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Welcome!

Welcome to Plas y Brenin, The National Mountain Sports Centre.

As one of Sport England's three National Centres, Plas y Brenin is based in Snowdonia, North Wales.

Our incredible location allows us to run a year round programme of mountain sports and outdoor activities catering for every level of competence, experience and ability.

Plas y Brenin is managed by The Mountain Training Trust (MTT) on behalf of Sport England. As a registered Charity MTT is committed to ensuring any surplus generated is channelled directly back into mountain sport and providing the best possible opportunities at the most affordable price.
Personal Skills (Land)

Get started or improve your skills on the trails, hills, crags or mountains

Mountain Lifestyle

Adventure Sports

Hillwalking & Navigation

Scrambling & Mountaineering

Rock
Climbing

Alpine Mountaineering

Mountain Biking

Road Cycling

First Aid Courses

Welsh Winter Mountaineering

Scottish Winter Mountaineering

Off Piste Skiing & Ski Touring

Rapid Development Clinics

Staying with us for a four week Rapid Development Clinic and you'll receive coaching and instruction Monday to Friday, leaving you free to either rest or explore the mountains, crags and sea cliffs of North Wales under your own steam at the weekends. (This all-inclusive course includes seven-day-a-week accommodation on-site at Plas y Brenin). With no previous experience necessary this programme is an ideal opportunity for anyone who's always wanted to be a climber or a mountaineer who can devote a month as part of an extended holiday or career break. Find out more
Personal Skills (Water)

Take your first steps or develop your outdoor skills on the lakes, rivers or sea

Adventure Sports

Kayaking

Sea Kayaking

Canoeing

White Water Safety & Rescue

Rapid Development Clinics

Staying with us for a four week Rapid Development Clinic and you'll receive coaching and instruction Monday to Friday, leaving you free to either rest or explore the rivers, lakes and coastal waters of North Wales under your own steam at the weekends. (This all-inclusive course includes seven-day-a-week accommodation on-site at Plas y Brenin). With no previous experience necessary this programme is an ideal opportunity for anyone who's always wanted to be a paddler who can devote a month as part of an extended holiday or career break. Find out more

Free Kayak, Sea Kayak Or Canoe Hire On All Our Paddling Courses

When you come on a canoeing or kayaking course or holiday with us, you can borrow a kayak, canoe, paddle, helmet, spraydeck and any other kit you need free of charge. What's more, you can try out loads of boats to find out what suits you best. We have a huge range of the latest kayaks, sea kayaks and canoes in our fleet and you are welcome to try any of them. Find out more about our kayak and canoe fleet here.
Families

Courses & Holidays For Families, Kids and Parents

Family Adventure Holidays

Young Persons Academy
(12-17 years)

Courses For Outdoor Parents

Taster Days

Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Gold

Bespoke Enquiries

Self Catering Accommodation

Our self catering accommodation units make a great destination for a family holiday in the mountains. Moelwyn and Bryn Engan Cottage both sleep up to 16 people in a warm, clean, comfortable bunkhouse style arrangement. If you'd rather be a little more upmarket Bryn Engan Farmhouse has 12 single, en-suite rooms and every home comfort you could wish for. You can add on activities and catered meals as you desire. Find out more here.
Leadership & Coaching

Courses For Instructors, Coaches and Leaders In The Outdoors

Mountain Leadership

Climbing
Coaching

Mountain Bike Leadership

First Aid Courses

Kayak
Coaching

Canoe
Coaching

Sea Kayak Coaching

W.W. Safety & Rescue

Orienteering Coaching

Expedition Leadership

Duke Of Edinburgh's Award

Bespoke Leadership &
Coaching Courses

Fast Track Instructor Scheme

Every year we are host to a team of committed individuals who have set their hearts on becoming outdoor instructors. Our Fast Track Insturctor trainees spend four months here at The National Mountain Centre learning from experts in every field, leaving us with a new career and a new direction.Think you'd like to join the Fast Track Scheme? Find out more here.
Groups

Breaks & Activities and For Groups

Adventure Experiences

Taster Days

Team Development

Bespoke Enquiries

Accommodation For Groups

Our self catering accommodation units make a highly affordable destination for your group adventures. Moelwyn and Bryn Engan Cottage both sleep up to 16 people in a warm, clean, comfortable bunkhouse style arrangement. If you'd rather move upmarket Bryn Engan Farmhouse has 12 single, en-suite rooms and every home comfort you could wish for. You can add on meals, activities, and conference facilities as you desire. Find out more here.
Resources
Free Advice & Information
Last Minute Deals

Keep an eye on our Packed & Ready page for some amazing last minute deals. Huge Bargains, but you'll need your bags packed because these offers are truly last minuteCheck out the deals

Last minute offers on our self catering accommodation units. Keep an ey eon this page and secure you and your mates a late break bargain deal Check out the deals
Info
General Information & Other Stuff
Last Minute Deals

Keep an eye on our Packed & Ready page for some amazing last minute deals. Huge Bargains, but you'll need your bags packed because these offers are truly last minuteCheck out the deals

Last minute offers on our self catering accommodation units. Keep an eye on this page and secure you and your mates a late break bargain deal Check out the deals

