About Us
Grafham Water Centre has over 50 years experience of providing high quality tuition in a wide range of adventure sports for all ages and abilities.
We strive to inspire all of our customers to try something new, develop existing skills and reach their full potential whilst having fun in the great outdoors!
Based on the shore of the UK’s finest inland sailing venue, the Centre offers an exciting but safe environment to learn in, highlighted by the stunning natural backdrop of the 80 hectare Grafham Water Nature Reserve. The area is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Whether it’s specialised adventure sports tuition, a conference or training venue, a fun family day out or a residential or day experience for a school or youth group, we have it all.
ABOUT US
Grafham Water Centre (GWC) is an AALA licensed residential outdoor activity centre, set against the backdrop of Grafham Water Reservoir run by Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC) with recognised external accreditation of AHOEC Gold Standard and CLOTC. As a Local Authority Service, we wholly subscribe to the Council's ambition of creating a greener, fairer and more caring Cambridgeshire and express its behaviours in all we do: Lives over Services, Collaborative, Creative and Aspirational, and Accountable. The centre is based in Cambridgeshire near to Huntingdon, in the small village of Perry within a quiet residential area. The site is private, enclosed, and secure and is only open to those who have booked with us.
The centre offers a fully inclusive outdoor learning experiences for schools, youth groups, individuals, and other organisations, with a 160 bed residential capacity in fully accessible dormitory style rooms; a number of our rooms and bathrooms are fully equipped to accommodate those with more significant physical disabilities and provide a sanctuary for individual escape should it be required.
As part of the residential, we provide high quality 5 star rated catering facilities, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to meet all dietary needs.
OUR OFFER
We offer a wide variety of land and water based activities including keel boating, power boating, bush craft, problem solving, raft build, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, archery, mountain biking, and high ropes. In all this, we make links to the wellbeing and therapeutic benefits of challenging yourself in a safe and inclusive outdoor environment.
Each group is provided with a fully accessible lounge from which they are based for the duration of their stay - this is where they meet as a group during breaks, and receive briefings from their course directors and dedicated members of our instructor team.
The centre also has a fully heated sports hall with capacity for over 150 people, two large marquees and a variety of other spaces for groups to use around site.
"Thank you, this really was a positive trip, the leaders we had were full of energy, kind and engaging which positively impacted our children. Ollie was fantastic, and very polite."
We had a fantastic Energise Team Day at Grafham Water, with a day created just for us. All of the sessions were hosted by fun and professional instructors, with options for everyone to enjoy including raft building, kayaking to archery. It was also great to have use of the marquee to use throughout the day for team time and refreshments between activities. Thank you to the Grafham Water Centre team!
We have been working with Grafham Water Centre team for several years and have built a great business relationship. The team delivers great Team building activities for our clients. The team is professional, and they always make it fun. Our clients take away ideas and knowledge they can implement.
"We always have a lovely time visiting Grafham Water Centre and its a fantastic place for a residential visit, we look forward to coming back each year."
I just wanted to thank you and the staff at the Discovery Club day last Friday (29th August). I brought my son Zac who has ASD, ADHD and learning needs. We both had a great day – paddleboarding and then on the high ropes. I especially wanted to pass on thanks to Hannah and Nieve (apologies if misspelt). While others in our group were getting ready, Hannah took Zac and I down to the water to see where all the equipment was and gave us some pointers for paddleboarding and kayaking. This was really…