Welcome to Bradwell

Activities and facilities at Essex Outdoors Bradwell

The coast is your host.

Our centre at Bradwell is a coastal outdoor education centre, based on the River Blackwater Estuary, a lovely stretch of sheltered tidal water on the east coast of Essex.

Delivering high-quality residential and day-based outdoor education programmes, Bradwell is recognised as a leading provider of sailing, yachting and watersport activities.

Our small waterside site packs in a lot: full residential facilities in our main building plus extra spaces in our new onsite tent village.

Accommodation

Residential centre

The main building’s first floor accommodation is fully accessible by lift and also offers a specialist accessible bedroom with connecting carers room. We also have some en suite rooms suitable for staff.

We offer an excellent catering service for all our residential groups in the main building, and can also provide catering for day groups, meetings and conferences.

Pewet Tent Village

Our tent village – named after the nearby Pewet island –  is located in the Bradwell centre grounds and is available from May-September; the perfect option for groups of 14-45 (excluding group leaders). Our large and comfortable bunkhouse-style frame tents all have hard-standing floors, bunk beds and lighting. Group leader tents benefit from additional lighting, single beds, storage and power points. During your stay you’ll also have exclusive use of a large marquee which can be used as a break-out space for games and evening activities.

Camping

We are also able offer camping for large or small groups; either in clients’ own small tents, or in our tents. Toilet and shower facilities are provided within the main residential building and via a separate block on site. Catering can be provided form the main dining room or in a large marquee.

Facilities and catering

Large classroom, small classroom with tea and coffee making facilities, games room, lounge with TV & DVD, dining room as well as drying rooms for wet clothing.

We offer an excellent catering service for all our residential groups of up to 62 in the main building, and can also provide catering for a day groups, meetings and conferences.

At a glance

Location

Coastal / Rural

Travel times

London 1.5 hours – Norwich 2.5 hours
Nearest station – Southminster
Nearest airport – Stansted or Southend

Size and capacity

110 residential – 100 activity

Accommodation

Residential centre, Safari tents

Facilities

Dining room, classroom, games rooms and wheelchair accessible

Activities

Over 10 separate activities, see full list below.

What Bradwell offers for…

schools

Schools

From day trips to residentials and field trips to sailing schools, we have outstanding value trips to suit every school – and every appetite for adventure.

Primary schools
Secondary schools
Colleges and FE

group of people on a large paddle board

Groups

Watch them thrive – with our residentials and day trips for youth groups from across the country.

Youth groups
National Citizen Service (NCS)

young people sailing a dinghy

Individuals and families

Follow your passion – with thrilling courses and activities for both individuals and families.

Powerboat courses
Sailing courses
School holiday activities
Birthday parties and celebrations
Family sailing and powerboating

group of adults congratulating each other

Businesses

Want your team to work better together? Our activities show them a new way to identify and amplify their strengths.

Conference facilities
Team building

Why Essex Outdoors?

Find out why 85% of visitors keep coming back – and why 90% happily recommend us.

Find out more

“Thank you for making our trip to Bradwell an amazing experience. The accommodation was superb, the food was amazing and the activities have left us with experiences that have made a lasting impact which we won’t be forgetting for a very long time. The students have returned with a sense of maturity and team camaraderie, which was the aim of our trip and this was facilitated and supported by your team”

Andrea White, Director of Inclusion, Redded Court School

Activities at Bradwell

So much choice – from a wide variety of water sports, to high ropes, challenges for teams and much more.

instructor helping boy aim bow and arrow

Archery

Archery Aim for gold on our outdoor and indoor archery ranges. With its unique mix of fun and competition, archery is a popular activity with all ages and abilities, helping to build confidence and improve coordination skills. Sessions are tailored to meet the experience of the group and can offer the opportunity for further progression …
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motor boat on the sea

Boat trips and crabbing

Boat trips and crabbing Say hello to Sammy the seal! Discover the enchanting river Blackwater by taking a boat trip from the jetty at West Mersea or Bradwell. These excursions can be for fun or as part of a lesson in local marine life. They allow groups to experience the natural wonders of the estuary …
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boys tying poles together with ropes

Bridge build

Bridge building Can you work as a team to build a bridge across the water? Using the kit provided and skills taught in the session you’ll become budding bridge engineers. Succeed and your team will stay dry, but if you fail to work well together and you may get wet and muddy! The session will …
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close up of starting a fire with sticks

