Year 5 Adventures in the Lake District

Year 5 pupils travelled to the Lake District this week for a four-night stay at Ullswater Centre. The trip encourages self-management, resilience, problem-solving and teamwork. Staying in the heart of the UK’s largest national park, with direct access to Ullswater Lake in a Georgian grade II listed building the children were delighted by the picturesque views. Being surrounded by 18 acres of woodland, outdoor space was plentiful, and pupils loved exploring the vast site and enjoyed nights reflecting around the campfire.

Day 1: Exploring the Site

On the first day, the children quickly settled into their activity groups and dorm rooms, unpacking their belongings and making their beds—some with a bit more assistance than others. They eagerly prepared for the day’s adventures.

The evening started with the traditional Outward Bound ‘jog and dip’ into the shallows at the edge of Ullswater Lake, followed by a fun tour of the centre and engaging team-building exercises. The children enjoyed a hearty dinner and a variety of desserts. After dinner, they participated in a few more activities before winding down with some toast and juice before bed.

Day 2: The first full day

The first day in the Lake District was bursting with excitement and adventure!

Teams Chandi, Attenborough, and Darke laced up their boots and took on the windy trails of Gowbarrow Fell. After a challenging climb, they were rewarded with the stunning sights of Aira Force waterfall – a truly breathtaking reward for their efforts!

To celebrate their achievement, Attenborough and Chandi ended the day with a well-deserved cookout, complete with good food and great company around the fire.

Meanwhile, Teams Tenzing and Fields embraced their inner explorers with a gorge walk adventure – scrambling over rocks, wading through rushing water, and navigating under cascading falls. It was muddy, wet, and absolutely thrilling!

Day 3: A Wholesome Wednesday

Day 4: Thursday’s adventure

The children started today with another hearty breakfast, including a cooked breakfast for any dietary requirement, pancakes, a range of cereals, and fruit. Team Attenborough challenged themselves this morning to pack their own kit bag for the day with no help from the instructors which they managed and proved their growing independence. Next, Attenborough got the powerboat to the other side of the lake where they did some team building challenges, preparing them to canoe all the way back to the centre. Once back, Attenborough headed straight to the tunnels to test their trust and mindset in the dark. Team Fields started with the tunnelling, where they challenged both their physical and mental strength to go through the whole course. Fields then tried some raft building and tested their rafts on the lake! Darke began their day of activities with finishing the clearing up from their cookout last night. Once finished they headed out to Glencoyne to spend the day on the water canoeing. Team Chandi thought they’d take on another fell which would challenge their strength and determination. They took on Place Fell which is an official mountain, standing at 657m! Team Tenzing power boated over the lake and did some, rope assisted, rock climbing. Once they’d warmed up their arms on the climbing, they canoed all the way over the lake, back to the centre.

In the evening, teams Chandi, Tenzing and Fields will enjoy telling stories around the campfire with marshmallows and hot chocolate. Attenborough braved the cold with another jog and dip which they were very excited about, and Team Darke ended the night with some orienteering to run off any left-over energy.

The children (and staff) are suitably exhausted, but can’t wait to come back and share stories of their adventures with you.

Day 5: Hometime

The children tidied their rooms, packed their suitcases, and enjoyed their final buffet breakfast — which was a hit once again! Each group then set off for their last adventures of the week.

Team Attenborough, embraced their growing independence, have taken on the orienteering challenge all by themselves. Meanwhile, Team Chandi paddled out onto the lake, surrounded by breathtaking mountain views as they enjoy a canoeing adventure. Teams Darke, Fields, and Tenzing spent their final day at the stunning Aira Force Falls, where they took a scenic walk and enjoyed lunch before returning to the centre to prepare for the journey home.

It’s been a fantastic week filled with fun memories and incredible experiences. We’ve seen the children grow not only in teamwork but also in confidence and independence, developing many valuable skills they’ll carry with them beyond this trip.

A huge thank you to the centre staff, whose dedication and support have made this such a memorable and enriching experience for everyone.