dolawen – Dorothy Stringer School

Dolawen - Our outdoor activity centre

Dolawen is situated on a working farm in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. There are stunning views from the front door of the surrounding mountains and the Nant Ffrancon Valley. The centre is self catering and can sleep 24 students easily.

Being in the heart of the mountains it is the ideal base for outdoor activities. Mountain walking, abseiling, canoeing, orienteering, sea cliff traversing, climbing and gorge walking are just a few of the activities that students can enjoy. All activities are run by fully qualified instructors who are usually local people with detailed knowledge of the area.

School Trips

We run numerous school trips to Dolawen. Each trip includes a wide range of activities including: canoeing, climbing, wide games, gorge walking, problem solving and dry slope skiing. The school provides all specialist equipment, all you need to provide are a sleeping bag and some very old clothes which will all get wet and dirty! Fully qualified and experienced staff and instructors will lead all activities.

The Centre

The centre is self catering and has two dormitories. There is a purpose built kitchen and a large communal area for eating. The main centre has two dormitories which can sleep 24 easily, slightly more at a push! Each dorm has its own showers and separate washing and toilet facilities.

Cameras are in communal areas, and images are monitored and recorded for the purposes of crime prevention and public safety. This scheme is controlled by The Stringer Trust.

The Cottage

Dolawen has a separate cottage that can be booked independently, or with the main centre. This has a living room, kitchen and bathroom, and two bedrooms that can sleep 7. The living room has a couple of sofa beds if required, increasing the maximum number of beds.

Getting to Dolawen

Dolawen is just on the border of the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. To view it on a map click here Dolawen Map

From the North: Follow the A55 towards Bangor. At the junction with the A5 turn left towards Betws-Y-Coed. Follow this road through Bethesda for approximately 4 miles. Dolawen is on the right, approximately 200m after the Ogwen Bank Caravan Park. Follow the small lane, take the left fork and cross the bridge.

From the South: Follow the A5 towards Bangor. Approximately 8 miles after Capel Curig turn left into a small lane. Follow the small lane, take the left fork and cross the bridge.

If you reach the Ogwen Bank Caravan Park you have gone too far. Turn around and Dolawen is now on the right, approximately 200m after the Ogwen Bank Caravan Park. Follow the small lane, take the left fork and cross the bridge.

Help us to keep Dolawen running

If you are able to help us keep Dolawen as a place for our students and others to enjoy, then please consider making a donation to support the work of this charitable trust. Anything you are able to give would help our current project at Dolawen, which is to replace the roof.

If you’d like to make a regular donation or a one-off payment, you can do so by downloading and completing this Dolawen Gift Aid form and returning it to [email protected] FAO Sarah Norris. Alternatively, you can donate via the PayPal link below.