Derby's gateway to outdoor activities - a place of discovery and adventure
Darley Barn Outdoor Centre is located at Darley Park, in the heart of the Derwent Mills World Heritage Site in Derby. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities including canoeing, orienteering, environmental and heritage pursuits.
For more information about Darley Barn Outdoor Centre, please call the team on: 01332 514977 or email: darleybarn@dcys.org.uk
360º Virtual Tours
You can now download images of Darley Barn Outdoor Centre which allow you to see 360º views. Use the links below to view the virtual tours. The images may take some time to fully load.
- To make the image move direction: Use your mouse or the keyboard arrow keys.
- To zoom in or out: Use the icons at the bottom left of the picture, or use the keyboard '+' and '-' keys.
If you can't view the virtual tour image, you will need to install Java software.
Summer Holiday Adventure Activities
Aged 13 to 19-years-old?
Have an adventure this summer - 24 July to 27 August 2010
To book a place, please call: 01332 514977 (from Monday 14 June) or email: mackworth@dcys.org.uk
Download a PDF timetable of Summer holiday activities for 2010
- All activities led by highly qualified instructors
- Locations include the Peak District, Darley Barn Outdoor Centre and parks / community venues in Derby
- All activities apart from mobile climbing wall are 10am to 4pm, participants need to bring a packed lunch and refreshments
- Each place costs £5 (transport to Peak District locations from Youth House on Mill Street included in price)
- Two-day development courses in climbing and canoeing cost £10 each
- Places are limited, please book in advance (maximum of four places each booking)
Mobile Climbing Wall (see PDF timetable above for dates / venues)
- Various dates/locations in Derby - free for young people aged 10 and over - no need to book, just turn up!
Activities at Darley Barn Outdoor Centre, Darley Park, Derby
- Canoeing - Tuesday 27 July and Friday 13 August
- Canoe Development Course - Thursday 19 and Friday 20 August, £10 for 2 days
- Multi Activity (mobile climbing wall, canoe, raft build, orienteering) - Monday 26 July, Tuesday 24 August
- Canoe/Teambuild/Orienteering - Tuesday 3 August
Activities in the Peak District
- Abseil - Tuesday 27 July
- Gorge Walk - Tuesday 10 August
- Climb / Abseil - Thursday 12 and Tuesday 17 August
- Climbing Development Course - Thursday 26 and Friday 27 August, £10 for 2 days
Outdoor Adventure Course - get your school into the outdoors
This two-day course is ideal for schools that struggle to resource and finance residential expeditions but still want to give pupils a valuable outdoors experience. It is suitable for pupils in year 6 and upwards.
One day in the Peak District. Two activities from:
- caving
- climbing
- rock scrambling
- abseiling
- stream exploring.
One day at Darley Barn Outdoor Centre in the grounds of Darley Park, including:
- half a day canoeing or kayaking
- half a day orienteering and team building.
There is a ratio of one instructor to eight pupils for these activities.
Price £57.50 each young person (for four activities over the two days)
This includes minibus transport from school and is based on groups of 16, accompanied by two school teaching staff. The minimus has 17 seats so one member of staff will need to follow the minibus by car to transport two young people.
Derby city school prices
The courses below can be tailored to meet individual / curriculum needs. All ratios are a maximum instructor to young person level. If your group has specific needs adjust your numbers of young people to a lower level. Groups need to have the support of one of your leaders for each group of eight young people.
If you need mini buses, add these costs to your charges. Approx £45 each day and diesel.
Activity with instructor to
young person ratio |
One session |
Two sessions
- full day |
Six sessions |
| Canoeing (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
£500 |
| Climb/Abseil Outdoor (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
£500 |
| Caving (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
£500 |
| Environmental Discovery (Ratio 1:30) |
£100 |
£200 |
£500 |
| Team Build (Ratio 1:16) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
| Orienteering (Ratio 1:16) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
| Bush Bash (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
| Climbing Indoor (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
|
|
|
|
| Gorge Walk (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
| Low Ropes (Ratio 1:8) |
£100 |
£200 |
Multi activity six-session programme £500 |
| High Ropes (Ration 1:8) |
£130 |
£220 |
Full day maximum |
Canoeing
The river Derwent is a good canoeing venue offering flat water within Darley Park.
Choose from tasters, which give a flavour of this adventurous activity, to courses where participants can develop a real interest in paddling. Accreditation is available. Alternative venues may be used depending on water conditions and the needs of the group.
Open Canoeing
This is the ultimate teamwork activity as pairs or trios of young people are working together in the same boat. Health and safety starts with the safe lifting of the boats to the river and continues throughout the session. On the water, out of their 'comfort zone', young people learn in groups, and individually, how to canoe. Success can only be achieved when they work together, using good communication skills and practising their new-found canoe techniques. Participants also enjoy playing games to develop these skills.
An individual challenge to gain complete control of the boat. Sessions offer the benefits as above.
Ratio: one instructor to eight participants. 1, 2 or 6 sessions.
Orienteering
The Derwent Valley Orienteering course in Darley Park is an ideal way for Darley Barn Outdoor Centre to introduce orienteering. The course enables individuals and groups to explore one of Derby's most loved open spaces and develop map reading skills. This can lead to other orienteering activities / courses and National Navigation Awards Scheme accreditation. Tailored to different ability levels, the sessions enable all participants to learn and achieve success. Groups / individuals use their maps to locate a series of marker posts.
Ratio: one instructor to eight participants. One or two sessions.
Caving
An activity in the limestone area of the Peak District. The cave environment is so startling that group dynamics can change as individuals work beyond their comfort zones. This allows not just the lamps to shine! This activity provides an inspirational opportunity to acquire valuable and transferable skills in teamwork, communication and leadership.
