Arete
in its basic sense, means “excellence of any kind” from the ancient Greek. In its earliest appearance, this notion of excellence was ultimately bound up with the notion of the fulfilment of purpose or function: the act of living up to one’s full potential.
Who is Arete Outdoor Centre?
Arete Outdoor Centre is a residential activity centre in Llanrug, North Wales. The centre provides high quality outdoor learning courses to schools, groups and families plus training and qualifications for future outdoor instructors. All day activities are off site using the mountains and rivers of Eryri (Snowdonia) or the coastline of Anglesey. Activities can be provided with catered accommodation for up to 100 pupils across the Main Centre, West Wing and Bryn Eryr or for groups as small as 10 in just one exclusive area. We have the facilities, kit and expertise to provide for a diverse range of groups.
Arete Outdoor Centre is a non profit company, limited by guarantee, fully insured and licensed. We hold an Adventure Activities License through AALA, Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) certificate for our quality of courses and meeting safety standards for accommodation, transport and on activity plus the Adventuremark for those activities not inspected by AALA . We are an Approved Activity Provider for Duke of Edinburgh (DofE).
History of the Centre
Originally the centre was known as Llanrug Outdoor Education Centre. It operated under this name for over 35 years for Worcestershire Council. In this time it has become known as a leader in outdoor learning providing suitably adventurous activities to all ages of young people plus training future outdoor instructors.
In 2014 there was an opportunity for a staff takeover to acquire the centre and continue the renowned outdoor service it provides. As the staff are so passionate about outdoor education and aware of the centres importance to the groups that attend, they knew it was a worthwhile venture. From this takeover Arete Outdoor Centre was born.
Since then the loyal groups have continued to attend while it has also given the opportunity for expansion bringing in new groups from across the UK.
