Kimmeridge Bay

Paradise for geologists and surfers alike

Kimmeridge Bay is regarded as being one of the most significant places to study geology in the UK. The rocks are made of organic, black mudstones with an almost slate-like bedding structure. This rock supplies a lot of the UK’s oil reserves beneath the North Sea. Structures here were formed 145 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period.

The clay cliffs that run along much of the beach provide shelter for geologists and palaeontologists to study the Kimmeridgian Clay Formation – which is over 150 million years old.

Field Studies at Kimmeridge Bay

We are proud to be able to offer field studies visits to famous Sites of Special Scientific Interests (SSSIs) on the Jurassic Coast, such as Kimmeridge Bay, Old Harry Rocks, Durdle Door and Osmington Mills.

Kimmeridge bay is a fantastic place to look for fossils and ammonites. The naturally shallow sea level and mud beds have helped preserve fossils. You can find many of them in the bay if you look hard enough! The nearby Etches Collection Museum, boasts a whole range of fossils, rocks and ammonites. It does a fantastic job of bringing the now-fossilised animals to life and sparks imagination of a different time.

Whether you are looking to bring a group of primary school or secondary school students for a geography residential trip in Dorset, we are highly experienced and well versed in providing enlightening and inspirational days out for students of all ages.

Photo credits: Pedro, Phil and Miltof | Flickr

School Trips near Kimmeridge Bay

Cumulus Outdoors provide bespoke outdoor residential trips for schools in Dorset. We can implement a range of adventure activities and field studies days into your trip, provide comfy accommodation and full catering options. Best of all – we can plan a full, detailed itinerary specific to your group. Simply choose which activities are the most suitable for your students and we’ll handle the rest.

Many of our outdoor activities take place at iconic beauty spots on the Jurassic Coast – something which sets us apart from other providers in the area. With 15 years of experience providing adventure school trips for students of all ages in Dorset, we have gained an enviable reputation as being one of the best residential trip providers in Dorset.

Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre

Our Residential Centre will act as your base of operations on your trip with Cumulus Outdoors. Here, we can sleep up to 139 students across three dormitories. We also have dedicated accommodation for teachers. On-site, our residential centre boasts 7 acres of spacious grounds, where we offer a range of activities. There is a high ropes course, games field, target range, bushcraft area and team game facilities.

Classroom facilities

A school trip on the coast is a fantastic opportunity to learn – especially with many fascinating geological beauty spots just a stone’s throw away. We are proud to offer access to our on-site classroom facilities.

Catering

The food options at Cumulus receives consistently great feedback from our students, their parents and teachers. We are proud to have a 5-Star Food Hygiene rating at both our Residential Centre and Tented Villages.

24/7 Pastoral Care

Our team is highly qualified and experienced with ensuring the welfare and safety of children of all ages. We dedicate a programme coordinator to each group as well as a 24/7 staff member available for emergencies and to provide pastoral care.

Tented Villages

In the summer months we offer groups the chance to stay in our Tented Villages, which allow students the opportunity to get even closer to nature and admire the fantastic views over Poole Harbour. Here, the central Nordic Tipi Tent provides a central meeting point where students play games and spend time with their peers.

Outdoor Activities near Kimmeridge Bay

We offer a wide range of adventure activities in Dorset – so you can select an exhilarating itinerary that your students will love. Aside from being fantastic fun, we ensure that Cumulus activities have learning objectives. The great outdoors is a brilliant place to practice interpersonal skills like working together and friendly competition – which will serve students not just at school, but throughout life.

The benefits of outdoors adventure trips

Face your fears

Our ‘challenge by choice’ ethos means that we encourage students to push themselves to step out of their comfort zone in order to gain confidence, however we’ll always give students an easy alternative, too. Activities like coasteering, climbing, abseiling and ropes courses will give students the opportunity to reach new heights.

Work together to solve problems

Orienteering, raft building and canoeing are just a few few activities that will allow your group to work together and experience problem solving to overcome challenges.

Get involved in friendly competition

Friendly competition is a brilliant skill that will serve your students not only in their academic years, but throughout their entire working and personal lives. Activities like tag archery and mackerel fishing are great opportunities to do this.

Practice a healthy lifestyle

Promoting a healthy lifestyle by getting active in the beautiful great outdoors is at the heart of what we do at Cumulus Outdoors. Whether it’s mountain biking, coasteering or on the high ropes, we give students the opportunity to experience exhilaration on land, in the sea and in the sky.