Harrow House Residential Educational Facility

With over 40 years’ experience of welcoming residential educational groups, Harrow House Residential Educational Facility provides high quality full-board accommodation at a competitive price that is ideal for schools, colleges and tertiary education providers as well as non-educational groups coming to the Isle of Purbeck.

Occupying an elevated position in the lovely Victorian town of Swanage, gateway to the Jurassic Coast, Harrow House enjoys splendid views of the Purbeck Hills and Swanage Bay. Both the European Blue Flag beach and the town centre are within 10 minutes’ walk away. Our convenient location and excellent facilities make us a perfect base for any group: whether it is to accommodate a short break, a field trip, outdoor activities, team-building, sports, history, art or geography trip for example, we are a multipurpose facility to rival any.

Most centrally heated bedrooms are spacious dormitories sleeping 2 – 6 per room although we also have some single and en-suite rooms available and most rooms are operated by a pin code system. Sheets, linen and duvets are provided and beds are made up prior to arrival. Towels and toiletries are not provided. Bathrooms and showers are located close to each dormitory. Our completely enclosed site is set in 7 acres of private land with clearly defined borders and has an extensive range of security features which include over 26 cameras, both internal and external, that form a comprehensive network of monitored CCTV. A swipe-card system controls entry into the residential buildings and offers the option to separate male and female dormitory areas. The site has permanent residential staff, who are clearly identified by their uniform or name badges and are available for 24-hour support.

For those groups coming for educational purposes, all academic and study needs are provided for with over 30 purpose built classrooms that are all equipped with whiteboards and sound equipment. There are also 2 high quality ICT suites, Wi-Fi connection in areas of the main building, presentation rooms with projectors, and two large meeting rooms. The quality of the site will give you the flexibility to design and deliver a varied and challenging programme for your students, knowing that you will be provided with first class facilities.

Meals are taken in our spacious and modern cafeteria and are served in a semi-self service buffet style. Pack lunches can be requested.

We have numerous indoor and outdoor facilities: tennis courts; a multipurpose Astroturf playing surface for tennis, football, hockey, cricket, handball, etc; a volleyball court; a basketball court, mini golf; pétanque terrain; 5 American pool tables and darts; table tennis; table football. There are also 3 common room areas with large screen TV’s. Full board accommodation is inclusive of the use of these facilities. We also offer the following optional add-ons (subject to availability and nominal supervisory costs): a covered sports dome (either 4 badminton courts and a volleyball court or a 6-a-side football pitch or 2 indoor tennis courts); a fitness room and instructor; heated and covered outdoor swimming pool and life guard; 2 mini cinema rooms; disco equipment with DJ (with quality lights and sound); a staffed evening social programme. There is a bar on-site which serves alcohol and soft drinks in the evening or you may prefer to try the many pubs and restaurants in town. There is a small shop on site for emergency toiletries; promotional items, stationery, soft drinks, etc.

Visitors coming by car will find numerous designated parking spaces on site.

There are many reasons to visit Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck and our dedicated UK Schools and Groups team will be happy to advise and make suggestions on what you may like to do in the area and how to exploit the wealth of learning opportunities available. All visitors receive a warm welcome and there is an atmosphere of safety and tranquillity. Designated a World Heritage Site, it is internationally renowned for its geology and geomorphology and is one of the most significant earth science sites in the world.

Both the landscape and wildlife of Purbeck are shaped by interaction between the geology, natural processes and human influence, resulting in an environment of exceptional quality and unrivalled biodiversity. For more information, visit www.jurassiccoast.com. The Purbeck coastline has many stunning sites: take breathtaking walks to Old Harry Rocks or Durlston Cliffs or go to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door to see how the sea has created places of such outstanding beauty.

Purbeck also has a rich human history with over 512 listed archaeological sites including: Neolithic and Iron Age hill forts, medieval castles and field systems, Victorian tourist towns, steam railway and WW2 defences. A visit to Tyneham for example, a village ‘frozen in time’ requisitioned by the Army in 1943 and never given back, is well worth the time and can be combined with a walk to the beautiful and tranquil Warbarrow Bay. The spectacular Corfe Castle, destroyed in the Civil War, occupies a commanding site in the Purbeck Hills. A visit to the Castle and the Visitors’ Centre reveals the rich past and history of this beautiful place.

Stone quarrying has operated in Purbeck since Roman times and continues to this day. Purbeck also has fascinating history of smuggling and was the centre of this illicit trade during the 1700s. You can go to Durlston Country Park and look down at Tilly Whim Caves, once busy mines and then Victorian tourist attractions before their closure or visit Swanage Heritage Museum to see how the stone quarrying trade helped to shape Swanage before its conversion into a Victorian tourist town.

The area also offers a wide range of opportunities for outdoor adventure activities such as rock climbing, abseiling, orienteering, survival training, team building and numerous watersports.

The town of Swanage is host to many music festivals including the annual Jazz and Folk festivals and the biannual Blues Festival. Many other special events are organised throughout the year, for example the Victorian Festival in May or the Veterans’ Week in June.

Every year 120,000 students visit Purbeck for educational visitors and thousands of tourists take home wonderful memories of their holidays and trips. Choose Purbeck. Choose Harrow House.

For more information or to arrange a tour, please contact our UK Schools and Groups department on 01929 475081 or by email: schools@harrowhouse.co.uk. Alternatively, please visit our website: www.harrowhouse.net