A MESSAGE FROM OUR OPERATIONS MANAGER
Hello, Martin here! What a year so far.
What a fantastic first summer it has been. Our brand-new team has welcomed a wide range of visitors, including returning Scouts and Guides, new school groups, large day visits, and even international guests from Dublin. Highlights included a Year 6 to 7 Transition Week helping students’ bond before secondary school, groups from Anglesey Guides visiting the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey, and several large district camps with hundreds of young people camping and enjoying our outdoor activities.
It has been a privilege to be part of the team, and I’m excited for the seasons ahead. This first year has been all about learning; getting to know the site, meeting groups, and discovering the “Beaudesert Way.”
With over 20 years’ experience in Outdoor Residential Centres, I’ve been developing our centre, staff, and grounds as part of a long-term plan for success at Beaudesert.
Looking forward, this Winter brings exciting improvements and new opportunities for camping, activities, and residential packages, including Christmas Residentials, Scout & Guide Bonfire Night, and the return of Wilderness & Icebreaker Camps. Plus, we’re introducing new products and services alongside ongoing site enhancements.
I hope to see you up at Beaudesert very soon!
Martin Kirby
Operations Manager Beaudesert Outdoor Adventures
WHAT’S NEW AT BEAUDESERT
Climbing Wall
We’re excited to announce that our new Climbing Wall is now open and fully safety-checked, receiving fantastic feedback from our visitors! This incredible addition has been generously funded by the Titanic Breweries Foundation, the Co-Op, and the Lesley Sell Trust. We can’t wait for many groups to experience climbing for the first time at Beaudesert. Looking ahead, plans are underway to transform the old climbing area into a bouldering facility, further enhancing our adventure offerings.
Caving Roof Rebuild
Our fantastic estates team, Blythe and Louie, have been working tirelessly to rebuild the Caving Simulator roof. Originally a temporary structure, it quickly became a popular attraction. As part of our ongoing improvements, the old roof has been removed, the
walls repaired and strengthened, new obstacles added, and a durable, permanent roof is now in place, designed to last for many years to come.
Frisbee Golf
Thanks to a generous grant from Baron Davenport’s Charity, we’ve installed a new 9-hole Disc Golf course over the summer. This is one of our new free bookable activities, available as either instructor-led sessions or self-led play. The course is portable, so we can
frequently move it to keep each visit fresh and exciting. It will be joined soon by our Mini Golf activity, a long-time favourite, along with a range of other free activities to enjoy on site.
CLIMBING WALL
UPCOMING EVENTS
Exciting events are coming up over the next few months!
Highlights include:
October 17th–19th
SCOUT & GUIDE BONFIRE NIGHTT
November 5th, 7pm–9pm
Get ready for an unforgettable outdoor adventure! Hands-on workshops, campfires, and a wild cooking finale you won’t forget.
£45 per young person (Leaders free)
Optional catering package £36
Celebrate a traditional Scout and Guide campfire evening with sing-along songs and a cozy atmosphere.
November 1st - December 21st
£5 per person (Leaders free)
Celebrate the season with one - or two- night Christmas packagesadventures, crafts, campfires, and a festive dinner.
1 night from £66pp | 2 nights from £100pp
ACTIVITY CAMP
January 23rd–25th
Back by popular demand!
A survival-themed weekend with target sports, high ropes, team challenges, and more.
£35pp for the weekend (Leaders free)
Saturday day-tickets £20
Spaces are limited, so contact the centre to book or find out more.
History Walks
HISTORY & COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Decoration & Improvements
Our Volunteer History Team is wrapping up another hugely successful series of History Walks in early October. These tours have been incredibly popular, giving the public a chance to explore the fascinating history of Beaudesert Estate.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest and support from the local community, and we’ll be back with another season starting early next year. If you missed out this year, keep an eye on our Facebook page to book next time.
We’ve also invited anyone who participated in a 2025 tour to join the Volunteer History Team and potentially become guides themselves.