Caving is exploring underground through narrow tunnels and open cave spaces. Participants will:
- crawl, climb, slither and walk at various times
- learn how to cave safely as a group
- develop communication skills
- understand the importance of teamwork
Ratio - one instructor to eight participants. One, two or six sesssions, with one hour travel to and from venue.
Indoor or outdoor climbing
We can provide climbing sessions at indoor walls and outside venues in the Peak District. These range from a taster, that gives a flavour of this adventurous activity, to a climbing course or residential experience where participants can acquire a real interest in climbing. Group members are challenged in this exciting activity and find success through working together as a team. Gaining individual and group work skills, participants acquire an understanding of health and safety and learn new practical skills while taking part in a fun activity. Improved communication, self-esteem, teamwork and an ability to trust others are just some of the benefits of climbing. Accreditation is available.
Ratio: one instructor to eight participants .
- One, two or six sesssions, with 45 minues travel time to and from outdoor venue.
- One, two or six sesssions, with 15 minutes travel time to and from indoor wall.
Environmental activities
Darley Park provides an ideal venue for discovering the wonders of nature and the impact of humans on the environment. The activities are split between Environmental Heritage, Environmental Wildlife and Environmental Discovery.
Environmental Heritage
- Medieval life - Participants are led around the park to find features, including many plants, which would have been useful for living off the land in medieval times. Young people can then complete a checklist to see which team could outsmart Robin Hood!
- Round the world in 80 minutes - Follow the park's tree trail to taste life as a Victorian plant collector and find out about different countries on the way.
- Heritage - Look for clues to past uses of the park using old maps and pictures to spot the differences.
Environmental Wildlife
- Habitats and ecosystems - Natural habitats including woodland, meadow and river can be investigated and mapped in Darley Park. Participants discover minibeasts and birds and find out about food webs and how people affect them.
- Tree activities - Find out the age of trees in the park (without felling them!) and work out their height. Use branching keys to identify the different trees and invesigate their leaves and bark, finding out which trees are best for wildlife.
Environmental Discovery
- Sensory activities - Children and young people can use their senses and imaginations to:
- listen and identify the sounds of the park
- hunt for different colours to create a 'rainbow'
- create a smelly cocktail
- find different textures in a 'feelie walk'
- imagine life as an ant on the ground
- use mirrors to explore high up in the trees
- take part in a scavenger hunt.
- Survival hunt - Discover how useful natural resources can be. Participants are led around the park to find features, including many plants, which would be useful if you were stuck in a wild place.
Ratio: One instructor to 30 participants.
Low and high rope challenge courses
Low ropes challenge course
The low ropes course is set in the woodland environment at the Ukrainian Centre at Weston-on-Trent.
Individuals face the challenge of travelling along the course using practical skills such as swinging, climbing, scrambling and balancing. Participants will gain in confidence as each element provides an achievement opportunity. Can participants progress from the balance beam all the way through to the Burma rope bridge and scramble net? Can the team success in the final group challenge. Activities include balancing, climbing, negotiating various wooden structures, beams, stacks and steps.
One session with 30 minutes travel time to and from venue.
High ropes challenge course
The challenging high ropes course is located at Lea Green near Matlock. The equipment allows particpants to safely experience trapeze jumps, postman walks, balance beams and telegraph pole climbing.
One or two sessions with one hour travel time to and from venue.
Teambuilding
Darley Barn Outdoor Centre offers a wide range of problem solving activities designed to improve communications skills, develop teamwork and increase self-esteem. The experienced facilitator will tailor the sequence of activities to meet the needs of your group and any specific outcomes you identify.
Kinaesthetic learning - through physical activity and discovery rather than listening to a lecture - is an integral part of these sessions. Through the development of new practical skills, participants will be able to break down barriers to form improved relationships with colleagues. The calm and inspirational setting of Darley Park makes it a perfect location for team building and motivational activity days.
These activities include:
- the breaker
- planks
- water tower
- sorting hat
- shrinking island
- egg drop
- sorting games.
Ratio: One instructor to eight participants - one or two sessions.
Hiring meeting rooms and kitchen
The Darley Barn is an inspiring and tranquil meeting place with panoramic views of Darley Park, part of the Derwent Mills World Heritage site. The education / meeting room has tables and chairs for up to 30 people and can be set out in a variety of ways. There is ample parking on site.
The venue is ideal for training, workshops, business or community meetings and children's birthday parties. Why not take a look at the virtual tours?
Refreshments can be available, ranging from tea and coffee to buffets, provided at extra cost.
Facilities include:
- kitchen area
- hearing loop
- drywipe white board
- digital projector (available on request)
- flip chart stand
- flexible seating
- multiple plug points for laptop / IT needs.
Please contact the Darley Barn team (details top of this page) for availability and prices.
Corporate activities
The Centre offers team building activities at Darley Park or in the Peak District.
Teambuilding sessions are based outdoors and aim to improve communication and leadership skills and increase self esteem.
The Centre's inspiring meeting room with panoramic views of Darley Park can be hired for in-house training. Suitable for up to 30 people, it offers dry wipe white board and a digital projector.
Prices
| Time |
Price |
Activities |
| Half day - morning |
£38.95 each person |
Teambuilding |
| Full day at Darley Barn Outdoor Centre |
£55 each person |
Teambuilding in morning. Canoeing, kayaking, climbing or classroom-based training in afternoon |
| Full day in Peak District |
Please call for price |
Choose from caving, climbing, walking, abseiling and other outdoor activities |
For further information, please call the team on 01332 514977 or email darleybarn@dcys.org.uk