Ridgway Adventure, Ardmore, Highlands of Scotland

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Ridgway Adventure, Ardmore, Highlands of Scotland

Truly adventurous summer camps, school trips and bespoke stays in the mountains and on the sea in the far northwest of Scotland. 55 years family run.
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Sea kayak in sheltered coves and bays, rock climb and abseil from an ancient rocky outcrop, climb a mountain from a wild base camp, swim in the sea, build rafts from salvaged materials and race them in the sea loch, learn to forage for and cook wild foods, lay pots for crabs and lobsters, and survive overnight together on an un-inhabited island. Adventure courses, holidays and summer camps for sch

ools, young people, families and adults. Every school, camp or course has the Adventure School and our friendly staff team to themselves.

23/12/2024

Happy Christmas to you all, and thank you to everyone who has helped make 2024 a success. We’re so grateful for the energy that you bring. Best wishes, Rebecca and Mark x

The end of the season always takes us a bit by surprise. Twenty-three weeks at full tilt with our staff team and up to 40 enthusiastic and energetic children or teenagers each week or on each course, all making the most of the incredible adventures on our doorstep. Suddenly, it is a whole lot quieter.

The younger groups routinely ask, “Where do you live in the winter?”.

Just over there is the answer. They imagine we must go somewhere else, somewhere warmer or more accessible.

We’re just as busy in the autumn but with a different focus, and only Mark and I are here, with Dad and Mum at the top of the hill.

Recruiting staff for the following year, visiting schools coming to us the following year, talking to summer camp parents, looking after the croft and the adventure school and, grappling with all the admin that comes with running your own business, with time for a few of our own moments in the mountains or on the sea.

1. Mark and Rebecca high in the mountains above Ardmore with first snow in November
2. Home at Ardmore
3. Workboats out of the water
4. Daily dog walk for Tinker (now an old-man)
5. Rebecca’s autumn veg
6. Looking down the croft to the Beach House (not easily visible but the sea loch is frozen)
7. Lifting our lost creel on the far side of Laxford
8. Trying to retain the personal connection that means so much to us. Continuing with hand-written cards and paper marketing - not very 2024!
9. Managing summer camp bookings and planning for a return to Peru
10. Mark in the winter hills

08/12/2024

Sea kayak expeditions with teens on the wild Atlantic coast between Ardmore and Sheigra. Part way through our Two-Week Expedition Summer Camp.

Taking young folk out of the relative shelter of Loch Laxford, past Ardmore Point and onto gentle Atlantic swells with ocean horizons on one side and the mountains they have climbed on the other is a privilege.

It opens up an incredible journey along a truly remote stretch of coastline, camping on remote headlands above rocky coves.

At times the wind and swell conspire to keep us closer to home, hopping between sheltered spots in the lee of islands in the inner reaches of Laxford. A direct confrontation with the elements, different to being on the open ocean, but no less rewarding.

We have three expedition summer camps for 14-17 year-olds in 2025, rather than the usual two, and the sea kayaking phase forms the mid-point of each.

Stretch… don’t cruise.

05/08/2024

The first of our two-week expedition summer camps finished last Friday.

Thirty-six young people from all over the UK and the rest of the world coming together for challenging expeditions in the mountains and on the sea.

The penultimate evening spent together at Sandwood Bay after hiking 30km to the Cape and then south to the beach over two days. Big packs, big days, big ambition.

The next two-week camp arrives today.

22/06/2024

Cracking week with the Year 8s from . Real adventures in the mountains and on the sea, and pretty much every weather that June in the far northwest highlands can offer up. Great company and so able.

Stretch… don’t cruise!

07/06/2024

We can’t remember a June week like this where we haven’t had at least one weather window to get kids up into the mountains during a six day course. Plenty of sunshine but unrelenting winds.

Instead, we took the cliffs from Sheigra to Sandwood Bay with the Year 6s. A truly stunning 15km round trip. It felt like we had the miles of remote white sands pretty much to ourselves, watching squalls come in from the mighty Atlantic. Hail rather than rain 😬 followed by blue skies and sunshine.

Such an incredible place, and offering many of the same challenges that the mountains offer to young people.

Another super team from , now on their way home after a week of great adventures.

26/05/2024

Two great weeks with the plucky Year 6s from . Climbing mountains, wild camping, sea kayaking and rock climbing.

Routinely capable of far more than they think. We love watching them grow in this landscape to a stage that they can work together without adult intervention, building shelters and cooking on fires on survival island.

Blessed with great weather and a brilliant staff team.

Busy summer to come. Expedition Summer Camps full but a handful of places remain on our One Week Summer Camps.

18/12/2023

Early 1990’s and early 2020’s.

Many young people who come on summer camps now are the daughters and sons of parents who came in the 80s and 90s when Dad and Mum ran the adventure school.

I was two years old when the first two week summer camp course came in July 1969 and my early 20s when quite a few of these photos were taken (probably by me). I’m often asked whether much has changed, and the answer is yes and no.

Amongst many other changes, better equipment and modern materials lighten the load on expeditions. Current methods of communication and weather forecasting leave less to chance, and the adventure school itself has more mod cons (although only a few).

The places we take young people to and the things that we do are very similar. Fundamentally and very importantly, though, the ethos of our summer camps remains.

