General information about Activity Weekends

For dates for Activity Weekends 2026, click here.

The KSA have held Activity Weekends at the Ron Beddoes outdoor centre at Dukes Barn at Beeley in Derbyshire since 2001.

Dukes Barn provides a safe, adventurous environment in which people of all ages and abilities can experience exciting activities.

You can  learn new skills, develop an awareness of the needs of others and gain a wider appreciation of the natural environment.

You can also have great fun!

Some of the activities you might try
  • Hill walking
  • Stream walking
  • Rock hopping and scrambling
  • Abseiling
  • Rock climbing
  • Orienteering
  • Caving
  • Canoeing
  • Ropes course
  • Archery
  • Bike riding
Less energetic activities!
If you don’t fancy these energetic activities there are plenty of alternatives. Dukes Barn is situated in the beautiful village of Beeley, on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate and is in an ideal location for short riverside walks. For the less active there are many places of interest nearby – Chatsworth House, Haddon Hall and Bakewell, for example. At the center there is a games room with pool table, table tennis, table football and TV/DVD if required – or some comfy chairs or a courtyard where you can relax with a book.

The accommodation at Dukes Barn caters for a maximum of 46 people in bedrooms and dormitories although the numbers are limited to some extent by the age/gender makeup of each group.

The concept of Dukes Barn is that it is an ‘outdoor classroom’ where participants can not only learn new skills, but learn about themselves and have fun in the process! To quote their website:

“Above all, we help people identify and meet their own personal challenges. Enabling people to overcome their difficulties and generate self-confidence is our major goal. We are always careful to ensure that the challenge is big enough to conquer, but not unrealistic. We provide an environment where people can develop at their own appropriate pace”.

This is the perfect opportunity for anyone affected by KS to meet others – adults, parents, siblings and young adults mingle and chat, learning and teaching each other about the challenges KS can present.

An Adult View of an Activity Weekend
An Family View of an Activity Weekend

For more information or a booking form email: ActivityWeekends@ksa-uk.net.

 

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