Picture the smiles on your students' faces as they surf their first wave. Imagine their pride when they realise they've built a raft that actually works. Hear their shouts of joy as they wind their way along the river in their kayaks.
That's the reality of a watersports tour to North Devon.
This 3-day weekend (Friday to Sunday) adventure at Skern Lodge packs the maximum amount of fun into the minimum time away from school.
Your students will swap the classroom for the coastline, trying their hand at a number of watersports, including surfing, bodyboarding and river kayaking (all under the expert guidance of Skern Lodge's fully-qualified instructors). You'll also have the chance to build your own rafts (before testing them out).
Each session has been carefully designed to build confidence, encourage teamwork and spark a love of the outdoors, all in the stunning setting of North Devon.
Evenings will bring your group together with lively challenges and glowing campfires under the stars. With comfortable (purpose-built for school groups) accommodation, hearty meals and just one school day missed, this will be an unforgettable experience that fits easily into a busy term. And if you want to go for longer, just get in touch.
From
3 days, 2 nights
Day 1
Morning
Meet at school and board your private coach
Travel to North Devon
Afternoon
Arrive at Skern Lodge and check in to your accommodation
Take part in a site orientation to get to know the grounds and facilities
Head straight out on the water for river kayaking - paddle, explore and build teamwork on the beautiful estuary
Evening
Enjoy a hearty dinner at your accommodation
Get competitve with Team Olympics - take on fun challenges and see which group comes out on top
Day 2
Morning
Breakfast at your accommodation
Hit the beach for surfing - ride the waves, build confidence in the water and enjoy the thrill of the Atlantic coast
Afternoon
Return to the lodge for lunch at your accommodation
Team up for an exhilarating session of raft building and rafting - design, construct and test your own craft before taking to the water
Evening
Tuck into a hearty dinner at your accommodation
Gather around a glowing campfire - share stories, toast marshmallows and enjoy the magic of the night sky together
Day 3
Morning
Breakfast at your accommodation
Head to the beach for a final session of bodyboarding - catch the surf, build confidence and enjoy the thrill of the Atlantic one last time
Afternoon
Grab a packed lunch before heading out of the lodge
Board your private coach and begin the journey home
Evening
Travel back to school, arriving later that evening with amazing memories of your North Devon adventure
Skern Lodge is so much more than a residential centre. The whole ethos here is built around experiential learning and adventure.
A great base for geography and environmental science trips around the North Devon coast, the centre also offers an incredible variety of activities, from high ropes and climbing to kayaking and surfing.
But unlike other centres, the team always brings the focus back to the educational impact all this fun is having on the students. And, because it’s been purpose-built to host school and youth groups, the centre is ideally set up to ensure both you and your students have a safe, enjoyable stay.
Location: Skern Lodge is ideally located on a tranquil 22-acre site within the UNESCO Biosphere of Braunton Burrows. Just a short stroll away is the quaint village of Appledore.
Features: The centre boasts incredible activity facilities, from a high ropes course to a heated outdoor swimming pool. There’s also a dining room that seats 110, where fresh, locally-sourced food is served to ensure your group are properly fuelled, as well as a disco room where you can celebrate the end of a successful trip.
There’s free WiFi throughout the centre, as well as several meeting rooms, classrooms and social areas (in fact, each accommodation block benefits from a communal area that can be used for activities, as a classroom, or even simply as a useful meeting point before heading out on your next adventure).
Bedrooms: The four separate accommodation areas all boast drying rooms and central heating throughout. Students will stay in multi-bedded rooms with shared bathrooms, while accompanying staff will be accommodated in en-suite rooms close to their group, making supervision easier.
Ground-floor bedrooms with wet rooms are available on request. And (unlike many residential centres) your beds will be made up for you before you arrive, so you can get stuck straight into the activities.
The Ultimate Adventure Centre is a purpose-built activity centre nestled within the picturesque North Devon countryside, close to Bideford.
Combining purpose-built youth accommodation with an incredible variety of on-site activities (including high ropes, mountain boarding, assault course and archery), this is the perfect setting in which to make lifelong memories with your group.
Location: Set in the scenic North Devon countryside just 1.5 miles from Bideford town and surrounded by outdoor attractions like The Big Sheep theme park, Westward Ho! beach, and the Tarka Trail, the centre combines a safe, friendly stay with easy access to the natural adventure—making it a wonderful, practical base for an unforgettable school residential.
Features: Facilities include modern toilet and shower blocks, a washing‑up area, an onsite café and camp shop, Wi‑Fi zones, 24‑hour reception (perfect for late arrivals), and spacious social areas—great for gatherings and relaxation.
Bedrooms: The centre offers a mix of private and hostel-style rooms with beds pre‑made (linen included) for a hassle‑free arrival. Your group will stay in blocks, with students sleeping in dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms, and accompanying staff in twins with en-suite bathroom facilities (within the same block as your group to ease supervision and safeguarding).
Ready to see the joy on your students' faces as they catch their first wave.
Experience the thrill of the surf on bodyboards.
Enjoy a scenic paddle along the River Torridge.
Perhaps the ultimate team-building challenge - can your students build a working raft.
Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in school sports tours and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a tour to suit your group’s needs and meet your tour objectives.
The next step is to get your tour approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. Here you’ll find loads of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the planning process.
Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start working on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your tour (making the whole process a lot less stressful for you).
While you’re out on tour, we’ll be at the end of the phone 24 hours a day to provide support should you need it. We’ll also send you a final info pack before you go and you’ll be able to access all your tour documents via the free Vamoos app.
When you return from your sports tour, we’ll ask you to complete a detailed feedback survey, which helps us continue to improve the service we offer. And we can start planning your next tour too, so you can give parents plenty of time to pay for it (and so it’s less stressful for you).
Let's chat!
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Your trip will be fully financially protected
Your group's safety will be prioritised
Your trip will be a quality educational experience