Our ambition is to stretch and challenge young people, far away from the restraints, demands and worries that may preoccupy them, and to give them an opportunity to measure themselves against the sea, the sky and a primitive landscape of great beauty, with new friends from all over the world.

In the same way, as parents would write to or call my mother, Marie-Christine, back in those earlier years, parents enquiring now will reach me personally by email or phone.

Our 2024 summer camp dates are now on the website, and we look forward to another busy season.

Rebecca (Ridgway)

03/10/2023

Our final team of the 2023 season, the plucky Year 7s of , left us on Friday morning.

A brilliant bunch of children and great teachers who got stuck in to everything.

The autumnal weather kept us out of the mountains but we had sunrise swims, mackerel aplenty, incredible light across orange hillsides and roaring stags. Quite a leap from Battersea in central London.

Girls and boys were endlessly enthusiastic and we had great singing whilst doing the drying up in the kitchen! Who knew 11 year olds were in to ‘Backstreet boys’ 😂

19/08/2023

The second and last of our two-week expedition summer camps came to an end yesterday.

Rugged mountain traverses, open coastline sea kayaking, stunning and remote beaches, and more nights under canvas than under a roof.

Hardly any rain, beautiful sunsets, more than a few midges and bountiful mackerel. Tired feet, expedition rucksacks and personal admin. New friendships from all over the world bonded through some challenging experiences in beautiful places.

Stretch… don’t cruise!

Our final ‘open’ one-week summer camp arrives in Inverness today before heading up the road to Ardmore.

06/08/2023

Two weeks of hard grafting in the mountains and on the sea for our first expedition summer camp.

Young people from all over the world coming together to do difficult things in incredible places and loving it.

Quite a few have parents who came when they were teens and explored the same land and seascapes with my parents!

More photos on the journal pages of our website.

The next team of 36 arrive with us on Monday.

Stretch… don’t cruise.

09/07/2023

The first of this seasons summer camps finished yesterday. 36 young people from all over the UK and Europe coming together to share a week of adventures with us in this wild and beautiful corner of the Highlands.

Waiting now for the arrival of Highfield Year 7’s who should be at the road end within the hour.

Stretch… don’t cruise.

30/06/2023

Ten photos are not enough to do justice to the last six days spent with the Y9 boys and Y8 girls and boys from .

Bivvying high on Arkle (photo 1) with Y9 and the Head of Senior School before summiting the following day was near perfect. A warm breeze, dry and an epic sunset.

One of many great moments with such a good spirited, plucky and amusing bunch of young people. Making the most of the mountains and the sea in the far northwest Highlands.

Stretch… don’t cruise.

26/05/2023

Stunning day at the beach yesterday to round off two weeks with the Year 6 kids at .

The girls and boys had come off survival island that morning. Hot showers, a cooked breakfast and then straight to the beach. An important chance to relax and reflect on a challenging week full of outstanding individual and team achievements.

Capable of so much more than they thought they were, in the mountains and on the sea.

Doing difficult things in stunning places with their friends.

Stretch… don’t cruise!

19/05/2023

Great team from Year 6 heading home after six days of big adventures here in the far northwest. So much enthusiasm, even for the most difficult things.

Large bags of muddy clothes inbound for Wandsworth washing machines. 😉

The other half of Year 6 arrive tomorrow for more of the same.

Stretch… don’t cruise.

07/05/2023

Stunning day on Foinaven today for one of our last days of staff training before the start of a busy season. Full traverse from Lone to home in a day. We’ll be up here next with our two-week expedition summer camps later in the summer… just with bigger packs and eager teenagers!

Great to have Zeki and Jon back with us for another season along with three new faces, Emma, Dylan and Charlotte.

Rebecca out with us today too and Andrew arriving soon for his fifth season running the kitchen.

Inevitably some challenging weather gives better training but we’ll take a sunny Foinaven traverse when it’s on offer. 😉

11/01/2023

We have lots of young people on summer camps here whose parents came as a child themselves when Mum and Dad were running courses.

Amazing this year to share Ardmore with four young people whose parents actually worked with Mum, Dad and I when I was in my early 20’s. A privilege to have them on our two-week expedition summer camp and share with them a place that has become so special to their parents.

📷1 Isla sea kayaking off Ardmore Point Summer ‘22.
📷 2 Isla’s father here as an instructor in ‘89.
📷 3 Oliver ashore on Eilean Dubha during a sea kayak expedition Summer ‘22.
📷4 Oliver’s father (centre) instructing on Foinaven ‘89.
📷5 Mum and Dad with Isla and Oliver at Ardmore Summer ‘22.
📷6 Polly. Her mother cooked her for summer camp in ‘89.
📷7 Polly, Alex, Oliver and Isla with me at the adventure school Summer ‘22.
📷8 Alex, who’s father was also an instructor here with Mum and Dad.
📷9 The adventure school circa 1989.

Address

Ridgway Adventure, Ardmore
Rhiconich
IV274RB

Website

http://www.ridgway-adventure.co.uk/

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Departing for 'Survival Island' Summer '13

Still only early Feb but the summer will be here quickly. Sunny days and teams of young people building up to 'Survival Island'. The six day summer camp is already over half full - a great week of adventure! Come with a friend, cousin, brother or sister. Climb a mountain from a wild base camp, sea kayak in a sheltered sea loch, rock climb and abseil, forage for and cook wild foods and SURVIVE OVERNIGHT ON AN UNINHABITED ISLAND!