Gordonstoun: where education meets adventure

Ocean

Gordonstoun’s founder, Dr Kurt Hahn, described the Moray Firth as his ‘best school master’, and to this day, our proximity to the coast provides our students with unique opportunities to learn outside the classroom. With sailing, paddle boarding, and surfing to name a few, at Gordonstoun students have access to a wide variety of watersports, all on their doorstep.

Mountains

Nestled at the foot of the Cairngorms, at Gordonstoun there are opportunities to explore some of the finest mountains in the UK, all year round. In summer students undertake expeditions, learning life skills like decision making and teamwork, whilst immersing themselves in the Scottish landscape. In winter the fun doesn’t stop, with snowsport opportunities including skiing, snowboarding and snow holing, only a short drive away.

Nature

The rich and varied landscape around Gordonstoun plays host to some of our countries rarest wildlife from the mountains to the sea with red squirrels, leaping salmon, golden eagles, and even dolphins to spot playing in the Moray Firth - if you’re lucky! There’s no better place to develop a love of the natural world. Our school even has a student-lead conservation group.

Geology

At Gordonstoun learning doesn’t stay within the walls of the classroom. Students see Geography lessons brought to life with access to some of the UK’s finest geography within a short walk from campus. Recent field trips have taken students to discover caves at Cummingston, cliff formations at Covesea, and coastal erosion at Findhorn - all on our doorstep.

Sunshine

Moray experiences over 1200 hours of sunshine a year, making it one of the sunniest places in the UK. We also have some of the UK’s longest days in summer! More sunshine means more time for adventure, so it’s no surprise that Gordonstoun has an outstanding Outdoor Education programme offering everything from rock climbing on Moray’s sea cliffs and mountain crags, to building shelters in its beautiful forests or hurtling down a river in a whitewater raft.

Culture

Students at Gordonstoun can discover the rich culture of Scotland, with opportunities to try reeling (Scottish country dancing), join the school pipe band, and experience an authentic Burns’ Night supper to name a few. Gordonstoun piping students have had the opportunity to play at competitions across the country, and in 2023 were even given the honour of piping the King and Queen into St Giles’ Cathedral for the dedication and presentation of the Scottish crown jewels.

To embark on an educational adventure like no other, get in touch, or join us at our next Virtual Taste of Gordonstoun Webinar.