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GOLD DOFE
MULTI-ACTIVITY RESIDENTIALS
Our Gold DofE activity residential weeks are great fun and attract participants from all around the country to our base here near Bristol.
MAKE MEMORIES
You will meet loads of like-minded people and share memories that will last a lifetime.
REAL OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
From kayaking on a river to scaling a limestone rock face to throwing axes, all our adventures are authentic and outrageously addictive!
COSY ACCOMMODATION
Choose from Lodge accommodation or canvas accommodation with a full catering package included.
ALL INCLUDED
Everything is included and arranged for you by our dedicated DofE support team from insurance to activities to dietary requirements.
TRANSPORT
Our site is well situated within North Somerset, near Bristol and Weston-super-Mare with easy road and rail access.
ACTION PACKED ADVENTURE!
Our multi-activity weeks require no experience in any of the activities so it doesn't matter if you're a complete beginner or experienced in adventure. Our flexible approach means we can adapt the program to suit the group or the weather... your week would look a bit like this:
MONDAY
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Arrive at 1pm
Mission Impossible challenge
Evening activities
THURSDAY
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Archery, Air Rifle
& Axe Throwing
Evening activities
TUESDAY
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
FRIDAY
Morning
Afternoon
WEDNESDAY
Kayaking & SUP
Assault Course & Raft Build
Evening activities
Morning
Afternoon
Evening
Rock Climbing
Abseiling or Caving
Evening activities
Archery Active
Departure from 1.30pm
Evening activities include a frisbee golf tournament, team games and a bushcraft dinner cooked over a campfire. One evening will be free time to chill out and socialise with your group.
MENDIP LODGE
Our indoor residential centre, Mendip Lodge, is a large rural bunkhouse, overlooking our ski slope right here in the heart of Somerset.
This Lodge will be exclusive to you throughout your week. Downstairs, a spacious lounge area and dining room ensure there is plenty of space to relax in your downtime.
Upstairs, there are 15 bedrooms, each sleeping between 4 and 9 people per room in double and triple bunk beds. Each room has an en-suite bathroom with a shower. There is UBS charging and free WIFI throughout.
Bedrooms will be single-gender and age-appropriate. There will be a member of the Mendip team sleeping on-site each night.
MENDIP BASECAMP
During the summer, we offer Gold DofE residentials based in canvas accommodation.
These take place in our bunktents which are already erected and up and waiting for you- it's a cross between camping and glamping! You will be based at Mendip Basecamp, our onsite, family campsite which is part of our 250-acre multi-activity centre in the heart of the Mendip National Landscape.
Everyone will have an individual foam mattress in the tent and access to hot showers, flushing toilets and running water as well as WIFI and USB charging! You'll have a large communal marquee for lounging and relaxing. Dining will take place in our dedicated dining tent.
Tents will be single-gender and age-appropriate. There will be a member of the Mendip team sleeping on-site each night.
CATERING
Our menus are locally sourced and packed with all the energy you need for the adventure ahead. Everything is prepared on site in our fully-equipped, commercial catering kitchen. Expect healthy, nutritious and delicious food.
What's included?
Catering starts with an evening meal on Monday and ends with lunch on Friday.
Each day, we will provide an unlimited continental buffet for breakfast, packed lunches to take with you on activities and a home-cooked two-course evening meal. Water, squash and hot drinks will be available at all times. You are welcome to bring additional snacks for in-between meal times.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
We can cater for all dietary needs and requirements and can provide details of all our menus in advance including allergens and calories.
We will ask you to complete an induction questionnaire ahead of arrival, including any specific dietary needs so we can be sure to plan the menu accordingly.
TRANSPORT
Our site is based in the heart of the Mendip Hills National Landscape and very well connected to the South West, specifically Bristol and Weston-super-Mare.
TRAIN STATION - FREE PICK UP AND DROP OFF
We offer a free pick-up service from Weston-super-Mare train station. This line is well connected with London, Bath, Bristol and Exeter.
If arriving by train, please arrive into Weston-super-Mare by 12:30pm. On the Friday, please book onward travel from 2pm.
AIRPORT
We are a 15-minute drive from Bristol Airport. If arriving at Bristol Airport we can help you arrange a taxi.
CAR
If you are driving yourself, we have plenty of free parking onsite. View directions here.
FAQ'S
How fit do I need to be?
Our instructors are great at adapting everything to suit individual needs. If you have recently completed your Gold DofE expeditions, we would expect you to find this week challenging but easily achievable.
What age do I have to be?
These residentials are designed for anyone looking to complete the residential section of their Gold DofE award. You must be aged between 16 and 25. We meet all of the requirements laid out by the DofE on this checklist.
What do I need to bring?
All activity-specific kit will be included. A full personal kit list can be downloaded online. Don't forget:
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Outdoorsy clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy
-
Waterproofs - we go ahead in all weathers
-
Sleeping bag (We will provide a pillow, pillowcase and bottom sheet)
-
Towel
You will not need spending money but there is a cafe onsite. We would recommend that you leave valuables at home. Mendip cannot accept responsibility for any valuables brought with you.
What happens if there aren’t many people on the course?
We have never had to cancel one of our activity residentials. In the unlikely event that we have low numbers, we will offer you an alternative date or a full refund.
Am I insured?
Mendip holds public liability insurance through the Activities Industry Mutual. Our insurance does not cover accidental injury or illness. We would recommend looking into your own personal injury and travel insurance.
What are your terms and cancellation policy?
Read our full terms and conditions here.
How many people will there be in a bedroom/tent?
Our rooms are of various sizes, each with the capacity to sleep between 4 - 9 people. Our canvas tents each sleep up to 8 people.
I need more info about the assessor for my eDofE programme planner
If you are completing the programme planner on your eDofE account, please use the following info:
Assessor's name: Mendip Activity Centre Instructor
Assessor's position: Mendip Activity Centre Instructor
One of our instructor team will be with your group all week. They will write a personalised report and upload this directly to your eDofE account upon completion of the residential week- the induction questionnaire will ask for your eDofE number. We cannot confirm in advance which instructor will be the assessor however the DofE have confirmed that inputting generic details as above is fine.
I have more questions.
If you have any questions not answered here, please feel free to drop us an email at dofe@mendip.me and our dedicated DofE team will be in touch!
