have a look on our website for more information. We’d love to see you again after your time at Alladale!