Bushcraft

Bushcraft Marshmallows at the ready! Depending on the centre we offer either coastal or woodland-based versions. These exciting and informative sessions are very flexible and can incorporate; fire lighting using fire steels and natural materials shelter building and knot work camp craft including basic knife and axe work. You can also combine a longer session …
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view of seashore at mersea island

Coastal discovery

Coastal discovery Blending the best of environmental education and forest school principals with fun activities. Find about the fascinating seashore life of the Blackwater estuary. Sessions can include learning about tides, beaches and marshes finding and identifying coastal plants and sea creatures creating beach art The world really is your oyster on this activity! Recommended …
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group of young people in a dufour sailing boat

Dinghy sailing

Dinghy sailing It’s all-aboard our Dufour Drakkar boats which combine speed and excitement with stability and capacity. This modern hybrid craft has great upwind performance and an asymmetric spinnaker for exhilarating downwind sailing. Crews can assist with hoisting and trimming sails, helming the boat and learning the basics of sailing. Each boat holds up to …
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person preparing to give CPR on a dummy

First aid

First aid Our highly interactive introductory First aid lessons for young people are based on British Heart Foundation guidelines. Sessions include plenty to keep the mind and body active and the group will learn everything they need to know to be confident in a basic first aid situation. Areas covered include incident management how to …
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boy on high ropes course

High ropes

High ropes Each of our centres’ high ropes courses offer a variety of challenging and exciting elements designed to push your comfort zone to see what you can really achieve. Walk the catwalk, take on the Leap of Faith or work alongside your friends to get to the top of the Jacobs Ladder or All …
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boy riding a mountain bike on a ramp

Off road biking

Off road biking Enjoy the ride. Our centres are perfectly situated to cater for all levels of off-road biking. Each site presents plenty of challenges, from obstacle courses to build your skills through to gentle woodland trails and more technical routes. And our proximity to some of the best single-track in the country allows us …
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hand holding orienteering map

Orienteering and map skills

Orienteering and map skills This activity teaches the important life skill of map-reading. Our instructors will guide groups through a series of mini-exercises to introduce; points of the compass and orientating a map interpreting symbols features using scale and pacing Participants then head off to complete courses and challenges of increasing difficulty around our beautiful …
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blue skies with fluffy white clouds

Power kites

Power kites Learn the ropes then take to the skies with one of our powerful aerofoil kites. An exhilarating experience which teaches participants about wind speed and direction. It also promotes communication and cooperation as well as improving confidence. Learning outcomes Click below to find out which learning outcomes this activity promotes. Confidence Although young …
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large rigid inflatable boat on the sea

Powerboating

Powerboating Whether it's riding the waves on one of our Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) or gaining a nationally recognised qualification on one of our RYA Powerboat courses, Essex Outdoors has the powerboating experience for you! An activity can fill a whole morning or afternoon for up to 20 people. We take our boat out into …
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ropes and poles of raft building

Raft building

Raft building Build your own river going vessel from a selection of tested items such as barrels, ropes wooden planks. You'll learn some useful knot work and traditional techniques to construct your craft. An ideal session for enhancing team building skills, communication, planning and resource management. Available during summer months only. Learning outcomes Click below …
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group doing problem solving activity

Team challenge and problem solving

Team challenge and problem solving From mental puzzles through to team challenges, we'll test your ability to work together, communicate and think fast. Spider's web, mazes, blindfold trails and sheep pens are just some of the tools used to test your problem solving skills. The activities not only offer the opportunity for groups to go …
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Bradwell image gallery

Some photos to give a flavour of what it’s like at Essex Outdoors Bradwell

  • large rigid inflatable boat on the sea
  • group of young people in a dufour sailing boat
  • close up of sails pulley and ropes on a dinghy
  • front view of group in a sailing boat
  • group of young people sailing a dufour boat on the sea
  • blue wayfarer dinghy with 3 crew on the sea
  • boy giving thumbs up on a dinghy on the sea
  • group sailing at Bradwell
  • children catching crabs from a boat
  • boy on high ropes course

How to find us

Essex Outdoors Bradwell, Waterside Road, Bradwell Waterside, Southminster CM0 7QY

Tel: 01621 776256