Lanehead OEC provides residential Outdoor Education courses predominantly for secondary schools from the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland, Hartlepool and Stockton.

It is situated in a beautiful setting above the Eastern shores of Coniston Water and has easy access to the mountains, forest, lakes and rivers, providing perfect opportunities for outdoor activities.

The building is steeped in history, including providing the base and inspiration for Arthur Ransome when he wrote the Swallows and Amazons novels. It was bought by Cleveland County Council in 1967, when it was converted from a private dwelling to an Outdoor Education Centre providing accommodation for 24 young people and their staff.

It has recently been refurbished to include total updating of all the facilities and an increase in capacity; in particular the old communal showers have been replaced with en-suite facilities to the dormitories, the drying facilities, kit storage areas and changing area have been vastly improved and two extensions to the old building have provided additional dormitory space for 8 students, a reception and office area and an accommodation suite for disabled students and their carers.

A new multi-purpose outbuilding provides bike storage and workshop areas and a large underground multi-purpose room used for teaching, conferences, recreation and as a group room.

The programme of improvements also includes two high ropes activities on site, which have enhanced the programmes run at the Centre and have proved very popular with the young people.

The Centre lies in the heart of the Lake District National Park with fantastic views across the lake to the Coniston fells beyond. It has immediate access to lakes, mountains, Grizedale forest and rivers, all of which are utilised by the team of highly qualified Lanehead instructional staff to provide adventurous activities in dramatic settings.

The centre focuses on personal and social development using real outdoor activities as a medium and prides itself on still offering real adventures. The Centre can also offer skills based courses for young people and adults as well as GNVQ and GCSE courses.

• Types of courses
• Activities