The adventure capital of the South West, an explorer’s island
The Isle of Portland boasts a variety of landscapes; dramatic and rugged coastlines, towering limestone cliffs, secluded coves with fossil rich beaches and azure blue seas. Our adventurous and active week will allow you the opportunity to explore them all from the land and the sea whilst retaining the luxury of comfortable accommodation, hot showers and good company throughout.
Portland Outdoor Centre has been a Duke of Edinburgh – Approved Activity Provider since 2023 and has helped hundreds of young people complete their DofE Gold Residential section.
Overview
5 days of activities for £390
- 5 days and nights of activities
- Indoor accommodation
- UNESCO world heritage site location (the centre of the Jurassic Coast)
- Group cooking (including beach BBQs and the opportunity to prep/cook and eat fresh caught mackerel)
- Sea and land-based activities
A DofE Gold
Residential Activity Schedule
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
Afternoon
Arrive at Portland Outdoor Centre between 12-1pm
Introductions, centre tour and expectations
Ice breakers & Team Challenges
Delegation of roles, planning and ordering of food
Evening
Self-cooked Beach BBQ (instructor to assist)
Morning
Self-cooked breakfast to fuel up for the day ahead.
Big Canoeing in Portland Harbour, journeying into the fleet and the chance to spot the infamous Portland dolphins.
Lunch on the Beach overlooked by Portland Castle.
Afternoon
Wet suits on! Mega SUP, Sit on Top Kayaking and Raft Building challenges. A wet afternoon and a chance to cool off
Evening
Self-cooked dinner
Catapult Challenge
Morning
Self-cooked breakfast
Public Bus and walking a section of the SW Coast path to Portland Bill.
Coasteering (exploration of the shoreline through swimming, jumping, climbing, caving and scrambling)
Lunch at Portland Bill under the watchful eye of the lighthouse
Afternoon
Escape Portland, competitive group orienteering and initiative challenges exercises.
Evening
Self-cooked dinner
Environmental Workshop
Morning
Self-cooked breakfast
Navigating to the elected climbing venue for a day of Climbing and Abseiling.
Lunch on the cliffs.
Afternoon
Climbing and Abseiling continued
Evening
Self-cooked dinner
A social evening on the beach with Kelly kettles and Beach Sunsets
Morning
Self-cooked breakfast
Coastal Bushcraft of Chesil beach. Fire lighting, camp craft and foraging with the need to gut, fillet and cook fresh caught mackerel. Lunch on the beach.
Afternoon
Week round up and review
Departure between 1-2pm
Activities
An action-packed programme
We fill the week with a wide range of activities so you are able to maximise your time with us. Expect full days outdoors with some time to relax on the beach or in your accommodation come the evening.
You’re not on expedition anymore!
Hot indoor showers and comfortable beds. After a day of adventuring on the Isle of Portland, you will rest easy in our converted Victorian hotel. Alongside your room, our building has indoor and outside communal areas available for you to use as you wish. We try to spend as much time in the landscape as possible but when you’re ‘in from the day’ it’s easy to relax.
Our dorm-style bedrooms will be shared with your new DofE friends. They range from 4 or 6 beds per room, each being ensuite. The rooms are gender split and the ages of participants are considered while creating the bedding plan. Bedding is provided so don’t worry about packing your sleeping bag!
Creating the community
The first job to do when you arrive on site is to decide what you would like to eat for the week. You will then create a shopping list within your group. Our instructors will be there to advise (‘Yes more fruit and veg’ and ‘Don’t forget the marshmallows!’) and to place the order. Our instructors will also arrange top-up shops throughout your stay.
The meals will be cooked as a group each evening under the helpful eye of our instructors. This is a great part of creating the community as some of you may favour washing up and some may favour the cooking. The first night is usually a social Beach BBQ, the remaining evenings you will have your ‘camp kitchen’ to cook up whatever culinary delights you please! Breakfast and lunch run in the same way.
Any dietary needs will be discussed and covered by your group and instructor. The cost of the food is part of the overall cost so no extra cash is needed.
Keeping you safe
- Our building and individual rooms all have coded locks to keep you, and your belongings secure.
- Your group (DofE participants) will have exclusive use of our building. So, there will be no need to share our facilities with other groups.
- During your stay a duty instructor will be available in the building day and night. They are contactable via a phone number or a senior member of our team will be in the office between 9-5
- We have CCTV in selected areas of our building as an added security measure.
Portland Location
The Gem of the Jurassic!
The Isle of Portland is the central part of the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage Site on the Dorset and east Devon coast. Being Jurassic, dinosaurs were living here 185 million years ago, and you might be able to find some fossils for yourself on the island, if you are lucky.
Our Centre is at the Northern end of the Isle, a stones throw from the historic Portland Castle on the southern edge of Portland Harbour. Portland is a 10 minute taxi or short bus journey from neighbouring town Weymouth, which has good rail connections linking to London and other Southern stations.
Click the arrows to browse our activity locations
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
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A cheerful disposition and a sense of adventure! A full kit list will be provided prior to your residential, but it’s likely you already own everything you’ll need. Mainly, lots of clothes that you don't mind getting dirty or wet, a good pair of closed-toe shoes for activities and some old closed-toe shoes to wear in the water.
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We advise that each participant arranges transport directly to and from Portland Outdoor Centre. If you would like to drive yourself, there is plenty of free on-street parking. Your vehicle is left at your own risk. The closest train station is Weymouth. You can easily get a bus to Verne Common Rd on Portland and walk the small journey to the centre. Taxis can also be booked from there to the centre. Google Maps is a great resource to plan your travel.
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The residential will start at 12:00/13:00 on Monday and will be finished by 13:00/1400 on Friday.
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Yes. We are fully insured to run all of our activities and have £10 million public liability cover.
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The activities will still go ahead however we will pick the safest and most appropriate activity for the conditions each day.
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All activity staff are experienced and have at least the minimum national governing body award qualifications for the activities which they deliver and are first aid qualified. All staff at Portland are DBS checked.
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The DofE residentials are completely alcohol-free. We will not tolerate any alcohol consumption during the week and you will be asked to leave if you are found drinking, regardless of age.
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Following rules set by the DofE award scheme say you are able to come to the residential with one other person that you know.
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Your assessor report will be completed within a week of your programme. It will then be sent to DofE who send it on to your local assessor, please contact them first as they have to assign it to your account.
Our Sister Centres
Looking for slightly different scenery?
We have the pleasure of having two sister centres that offer DofE Gold Residentials with the same ethos of immersive activities, allowing the participants time to grow confidence and skills, but all three of our centres have unique activities and landscapes.
