YMCA Southampton
WHERE
Southampton
What it’s like
Outdoor adventure days on 95 acres near Southampton, from abseiling and axe throwing to holiday clubs and toddler nature mornings.
This is the sort of place where a Tuesday afternoon can include abseiling, axe throwing and a go on the Jacob's ladder, all before tea. The site at Fairthorne Manor runs on 95 acres, and the activity list reads like a scout camp fantasy: crate challenge, aerial runway, climbing wall, boat trips, blind trail, camouflage and tracking. Picking just one or two is the hard part.
Each instructor-led activity runs for 90 minutes, with set slots through the day (09:30 to 11:00, then 11:15 to 12:45, then an afternoon and a late-afternoon one, shifting half an hour earlier in winter). That structure makes planning a visit surprisingly easy, you just work out how many slots you can realistically fill and book around them. School holidays bring day camps with themed adventure weeks and a holiday club covering both indoor and outdoor childcare, while the youngest visitors get their own outdoor sessions: Treetots for toddlers and parents, Little Conker for babies and parents, both out in nature rather than a hall.
Food is on-site and priced simply, breakfast, lunch and dinner each come in around six or seven pounds, and they'll cater to vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, gluten-free, dairy-free and nut-free diets, which matters if you've got a fussy eater or a genuine intolerance to manage. The site holds a food hygiene rating of 5. Accessibility has clearly been thought through too, step-free routes and two all-terrain wheelchairs mean the outdoor activities aren't only for the fully mobile.
If you're coming by train, Botley Station is about a ten minute walk away and GroupSave tickets are worth knowing about if you're travelling as a group. Scout and guide troops get their own angle on this, with camping villages, indoor lodges and programmes that can be tailored to badgework and age.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Toddlers to teens, from Treetots mornings to full adventure days
- Food
- On-site catering including breakfast (£6), lunch (£6), and dinner (£7)
- Wheelchairs
- Accessible accommodation, step-free routes, and two all-terrain wheelchairs available
- Getting there by bus or train
- Botley Station 10 mins walk away with GroupSave tickets available
- Slots run 90 minutes each, so pick two or three activities rather than trying to cram in more
- Winter timings shift half an hour earlier than the spring-to-autumn schedule
- Staff are DBS-checked and first-aid trained, with risk assessments shared when you book
- Scout and guide troops can get badgework built into the programme
Plan your visit
How long does each activity last?
Ninety minutes, run by an instructor, in one of four set slots through the day. Slots shift half an hour earlier in winter.
How many activities can we actually do in a day?
There are four 90-minute slots to play with, so most days you're looking at two or three activities if you want a proper break for food in between.
Is this suitable for scout or guide groups?
It's built for exactly that. Camping villages, indoor lodges, and the programme gets tailored to badgework and age group.
What's there for younger children?
Treetots is an outdoor toddler and parent group, and Little Conker does the same for babies and parents, both run out in nature rather than indoors.
What happens during school holidays?
Day camps run themed adventure weeks, and there's a holiday club covering indoor and outdoor childcare for the days you need cover.
Can you manage allergies or specific diets?
Gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher and medically required diets are all catered for. Best to flag the details to their bookings team ahead of time.
What does food cost?
Breakfast and lunch are around six pounds each, dinner is about seven. The kitchen holds a food hygiene rating of 5.
Is the site accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes, there are step-free routes and two all-terrain wheelchairs on site, and activities get tailored so everyone can join in.
How do we get there without a car?
Botley Station is about a ten minute walk from the site, and GroupSave tickets are worth grabbing if you're travelling as a few people together.
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