About
We believe time in the outdoors changes people.
The story
Family-run since 2001.
Still the same people.
Aquila Outdoor Adventures started in 2001 as a small navigation instruction business on Dartmoor, run by a family with deep roots in the Devon outdoors. Over 24 years it has grown into one of the most trusted outdoor education providers in the South West — without losing the personal character that made it worth trusting in the first place.
We operate from Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast and from Dartmoor Activity Centre near Haytor. Between these two locations we have access to some of the most varied and demanding outdoor terrain in southern England. That terrain specificity matters — our instructors know these environments in every season, in every weather condition, in ways that only come from 24 years of working in one place.
“Being family-run means the person who takes your booking is the same person who cares whether you come back.”
Our instructors are not seasonal hires. The core team has been with us for years — some for over a decade. We work with schools, youth groups, DofE programmes, corporate teams, home educators, and individuals. Every group is different. Every programme is built around the people in it.
The team
Qualified instructors.
Long-term, local knowledge.
James L.
Head of Operations
James has been operating on Dartmoor for 23 years. He designed the majority of our DofE routes, knows the terrain in every season, and leads our advanced navigation courses. His Mountain Leader and NNAS Gold qualifications underpin everything we teach about moving safely in the hills.
Mountain Leader · NNAS Gold · DofE Verifier
Rachel H.
Lead Instructor
Rachel is our specialist in schools and youth group work. As a Rock Climbing Instructor she runs all our climbing and abseiling sessions, and she is particularly experienced in adapting activities for mixed-ability groups — a skill that comes through in every programme she leads.
Rock Climbing Instructor · First Aid at Work
Tom B.
Bushcraft & Survival Specialist
Tom holds qualifications from Bushcraft UK and Wilderness First Aid certification, and has been running our bushcraft and survival programmes since joining the team. He leads all overnight and residential programmes, and knows the woodland environments around both our locations better than anyone.
Bushcraft UK · Wilderness First Aid
Where we operate
Two landscapes.
Known in depth.
Coastal base
Sidmouth, Devon
Our main base on the UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Spectacular cliff scenery, rock formations, and coastal navigation routes that exist nowhere else in southern England.
- Coastal navigation
- Clifftop expedition routes
- Geology and natural history
- Accessible by public transport
Primary location
Dartmoor, Devon
Operating from Dartmoor Activity Centre near Haytor. Open moorland, granite tors, ancient woodland — the most demanding navigation and bushcraft environment in southern England, and the terrain we know best.
- Wild navigation
- Granite climbing crags
- Managed woodland for bushcraft
- DofE expedition routes — Bronze to Gold
- Wild camping permitted
Our instructors hold qualifications from:
NNAS
National Navigation Award Scheme
The UK standard for outdoor navigation. Bronze to Gold.
Mountain Training
Mountain Training UK
The national awarding body for climbing and mountaineering.
DofE
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Licensed Operator — Bronze, Silver, and Gold expeditions.
Insured
Public Liability & Professional Indemnity
£5 million public liability. Certificates on request.
Get in touch
Ready to plan a visit?
Tell us about your group. We'll put together a programme that fits.