Ardentinny
Outdoor Education Centre
Introduction
Located in the coastal village on the shores of Loch Long situated in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre opened in 1973.
The centre specializes in outdoor education and interactive activities to build confidence and developed personalities across all age groups – but predominantly popular with school children. The non-profit outlook of the centre gives a welcoming opportunity to explore the benefits of outdoor learning in a team-building setting.
The center is surrounded by countryside – with many species of flora and fauna including blue tits, robins, and wood sorrow. With this, many of the activities available to partake in utilise this diverse landscape.
There are a range of land and water-based activities that are all under-taken with an experienced professional to ensure safety – but the guides are appointed at the beginning of your stay, so it becomes a more personalised experience.
Range of Activities Offered
Abseiling - which encourages engaging and managing risks, trusting others and overcoming fears
Archery - promotes concentration, discipline and learning a new skills
Climbing
Dragon Boating - encourages teamwork, communication, rhythm and discipline.
Field Studies
Gorge Walking - encourages on-the-spot decision making, supporting the peers and challenging personal limits
Hill Walking
Kayaking
Low Ropes Elements
Mountain Biking - encourages perseverance, and environmental awareness and understanding
Night Hiking - encourages leading and sharing, challenging personal limits and environmental awareness and understanding
Open Canoeing - promotes teamwork, effective communication, overcoming fears and perseverance
Orienteering - encourages planning and navigation, teamwork, effective communication and decision making
Rock Hopping - promotes environmental awareness and understanding, overcoming of fears and challenging limits
Sailing - encourages teamwork, effective communication, adapting to change and trusting others
Search & Rescue - promotes planning and navigational skills, decision making, and engaging and managing risk responsibly
Seashore Safari - promotes environmental awareness and understanding, discovery skills, and hands-on learning
Team Challenges - encourages teamwork and communication, problem solving and effective decision making
Team Raft Building - promotes decision making within a team, supporting others and challenging limits
Wide Game - promoting teamwork and effective communication, leading and sharing, supporting others
Schedule
Wednesday - PM
- Local mountain hike
- Team building exercises
- Blindfolded, partner assisted night walk hike
Thursday - AM
- Gorge walking
Thursday - PM
- Rock Hopping
Activities and Features
Forest Hike
This forest hike is a good opportunity to explore Ardentinny and see landmarks such as Laird’s Grave and the School House River. The hike takes approximately an hour to complete and is a pleasant walking trail. The site includes views overlooking Ardentinny, Loch Long and you can see the third longest three in Scotland. During this hike, you can spot an abundance of wild plants such as Wood Sorrel, Gorse and Sphagnum moss. Overall, it is a relaxing hike and an enjoyable experience to escape into nature.
Kit: Walking Boots, Waterproof jacket if wet.
Duration: ~1hr
Difficulty: Easy
Team Rating: 5/5
Gorge Walk
The activity starts adjacent to the Outdoor Centre, where participants enter the lower course of the School House Burn at 15m elevation and work their way up through the forest to a peak of 128m.
Along the route are many challenging obstacles, including trapped logs, large boulders, and small waterfall features that can be scaled through the gorge.
Kit: Walking Boots/wellies, Waterproof jacket and trousers, buoyancy aid helmet
Duration: ~2hr30min
Difficulty: Moderate-High
Team Rating: 4/5
Rock Hop
A scramble-y walk along the rocky coastline North of Ardentinny Beach. Just a short boat ride from the activity centre, this walk follows the rocky coastline giving views across the bay. Three types of terrain are visible in the colour of the rock, the section closest to the water is covered in barnacles and makes for better grip when walking along the rock. The next section is slippery and covered in damp rock and vegetation. The uppermost section is drier and rougher rock.
Walkers visit three sections of pebbly beach and pass the bird table and shepherd’s point. They have a view of the bay and the Trident dock.
Some rough and slippery terrain, and steps and gaps that could be difficult for shorter legs. The walk is made more difficult when rocks are wet and slippery.
The walk gives great views of the bay and there are lots of little rock pools to look at. The walk is a fun scramble and challenging in places but can be rough on the hands and feet.
Kit: wellies, helmet, buoyancy aid
Duration: ~1hr
Difficulty: Medium-Hard
Team Rating: 4/5
Team Building Activities
- Blindfolded Night Walk
- Crate Stacking
- The Bridge
- Toxic Waste
Thanks!
Group 2: Kadir Kaan Bicakli, Laurence Conway, Joanne Marsh, Erin Mills, Fraser Mohun, Alex Montalvo, Filza Nawaz, Aparna Seshadri, Chance Williams
Collage of Group 2 Shenanigans