For over 40 years, Dunfield House has been bringing together families, friends, schools, churches and other organisations to experience fun, friendship, learning and lasting memories within its beautiful environment.
Accommodating up to 90 guests, the Grade ll listed building stands in 15 acres of gardens and parkland with stunning views of the Border Countryside offering opportunities for children and adults to relax, explore, learn and play together.
Sue, Paul and their team offer a personal service to ensure that a warm, welcoming and well fed environment is always available to enable you to relax and concentrate on running your own programme.
Please take a moment to have a look at what we have to offer and feel free to contact Sue & Paul for further information or to discuss specific requirements.
Archenfield Archery is based in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire.
Run by Mike Barnard, hsi team can bring the exciting sport and spectacle of longbow, compound and recurve archery to your group at Dunfield.
Mike is a fully trained and qualified GNAS instructor who will provide a fun day for all. Suitable for persons aged 8 years and above.
For more information or to contact Mike direct please visit his website on:
Educational residential visits take place either mid week monday to friday or weekends at Dunfield. Bablake Junior School left today after a busy weekend. It was good to meet up with returning staff and to enjoy meeting staff new to the Dunfield experience.
The children visited the Wyre Forest www.wyreforest.co.uk and Offa’s Dyke Centre in Knighton 01547 528753 before arriving in time for evening meal on Friday night. After a meal of jacket potatoes, fillings, salad and sticky toffee pudding the children unpacked, made beds and exploring the grounds before supper.
Saturday was a visit to the small breeds farm in Kington www.owlcentre.com enjoying a talk by the owner, Jay and handling some of the young animals. The children spent saturday afternoon in the Dunfield grounds exploring nature with a mini beast hunt, stream dipping and orienteering whilst having time to play in the grounds and to have a game of football. A roast chicken lunch followed by homemade pizza and chips kept everyone full.
A walk this morning finished off the trip before leaving with a packed lunch to share at Worcester Country Park.
The children were a credit to the school. Our staff enjoyed cooking for them, they ate us out of house and home but it was a pleasure to work with them, there were some very tired young people waving goodbye to us this afternoon. The staff did not stop working the whole weekend.
Over the bank holiday our guests were a family group who visit each year to enjoy each others company, share together, play music and enjoy the facilities and peace at Dunfield.
feedback included:
this is a beautiful house in a lovely setting. The staff are friendly and helpful. We look forward to our family visits. Lal Samworth, Solihull
always a relaxed place to visit. Lovely walks and many historic places to visit nearby. Cynthia Veal. Solihull
we look forward to coming to Dunfield, it is such a treat form adults and children alike Nigel and Catherine, Northhamptonshire
Thank you to all the staff for another enjoyable bank holiday weekend. We look forward to a bumper attendance next Easter…………..Tony
Although the wind was cool we had really good weather over the bank holiday – the rain came at night and those guests on site were able to make the most of the grounds and facilities at Dunfield 
feedback from our evaluation form reads:
…..Fantastic place for our annual reunion, everything you need on site. Paul and Sue very welcoming and so helpful. We will definitely be back………. Fiona Woods and the Brunel Crowd
over 150 young people and teachers have visited this week, we had the following message from Amy who visited with the Solihull school groups – I had a brill time at dunfield. I was in the 10 girl dorm thank you for a good time
we again welcome Solihull schools to Dunfield this week and have a family gathering at the weekend with a special emphasis on playing music together.
self catering
our self catering accommodation is proving very popular, there are still a few weekends free in the summer months and one week.
‘nothing ventured’ publication
for group leaders and teachers planning a residential visit this year we can recommend a new publication by the English Outdoor Council called ‘nothing ventured……balancing risks and benefits in the outdoors’ by Tim Gill. Articles include ‘why does adventure matter?, what are the risks?, legal context, risk benefit assessment.
In conclusion the publication states that…….. education in its broadest sense is not just about delivering a curriculum. It is about giving children the chance to extend their life skills. It is about developing their confidence. It is about fostering their resilience and sense of responsibility.
and let us not forget…………..it is about enjoyment, engagement and excitement of venturing out into the real world, with all its capacity for uncertainty, surprise, stimulation and delight
The full publication can be read at http://www.englishoutdoorcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/Nothing-Ventured.pdf
new to the website
we will shortly be adding a new section to our website for schools on a ‘you book – we plan’ basis to enable you to tell us what you want to achieve out of your residential trip and we will plan the visit for you.
We are looking forward to welcoming schools from Solihull for a music course tomorrow.
An opportunity for children from different schools work together on a chosen musical production, rehearsing the music, drama and dance, and producing sets and costumes, resulting in a performance to parents on the last day.
The school trip also allows plenty of time to enjoy the countryside and leisure facilities which are available. These include walking, treasure hunts, indoor games, swimming and campfire.
Teachers gain valuable experience from working with colleagues, as well as ideas for productions to put on in their own schools.
Familes and friends met together in glorious sunshine this weekend. Time was spent chatting, sharing, playing in the woods and streams making dams and sailing small boats, flying kites and playing games.
Keen ramblers were able to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, being able to see for miles on such a clear weekend.
The following poem was written for the congregation and was shared at the final worship.
A time for celebration for Birmingham to share
‘A branch weekend’ at Dunfield, our first I do declare!
We spread the word and waited for people to commit
and silent prayers were answered – for the list grew bit by bit
So off we went to Dunfield to meet friends – old and new
In this our ‘extra special’ place plus scenary to view.
The folk came up from Kington each day to join our midst
as one by one we mingled, and shyness was dismissed!
For Dunfield has this wodnerous gift of bringing folk together
To meld within its’atmosphere that rests lightly as a feather!
Then when we homeward make our way, refreshed renewed we track
The ’spirit’ this is Dunfield softly echoes ‘Haste ye back!’
The sun is shining, its a beautiful day and we are priviledged to be listening to Stream of Sound, an exciting acappella choir from Stourbridge, in the West Midlands who are guests with us at the moment.
With members ranging from 12 to 25 years old, the choir has a unique sound and a strong following. Stream of Sound’s typical material covers many genres… American ‘shape note’ hymns to African folk songs, Gospel and Jazz to Renaissance madrigals. There’s something to suit every taste and it certainly makes office work much more enjoyable.
They are also enjoying the grounds and self catering facilities at Dunfield with football, volleyball, table tennis and pool to help them unwind after a full days rehearsal.
They are practicing for their next concert, ‘Sing for All’ Birminham Town Hall,7:30pm, Sun 18th April 2010 with Black Voices, Ex Cathedra, and many other choirs.
Just returned from another fantastic weekend with my kids from school!!! Thanks so much Sue, Paul, Barbara and Staff 4 your wonderful hospitality (as always)!!! See you in October!! 29.03.10
Amazing completely amazing 29.03.10
Great time there always sed wanna go agen it is a brill place swimmin pool trampines sheep forest lakes tunnels and a BIG forest love the food and my room!! 28.03.10
dunfield is the best trip everrr. for me an the girls it was the best it was fun we done swimming disco evryting xx 3.10.10
Oh wow! Loved that weekend x 12.02.10
Climbing through that tunnel and hugging tree’s…. They were the days! 11.02.10
omg actual legend; good times, good times 11.02.10
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Sue & Paul Norton
Dunfield House
Kington
Herefordshire
HR5 3NN map
Tel: 01544-230563
Email: info@dunfieldhouse.org.uk
