Old Harry Rocks
Heading into the sea from Handfast Point in Studland Bay, Old Harry Rocks marks the most Easterly point of the Jurassic Coast. The stunning chalk formations of Old Harry Rocks are one of the most iconic and recognisable landmarks of the South West coastline. We are lucky to be situated nearby in Swanage, and to have the opportunity to visit the famous rocks as part of outdoor residential trips at Cumulus Outdoors.
It is up for debate how Old Harry Rocks got their name. In actual fact, it is only the furthest stack of rocks out to sea that is named ‘Old Harry’. Some speculate that the chalk stacks are named after Harry Paye, a famed local pirate from the late 14th century. Until 1896, ‘Old Harry’s Wife’, an adjacent chalk rock formation, stood next to Old Harry, before erosion caused her to slip into the sea.
Old Harry Rocks formed during the Cretaceous period. Over 100 million years of weathering and erosion have left the iconic landmark as the chalk formations we know them as today. They are just one of the many historic natural beauty spots you can visit when on an adventure residential trip on the Jurassic Coast.
School Trips at Old Harry Rocks
Cumulus Outdoors provide bespoke adventure residential trips on the Jurassic Coast. After 25 years of creating memories for residential groups, we have gained a gleaming reputation for being one of the best outdoor school trips providers in South West England.
We understand that arranging the logistics of a school trip can be daunting, which is why we’re happy to plan a detailed itinerary for your bespoke school trip on the coast. Simply choose from our expansive range of outdoor adventure activities, which includes Rib Rides, Coasteering and Abseiling and we’ll handle the rest. Our friendly, expert staff are highly experienced in hosting students of all ages, so rest assured that we can create a customised itinerary to excite primary school and secondary school aged kids!
Accommodation
Our residential centre sleeps up to 139 students in three dormitories. Here, students can play a multitude of games and spend time with their peers on the games field, target range and bushcraft area. Our team game facilities are particularly popular – Aeroball is a firm favourite among students.
Our tented villages are conveniently located close to the outdoor activities we offer. Each tented village boasts a camp kitchen, washing facilities and separate teacher and student toilets/showers. Tents are fitted with a fire alarm, sleeping mats, build-in groundsheet and can sleep 8-10 people. A highlight for many students is spending time in the communal Nordic tipi tent – playing games, eating meals and getting briefings.
DofE Trips on the Jurassic Coast
Cumulus Outdoors are also proud to offer Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residentials from both our residential centre and tented villages. We are a DofE Approved Activity Provider and offer a range of action-packed packages in Dorset, including outdoor adventure activities, first aid courses and exploring beauty spots on the Jurassic Coast.
Field Studies Trips near Old Harry Rocks
Inspire your future geologists with a field studies trip on the Jurassic Coast. We are proud to offer primary and secondary school field studies packages, where your students can learn about environmental education, history and geography. Whether you’d like to get your KS1 group excited about the geology or to give your A-Level group field experience, The South Coast is the perfect place to put classroom learning into practice for all ages.
The local area surrounding our Swanage base has been the home of many scientific discoveries, including much of what we knew about the dinosaur era! As a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Jurassic Coast is the perfect destination to get your students excited about the environment. We can venture to natural beauty spots including Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay.
Outdoor Activities at Old Harry Rocks
We love visiting Old Harry Rocks and taking students here whilst on a residential trip at Cumulus!
On Studland Beach, just a stone’s throw and an eyeshot from Old Harry Rocks, we host Beach Safety and Games for schools. Understandably, groups often arrive at Cumulus with little knowledge of beach safety. So, we created exciting water safety sessions that feature fun games and activities to teach students how to identify hazards, what to do in an emergency situation and how to use rescue equipment.
Our exhilarating Rib Rides are led by the local Pier Head Watersports. Setting off from Swanage Bay, the experienced skipper will give students an insightful commentary as you zoom between points of interest. Old Harry Rocks is just one of the famous hotspots we admire on a Rib Ride at Cumulus Outdoors.
We also offer a multitude of other adventure activities that you can select as part of your adventure school trip with Cumulus Outdoors. Students will love taking the leap of faith on a Ropes Course, getting stuck into the Dorset Mud Trail, working together at Raft Building and Orienteering, or reaching new heights Coasteering or Abseiling.
There really is something for students of all ages, and rest assured that the Cumulus team are highly experienced and full qualified to deliver every activity, as well as 24/7 pastoral care to your group. Our activities aren’t just great fun, they’re designed teach students important interpersonal skills, such as gaining confidence, working collaboratively and problem solving.


Walking and Mountain Biking at Old Harry Rocks
We are lucky to situated nearby Old Harry Rocks and to visit the iconic chalk formations often. With our residential groups, we particularly enjoy embarking on the Studland Village to Old Harry walk, which is 4-miles long. This was was featured on TV’s ‘Britain’s Best Walks’ programme. It is a gentle walk that is ideal for all ages, and offers unrivalled views of the famous Old Harry Rocks.
For a slightly more energetic way to visit Old Harry, we also offer mountain biking trips that include a stop here, before heading over to Ballard Down.