About Pendarren House

Pendarren House Outdoor Education Centre is a large country house set on the side of Sugar Loaf. It is in the Bannau Brychieniog National Park, Brecon Beacons. The 16 acre site lies in the Grwyne valley with stunning views across the Usk valley.

History

Pendarren House is owned and maintained by Haringey Council. For over 50 years has been providing residential adventurous and environmental outdoor education courses for the young people of Haringey. The house, with its large garden and outbuildings, was built in 1876.

In 1972 it was purchased by Haringey Council and adapted for its present use. Since its official opening in May 1975 thousands of young people have enjoyed the Pendarren Experience. It is also open to other groups when it is not required by the young people of Haringey.

A place for personal development

The Centre is well equipped to deliver a range of on and off site adventurous activities. It has a fleet of minibuses to enable groups to make the most of exploring the National Park and experience nature at first hand. The personal development and environmental themed courses are delivered by qualified and experienced instructors of outdoor education in a friendly and homely setting.

A common theme through all Pendarren House’s courses is the personal development of each person who visits. 

Our customers range from

  • key stage 2

  • secondary schools

  • further education

  • colleges

  • youth organisations

  • DofE

  • businesses and other organisations.

Availability

See the availability calendar

Our courses

Courses are designed in consultation with clients. Most courses there are core themes of personal and social development.

Courses help develop attributes such as

  • confidence

  • self esteem

  • responsibility and independence

  • raising an awareness of self and others

  • improving the ability of an individual to work as a member of a team

  • allowing each individual to develop towards their potential.

To deliver these courses, Pendarren makes full use of its location in South Wales. Groups have the opportunity to explore and undertake challenges in our natural environment. This includes rock faces, caves, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, forests and the beaches and cliffs of the Gower.

Besides to these natural resources our 16 acre site includes

  • a 12m high climbing and abseil tower

  • 300m zipline

  • low ropes courses

  • orienteering courses

  • ponds and forest areas

  • many other on-site activities

We arrange bespoke courses in consultation with the organisation. These can range from

  • targeting specific curriculum areas

  • team building for staff in organisations

  • SEN courses

  • Sports courses

Priority booking for Haringey schools

Haringey schools have priority booking. Bookings are available to other groups including term time, weekends and school holidays.

Each group has its own accommodation building. Pendarren can have up to three groups in residence at one time. Larger groups (up to 88) may use two or three buildings and have exclusive use for the week. One of these buildings is our self-catering bungalow, the Firs. This is also available to self programming groups.

Catering

There is a set menu at Pendarren and guests are given options. Given the diversity of students from Haringey the Pendarren staff are used to dealing with a variety of dietary requirements.

To ensure these are met we do need to know what they are before you arrive!

The Bannau Brycheiniog, Brecon Beacons National Park

Pendarren House lies in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Brecon Beacons, which was created in 1957 to protect the mountain landscape. It is mainly a rural mountainous landscape with scattered sheep farms, villages and a couple of small towns (Brecon and Hay on Wye).

The Bannau Brycheiniog, Brecon Beacons, include Pen y Fan, at 886m the highest mountain in southern Britain. Bannau Brycheiniog is the Welsh name of of one of Britain’s much-loved National Parks. The Brecon Beacons National Park will refer to itself as Bannau Brycheiniog – or informally as ‘the Bannau’.

The name is pronounced Ban-eye Bruck-ein-iog.

The name is derived from the plural of ‘ban’, meaning ‘peak’ while ‘Brycheiniog’ refers to the old kingdom of King Brychan. Translated, it means ‘The Peaks of Brychan’s Kingdom’.

The name Brecon Beacons dates back to a time when a chain of beacons on top of the mountains were lit as a sign of approaching enemy. The logo of the National Park depicts a flaming beacon.

In Pendarren I learnt that the world is muddier than you might think!
- Tyresse