In November, we’ll host a special meeting with a bonus talk on “The Dancing Marquess”, exploring the story of the last Marquess of Anglesey to live at Beaudesert Hall before it was sold and partially demolished.
Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference! As part of our rolling programme of improvements, we’ve started refurbishing the memorial benches, giving them a fresh clean and a new lease of life after years exposed to the elements.
We’ve also been giving some of our buildings a “Glow Up”, adding comfy new furniture in the Den, The Lodge, and Chantrey House. Outside, volunteers have been helping with lawn mowing, hedge trimming, digging, litter picking, and general grounds beautification.
A huge thank you to Nigel, Bex, Gail, and Darbs for their ongoing support in helping Beaudesert live up to its name: “Beautiful Wilderness.”
NEW PROGRAMMES
TUDOR TREASURES
We’re excited to introduce Tudor Treasures, a new National Curriculumlinked “Living History” experience for schools, launching in the coming months. This programme brings the history of Beaudesert Estate, its grounds, and ruins to life, exploring the Tudor period and Henry VIII’s gift of the Hall to Baron Paget.
Students will travel back 500 years, engaging in hands-on activities such as archery, fencing, and a special falconry experience in partnership with Tora’s Falconry, complemented by a guided walk and talk on Tudor history.
Tudor Treasures can be booked as a day visit or a one-night residential,
with the residential stay offering an enhanced falconry experience, an evening campfire, and traditional Tudor games.
WILD AWAKE RETREAT
Mindfulness and mental health are at the heart of our Wild Awake Retreat, designed for young people to explore the calming power of nature. Initially aimed at Guiding groups, the programme can be tailored as a wellbeing day or a themed camp, helping participants develop practical tools to manage stress, build self-awareness, and deepen their connection with the natural world.
Activities include breathing exercises, basic meditation, and Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) in Beaudesert’s beautiful setting. Additional exercises help young people learn to manage emotions and reduce stress.
Contact the centre to discuss options and create a programme tailored to your group.
DUKE OF EDINBURGHEXPEDITIONS IN A RESTRICTED SPACE
We love supporting DofE at Beaudesert! Every year, hundreds of young people take part in expeditions through schools, external agencies, Army cadets, and scouting groups. While Beaudesert doesn’t run DofE expeditions directly, our prime location in Cannock Chase makes us the ideal base for Bronze and Silver expeditions. The area offers safe, accessible, and spacious terrain where groups can walk, stop over, cook, clean, and prepare for the next day of expeditioning.
Since the pandemic, DofE has highlighted the benefits of rethinking
Programme themes include:
Team Building: Students plan and run their own team challenges
History: Explore Beaudesert’s rich 1,000-year heritage and local significance
Nature: Discover the site’s diverse flora and fauna
Art & Photography: Capture the estate’s inspiring landscapes
traditional expeditions, which typically involve long hikes carrying heavy backpacks. While biking and canoeing trips are also options, they can be expensive and require specialist skills.
To make expeditions more inclusive and accessible, we’re offering our 120-acre site for schools to run their own programmes “in a restricted space.” Schools can design and lead expeditions with support from staff, keeping costs low and participation open to all abilities.
Open Day for Facilitators:
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Sessions: Morning & Afternoon
Meet with representatives from DofE, Staffordshire Educational Visits, and Cannock Chase - National Landscapes to explore the programme, ask questions, and see if it suits your pupils.
Email bookings@beaudesert.org.uk to reserve a place for one or both sessions. Refreshments will be provided.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
October 17–19
October Half Term
November 5
Wilderness @ Beaudesert
Beaudesert Activity Days
Scout & Guide Traditional Singalong Campfire
November & December Christmas Residentials
January 13, 2026
January 23–25, 2026
DofE Restricted Space Open Day for Facilitators
Icebreaker Activity Camp
February Half Term 2026 Beaudesert Activity Days
March 2026
Squirrels, Rainbows & Beavers Takeover Day (TBC)
OUR NEW ONLINE QUOTATION APP IS LIVE!
Planning your next visit? Try our new quoting tool to get fast, easy quotes for all activities and residential packages.