Welcome To Plas y Brenin The National Mountain Sports Centre

Nestled deep in the heart of Snowdonia our location is unrivalled as a destination for adventure activities of all kinds. For almost 60 years Plas y Brenin has been running courses and holidays in outdoor activities, introducing newcomers to the outdoors, helping outdoor enthusiasts improve their outdoor skills and training outdoor instructors.
We run a huge range of holidays, courses and expeditions in a wide range of activities including hill walking, rock climbing, mountaineering, scrambling, mountain biking, road cycling, white water kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing and first aid.
Britain on Foot With comfortable en-suite bedrooms sleeping 80 people to make our individual guests feel at home and three additional self catering cottages designed to make larger groups welcome, we have everything the outdoor enthusiast could hope for.
Add to that the highest standards of instruction, equipment, facilities, and catering and you have the perfect recipe for learning in and enjoying the mountains.
Plas y Brenin is owned by Sport England and managed by The Mountain Training Trust (MTT), a non-profit making charity, set up by Mountain Training and The British Mountaineering Council, specifically to run The National Mountain Centre. MTT is committed to providing first class outdoor training at the most affordable price.

Take a Look At Our Range of Courses, Holidays & Expeditions

Alpine Mountaineering

From an Alpine trek to something more adventurous our range of Alpine courses has it all.

Rock Climbing

Whether you've never climbed before or you're on-sighting E5's, we've got just the course for you.

Rapid Development

If a week just isn't enough, then you can dedicate 4 weeks with our Rapid Development Clinics to developing your skills.

Activity Taster Days

Try some outdoor adventure activity with the kids. Or leave them to enjoy the climbing, canoeing and skiing on their own on an outdoor activity Taster Day

Family Activity Holidays

Make your next family holiday an adventure, a great way to get into the outdoors together.

Hillwalking & Navigation

From simply walking in good company, learning to read a map to bagging all of Snowdonia's 3000 ft peaks.

Scrambling & Mountaineering

Looking to take your hillwalking to the next level? From going further off the beaten track to scrambling some classic rocky ridges.

Canoeing

If you want to try canoeing for the first time or you'd like to develop your solo skills on white water, our coaches make it all possible.

Kayaking

If you want to try kayaking for the first time or to develop your white water technique, we've got the right course for you.

Sea Kayaking

Whether you want to explore sea kayaking for the first time, develop your skills or go on an expedition, there's a course for you.

First Aid Training

Our REC courses offer highly practical, hands on training in first aid and fulfil the first aid element of most outdoor qualifications.

Mountain Biking

Everything from easy trail riding holidays to technical skills courses, we have something for you.

Road Cycling

Why not explore the wonderful mountains of Snowdonia as part of a guided road cycling tour.

Mountain Bike Qualifications

For all those mountain bikers looking to take out groups, check out our range of qualification courses

Mountain Lifestyle

From hillwalking with wine tasting to developing photography skills, these courses offer a weekend that's a little different.

Holidays for Young People

For two weeks each summer we dedicate our centre to courses for young people (12-17), everything from paddling to rock climbing.

Outdoor Parents

Get the skills you need to take your kids paddling, climbing or mountain biking.

Paddle Sport Qualifications

We offer an extensive range of BCU-UKCC course from personal performance award to coaching certificates.

White Water Safety & Rescue

If you're looking for some safety and rescue training check out our BCU and Rescue 3 courses

Mountain Qualifications

Whether your just starting out on the qualifications ladder or almost at the top, we run a full range of training and assessment courses.

Expedition Leadership

All bite-sized courses offering essential training for anyone leading or accompanying expeditions overseas.

Orienteering

From never having held a map and compasses to coaching orienteering, with our range of courses we can take you there.

Adventure Sports

If you fancy trying adventurous sports but aren't sure where to start, then our multi-activity courses are a perfect way to try them out.

Duke of Edinburgh Specials

A range of courses at subsidised rates for Duke of Edinburgh Award Volunteers plus Gold expeditions and residentials.

Last Minute Special Offers

Check these out and pick yourself up a bargain.

Fast Track Instructor Scheme

If your looking to for a career in the outdoors then look no further, whether you're just starting out, re-training or on a career break.

Instructor / Coach Hire

You can hire one of our coaches instructors or guides by the day . Allowing you to enjoy one to one coaching or to split the cost between a group of you, depending on the activity,

Off Piste Skiing

Our off piste ski holidays in the Austrian Alps take you far from the lifts and crowded pistes.

Welsh Winter

Our Welsh Winter programme is great way to take your hillwalking or mountaineering into the winter months.

Scottish Winter

If you're wanting to head out walking in the snow for the first time or to refine your winter climbing skills check out our Scottish programme.

Self Catering Holiday Cottages in Snowdonia Ideal For Groups

Mountain Bike & Road Cycling Weekend Break

discount hillwalking, mountaineering and climbing courses for BMC members

Big Events 2013

We have a long list of Big Events lined up for 2013. Check them all out here:

Find out more

Accommodation For Clubs and Groups In Snowdonia

Climbing Clubs, Cycling Clubs, Canoe Clubs DofE groups or even just a gang of mates? Our handy self catering accommodation units make an ideal base for your adventures.

Find out more