Buckden House Outdoor Education Centre is run as part of Bradford Council's Children's Services and we provide a varied range of outdoor learning opportunities for Bradford Schools. Buckden
House is based in Buckden village in the majestic Upper Wharfedale valley. The meandering river Wharfe is on our doorstep along with caves, gorges and hills surrounding the valley. The centre is just an hour and half from the centre of Bradford.
The centre complies with the Health and Safety Executive's Adventure Acticities Licensing Scheme and is accredited for caving and potholing, gill and gorge scrambling, climbing, mountaineering and trekking. We also have a high ropes and low ropes course,
archery, tree climbing, cargo-net climb and knotted rope climb, abseiling, orienteering, bushcraft, local and hill walks amongst many other activities.
The centre is fully open and available to all.
Buckden House offers self-catering residentials. Groups have full use of the centre's fully-equipped kitchen and servery to prepare their own meals. We can assist you in meal ideas and choices and what works best through many years of providing
residentials. This gives a greater choice for schools and groups. The upgrading of the heating and hot water system is now complete along with the centre's outdoor kitchen which hosts a gas-fired pizza oven and electric hot plate.
Alternatively, catering can be provided at additonal cost. Hearty meals can be prepeared and served at the centre to meet your class's needs.
We also host music and drama groups that are prepearing for school productions and performances. These work particualrly well with the layout of our building as we have two seperate bases for rehersals. Furthermore, in preparation for GCSE exams the centre
has weekend availablilty for additional study or booster classes. These are usually mixed in with a range of activities to give your pupils' minds a chance to take in their studies and consolidate their leanring.
As the centre continues to diversify its offer. There is now the opporutnity for groups of families and friends to book for their own adventures over wekends and school holiday periods.
Day trips
In addition to resdientials, the centre is also able to offer day trips too. These can include specific curricular sessions, such as compare and contrast Village Studies and Yorkshire Dales locations or bespoke adventurous activities inline with our normal
activity programmes.
Availability
There is limited availability during the spring and summer term 2026 for day trips and residentials. Please get in touch soon to secure your slot.
If you would like to discuss any dates for a visit or haven't been to the centre recently, please contact us (e-mail or 01756 760254) we would be happy to talk you
through a programme of activities and discuss the opportunities available.