Peter Ashley Activity Centres – Fort Purbrook
Photos of Peter Ashley Activity Centres – Fort Purbrook
Source: peterashleyactivitycentres via Instagram
Source: peterashleyactivitycentres via Instagram
Source: peterashleyactivitycentres via Instagram
What will students see and do?
Fort Purbrook is one of two historic forts (along with Fort Widley) that make up the Peter Ashley Activity Centre just north of Portsmouth on the south coast.
The forts date back to the Victorian era, and were built to protect the city of Portsmouth from a French invasion that never happened. Situated on Portsdown Hill, Fort Purbrook offers stunning views over Portsmouth and across Portsmouth Harbour.
Student groups can tour the 19th-century fort, including old barrack rooms, a maze of underground tunnels and the unique Cold War-era bunker that was designed to survive the fallout from a nuclear attack.
A wide range of activities is available as part of a package, with qualified supervision where required. This includes air rifle shooting, archery, indoor climbing and mountain biking (with bike maintenance and workshop skills sessions). Certified instructors and supervisors lead each session.
Outdoor adventure activities for every age group include orienteering, camping, bushcraft, assault course and other activities.
How does the trip link to the curriculum?
A school trip to Fort Purbook offers both indoor and outdoor learning opportunities. The focus of most activities is personal and social development, but you can work with staff to tailor your school trip to the goals you set for your group.
KS1 and KS2 students can benefit from hands-on outdoor learning in the mini adventurers programme, where they’ll work on communication and language, as well as personal, social, emotional and physical development.
The orienteering activities offer educational opportunities in geography, history, science, English and maths, as well as boosting PSHE and teamwork skills.
Secondary students’ activity learning outcomes could include goal setting, self-awareness, building confidence, coordination, fitness, communication, leadership, broadening horizons and more.
Residential programs can include study sessions intermingled with the onsite activities.
Subjects covered
Teaching resources provided
Peter Ashley Activity Centres offer bespoke programmes for school trips led by a professional staff who specialise in providing training and development in a range of activities and courses.
The Fort Purbrook team will work with you to design a bespoke programme tailored to your class and your visit.
Minimum and maximum group size
Residential packages for one, two or multiple nights are available for groups of 10 to 106, including students and accompanying adults.
Activity sessions are limited to 10-12 students, but larger groups can be accommodated by breaking into smaller teams and rotating through each activity.
Details of risk assessment
The Peter Ashley Activity Centre, which includes Fort Purbrook, has accreditation with the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge. It is also licensed to provide Adventure Activities by the British Activity Providers Association and has Adventure Mark status.
The professional staff at the Peter Ashley Activity Centre can assist you in preparing your risk assessment once you’ve worked out the details of your bespoke programme.
Don't miss our downloadable A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment
Facilities On-Site
Fort Purbrook offers a variety of activities in specialised facilities. For archery, there’s an indoor range as well as outdoor equipment. There is also an indoor air rifle shooting range. Equipment, training and supervision are provided for both.
The fort has a huge, grassy parade ground offering space for many outdoor activities, including laser tag, orienteering, cookouts, camping, physical education and more.
Indoors, Fort Purbrook has WiFi-enabled classrooms and function rooms, activity rooms, a self-catering kitchen, a Karate dojo, climbing and bouldering facilities, as well as residential dorms which include beds but no linens.
The site is wheelchair user accessible, with a lift and toilets. Staff are trained to work with persons with disabilities.
Opening Times
The Fort Purbrook Activity Centre is open year-round, 1 Jan-31 Dec. The hours are Monday-Friday: 9am-9pm and weekends 9am-1pm. Group availability is by appointment and may fall outside these hours.
Pricing
Prices are dependent on the amount of time your students will spend at Fort Purbook and the activities your class will perform.
You can select multiple activities for your student group, depending on the length of your visit. All prices are per hour, per group (up to 12). Adult pricing applies to anyone over age 16, including students.
Assault Course – under 16s: £35, adults: £45
Initiative Tests – under 16s: £35, adults: £45
Air Rifle Shooting – under 16s: £60, adults: £65
Archery – under 16s: £47, adults: £51
Mountain Biking – under 16s: £65, adults: £70
Bushcraft – under 16s: £45, adults: £55
Laser Tag – under 16s: £70, adults: £80
String Trail – under 16s: £35, adults: £45
Problem Solving – under 16s: £35, adults: £45
Bouldering – under 16s: £55, adults: £60
Orienteering – Onsite under 16s: £35, offsite under 16s: £50, adults: £65
Adventurer programme prices are for groups of up to 12 participants.
One-hour session – £45
Half-day package – £112.50
Full day package – £225
Guided tours of Fort Purbrook prices are per person – under 16s: £2.50, adults: £5
Residential package pricing is for groups of up to 106. Prices are per person, per night and include food and board only.
Bed only – under 16s: £20, adults: £21
Bed and breakfast – under 16s: £38, adults: £44
Bed/breakfast/evening meal – under 16s: £48, adults: £54
Packed lunches: under 16s – £7, adults: £8.50
Buffet – under 16s: £10, adults: £15
Tea/coffee/biscuits – £3.50 per person
Travel arrangements
Driving is the most direct way to travel to Fort Purbrook. There is free, onsite car parking, including disabled parking spaces. Contact the Peter Ashley Activity Centre to inquire about bus parking.
You can reach the fort by bus from Portsmouth and surrounding communities. The following lines stop at or near the fort: 20, 7, 737, 7C, SD5.
It takes just over two hours to get to Fort Purbrook from London by train. Take the Southern Railway from Victoria Station towards Southampton Central. Disembark at King George playing fields, then catch the number 7 bus (the STAR) towards Wecock on platform F. Disembark at the Fort Purbrook stop. It’s about a four-minute walk to the fort.
Address
Fort Purbrook, Peter Ashley Lane, Cosham, Portsmouth, Hampshire
PO6 1BJ
Book your school trip to Peter Ashley Activity Centres – Fort Purbrook
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