Abernethy Trust
Encyclopedia
Abernethy, formerly known as the Abernethy Trust (founded in 1971) is a non-profit making organization with a charitable status. Abernethy provides four outdoor activities
centres, based in Scotland, providing outdoor instruction and residential facilities, staffed by committed Christians.
Abernethy was established in 1971 when the Walker family donated their 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) estate and buildings at Nethybridge. About 10 years later Miss Mary Currie, owner of the Hamilton Arms Hotel on the Isle of Arran
, gifted her property to be used as a Christian Centre resulting in the birth of the Arran Outdoor Centre. In 1984 the Trust accepted the gift of Brae Lodge at Loch Tay from Mr and Mrs Barratt, which ran under the Abernethy banner as the Ardeonaig Outdoor Centre. The fourth centre to come under Abernethy was the Ardgour Outdoor Centre on the Kilmalieu Estate, across the loch from Fort William
. In 1997 this centre became the home of the Abernethy Trust School of Adventure Leadership. The last centre to be added to the new corporate image of the 'Abernethy Trust' (1996) was Barcaple Outdoor Centre. This Centre was already operating as a Christian outdoor centre, independent from the Abernethy Trust, but they approached Abernethy asking if they could merge their ministry in Dumfries and Galloway
with the Abernethy Trust. This officially happened on 1 January 2001. Around the same time it became apparent that the Arran Centre had reached the end of its effective period of service and the property was sold off and the proceeds used to support the other centres.
Abernethy caters to a wide range of people including: primary schools booking a lot of the week slots; youth groups both Christian and not booking weekend breaks; family weeks in the summer and winter; youth camps throughout the year; student expeditions; people looking for qualifications in outdoor adventure; and university groups.
The activities provided (although not at every centre) include:
kayaking, canoeing, climbing, archery, skiing, snowboarding, coasteering, assault courses, high ropes course, hill walking and gorge walks
Each centre also boasts various facilities (not at every centre) tennis court, swimming pool, squash court, games hall, dry ski slope, indoor climbing wall, games room and a theatre lounge - complete with fully equipped AV Room
The four Abernethy adventure centres are located at:
Outdoor education
Outdoor education usually refers to organized learning that takes place in the outdoors. Outdoor education programs sometimes involve residential or journey-based experiences in which students participate in a variety of adventurous challenges in the form of outdoor activities such as hiking,...
centres, based in Scotland, providing outdoor instruction and residential facilities, staffed by committed Christians.
Abernethy was established in 1971 when the Walker family donated their 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) estate and buildings at Nethybridge. About 10 years later Miss Mary Currie, owner of the Hamilton Arms Hotel on the Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
, gifted her property to be used as a Christian Centre resulting in the birth of the Arran Outdoor Centre. In 1984 the Trust accepted the gift of Brae Lodge at Loch Tay from Mr and Mrs Barratt, which ran under the Abernethy banner as the Ardeonaig Outdoor Centre. The fourth centre to come under Abernethy was the Ardgour Outdoor Centre on the Kilmalieu Estate, across the loch from Fort William
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
. In 1997 this centre became the home of the Abernethy Trust School of Adventure Leadership. The last centre to be added to the new corporate image of the 'Abernethy Trust' (1996) was Barcaple Outdoor Centre. This Centre was already operating as a Christian outdoor centre, independent from the Abernethy Trust, but they approached Abernethy asking if they could merge their ministry in Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
with the Abernethy Trust. This officially happened on 1 January 2001. Around the same time it became apparent that the Arran Centre had reached the end of its effective period of service and the property was sold off and the proceeds used to support the other centres.
Abernethy caters to a wide range of people including: primary schools booking a lot of the week slots; youth groups both Christian and not booking weekend breaks; family weeks in the summer and winter; youth camps throughout the year; student expeditions; people looking for qualifications in outdoor adventure; and university groups.
The activities provided (although not at every centre) include:
kayaking, canoeing, climbing, archery, skiing, snowboarding, coasteering, assault courses, high ropes course, hill walking and gorge walks
Each centre also boasts various facilities (not at every centre) tennis court, swimming pool, squash court, games hall, dry ski slope, indoor climbing wall, games room and a theatre lounge - complete with fully equipped AV Room
The four Abernethy adventure centres are located at:
- Nethybridge, a forest village in Inverness-shire, close to Loch MorlichLoch MorlichLoch Morlich is a freshwater loch in the Badenoch and Strathspey area of Highland, Scotland near Aviemore. The loch is home to a watersports center with kayaking, sailing and windsurfing among the activities available. There is also a yacht club and cycling routes around the loch...
and the River Spey - ArdeonaigArdeonaigArdeonaig is a hamlet on the southern shore of Loch Tay in the Stirling Council area of Scotland. It is approximately 7 miles east of Killin and lies at the mouth of the Ardeonaig Burn where it enters Loch Tay....
, set on the South bank of Loch TayLoch TayLoch Tay is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perthshire.It is a long narrow loch of around 14 miles long, and typically around 1 to 1½ miles wide, following the line of the valley from the south west to north east...
in Highland Perthshire its amazing - ArdgourArdgourArdgour is a district of Lochaber on Ardnamurchan peninisula on the western shore of Loch Linnhe, in Highland Scotland.The term Ardgour, together with Kingairloch, is applied to a large area of countryside around the village, from the Glensanda Superquarry, Kingairloch and Kilmalieu in the south...
, situated on the shores of Loch LinnheLoch LinnheLoch Linnhe is a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland.... - Barcaple, situated on the edge of the Southern UplandsSouthern UplandsThe Southern Uplands are the southernmost and least populous of mainland Scotland's three major geographic areas . The term is used both to describe the geographical region and to collectively denote the various ranges of hills within this region...
between the SolwaySolway FirthThe Solway Firth is a firth that forms part of the border between England and Scotland, between Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway. It stretches from St Bees Head, just south of Whitehaven in Cumbria, to the Mull of Galloway, on the western end of Dumfries and Galloway. The Isle of Man is also very...
coast and the GallowayGallowayGalloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Kirkcudbrightshire...
hills