Ullswater Residential Visit 2026

Ullswater Residential 2026 Information 

The Year 8 Ullswater Residential is a long-standing and integral part of your child’s education at Dixons City Academy. With a tradition spanning over 32 years, this residential not only provides an exciting adventure but also helps build resilience, teamwork, and personal confidence. 

Overview 

• Purpose: The trip is designed to offer an immersive outdoor learning experience. Students will develop key skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving while embracing challenges in the natural environment. 

• Tradition: Many former students describe their time on Ullswater as “the best thing I did at school” – a testament to the enduring value of this unique educational opportunity. 

Key Outcomes for Students 

The Ullswater Residential is more than just an outdoor adventure—it’s a transformative learning experience. Students will benefit from: 

• Enhanced Confidence & Resilience: Facing and overcoming challenges builds self-belief. 

• Improved Teamwork & Communication: Working in new group settings encourages collaboration. 

• Personal & Emotional Wellbeing: Experiences in nature and adventure contribute to well-rounded personal development. 

• Academic Benefits: The skills and confidence gained translate into better engagement and success at school. 

Trip Details 

• Location: Ullswater Outward Bound Centre, Cumbria 

• Dates: Monday 12 January – Friday 16 January 2026 

• Participation: Attendance is compulsory for all Year 8 students, as confirmed when a place is accepted in Year 7. 

Itinerary & Activities 

Students will experience a range of outdoor and adventurous activities including: 

• Outdoor Challenges: 

• Wild camping for up to 36 hours (with groups carrying their own equipment) 

• Mountain hikes, mountain camping, gorge walking, scrambling, and canoeing 

• High ropes, raft building/rowing, orienteering, and problem-solving exercises 

• Alternative Options: 

• Expedition-style challenges for those who choose not to wild camp which includes a “cook out” providing an all-day adventure without overnight camping. 

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These experiences are designed to push students out of their comfort zones, promote leadership and PRIDE, and provide lifelong memories. 

Accommodation & Food 

• Centre: 

• Students will sleep in dormitories (4–8 beds per room) at the Ullswater Centre or the Howtown Centre. 

• Food: 

• A full board service is provided with freshly prepared meals every day. 

• Menus include a variety of options for breakfast (e.g., porridge, eggs, cereals), lunch (wraps, baguettes, fruit, and snacks), and evening meals (ranging from pasta bakes to curries). 

• All dietary requirements (including vegetarian and Halal) are catered for. 

Equipment & Kit 

The Outward Bound Trust will supply all specialist equipment and clothing, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students. This includes: 

• Walking boots, waterproofs, fleeces, rucksacks (30 and 65 litres), balaclavas, gloves, wetsuits, extra fleeces, wellies, and coats. 

• All food and drinks for the duration of the trip are provided. 

Payment Information 

• Total Cost: £326.00 

• Deposit: 

• A non-refundable deposit of £100.00 must be paid via ParentPay by Friday 22 March 2024. 

• Payment Plan: 

• Friday 21 March 2025: £100.00 (deposit) 

• Friday 2 May 2025: £50.00 

• Friday 27 June 2025: £50.00 

• Friday 29 August 2025: £50.00 

• Friday 26 September 2025: £50.00 

• Friday 7 November 2025: £26.00 

Please ensure that payments are made according to these deadlines. If you experience any difficulties with the payments, contact the Academy as soon as possible. 

Information Evening 

An information evening has been arranged so that families can learn more about the trip: 

• When: Wednesday 5 March at 5.30pm (lasting approximately 45 minutes) 

• What to Expect: 

• Meet the core staff including Miss H Langton (Residential Lead PE Teacher), Mr Yale (Assistant Principal) and other key members of the team. 

• Detailed information on activities, kit, and dietary arrangements. 

• An opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the trip. 

Contact & Further Information 

If you have any questions or require further details about the Ullswater Residential, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the residential team at Dixons City Academy by emailing info@dixonsca.com. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What do I need to bring? 

Outward Bound will lend you all the kit and equipment you need to keep you safe, dry and warm during your adventure. Whether it's specialist activity and safety equipment, waterproofs, boots, sleeping bag, rucksack or a tent. They've literally got us covered. 

All you need to bring is personal clothing and footwear, including things to wear during the evening, when you're not taking part in activities. You can download the here. Look at the 5-day adventure column. 

What are the dorm rooms like and who will I be sharing with? 

The dorms will be of different sizes and will mostly have bunk beds in them, but all are ensuite. Your Head of Year and Form Tutors will work together to create a plan of who will share a room. This will depend on how many participants there are, etc. But whoever you will be sharing with – being roommates is always a good way to get to know new people! 

Where do I shower? 

All dorm rooms have en-suite facilities. 

Do I need to bring toiletries and a towel? 

Yes, bring enough for your stay.  See the following kit list for guidance (click here). 

For safety reasons, aerosols are not allowed. 

I have a dietary requirement. Will I be catered for? 

Yes, the Outward Bound catering teams at all centres will meet any dietary requirements. 
 
You will be asked about your dietary requirements in your Participant Information Form, which is sent to you no later than six weeks before your adventure. 

Will I get wet? 

Yes, there are certain activities where the aim is to get wet (like jumping off a pier or running into the lake) or others where getting wet is a possibility if things don’t go quite to plan (like raft building or paddling).  

Students will always be given a buoyancy aid when they are near the water. 

What will I be eating whilst on expedition? 

Students will be given ration packs; trust us they are tasty! They'll provide you with the energy you need for you expedition. 

Where will I sleep whilst on expedition? 

Students will be given a tent in their group to carry with them if they take part in an expedition. The instructor will take them to an appropriate spot and show them how to use the tent and equipment. 

What activities will I be doing? 

This depends on a lot of things; what the instructor has planned based on your learning aims, how many students are in a group and on what the weather is like. However, to give an idea, below is a list of activities students might be doing: 

• Expeditioning (camping) 

• Gorge walking 

• High ropes activities 

• Rock climbing 

• Scrambling 

• Hill walking 

• Canoeing 

• Sailing 

• Tree climbing 

• Kayaking 

• Raft building 

Do I have to do every activity? What if I feel like I really can't do something? 

The instructor will encourage students to take part in every activity even if it seems a bit daunting at first. This might feel a little worrying to begin with, but students will soon realise that most things are not as scary or as difficult as they seem. The most challenging things are often the most rewarding! 

Instructors will not ask you to try something that they think is beyond a student's ability or that is unsafe, so we encourage all students to give everything a go, you will be surprised how much you can achieve! 

How many participants are in a group? How are groups decided? 

A group will have up to 12 participants, and students will be with one of our DCA staff and an Outward Bound instructor for the duration of the week. Your Head of Year and Form Tutor will allocate you into a group which you will find out when you arrive at the centre. Generally, you will be with at least one or two of your friends – and by the end of the course, you will have gained up to 10 more! 

Are all Outward Bound instructors qualified? 

Yes.  Instructors, who will be with students from start to finish, will be fully qualified. In fact, Outward Bound instructors are some of the most qualified in the industry. For more info see the Outward Bound instructors and safety page. 

How do I take care of my personal hygiene whilst on expedition? 

Out in the wild, there are no toilets, so students will need to be prepared to go back to basics. Instructor will advise students on the best ways to manage their personal hygiene before they set off on an expedition.