Experience, Confidence and Community with Remote First Aid
Remote First Aid is proud to offer a unique style of student support designed to build confidence, deepen skills, and create real‑world experience in personal resilience. Our Student Support Weekenders give learners the chance to walk, explore and practise map-reading skills in the heart of Bannua Brycheiniog National Park, all while staying in a comfortable, dormitory‑style cottage that feels like a home‑from‑home supported by our expert outdoor training team, who many of you will have met in your first aid or expedition training courses, who will also stay with you over the weekend.
These weekenders are designed to help our students build independent decision‑making, personal resilience and practical confidence in real outdoor environments — all within a supportive, friendly setting led by instructors who understand the challenges of remote terrain. You will be based near the town of Penderyn and its world-famous Distillery.
Why Our Student Weekenders Are Different
✔ Real‑world learning in a world‑class landscape
Based in the dramatic limestone gorges and cascading falls of South Wales Waterfall Country, students experience terrain that may be new to them, while learning key map-reading skills and personal resilience. From uneven paths to fast‑flowing water, the landscape becomes a living classroom while you learn.
✔ Comfortable, community‑focused accommodation
Students stay in a cosy, dormitory‑style cottage—warm, social and perfectly placed for early starts and long days outdoors. It’s a relaxed base where learners can unwind, share experiences and build confidence together.
✔ Support that continues beyond the course
Our weekenders are part of Remote First Aid’s wider commitment to ongoing student support at the request of our students. Whether you’re preparing for your own weekender in the hills or building towards outdoor leadership qualifications, these weekenders help you develop skills and build friendships with other like-minded students in a relaxed environment.
These weekenders are provided as self-catering, allowing you to choose your own meal plans with full use of the catering-style kitchen.
What to Expect on a Student Support Weekender
Guided Walks Across Waterfall Country
Explore iconic routes through the Brecon Beacons’ southern edge, including woodland trails, river crossings and waterfall viewpoints. These walks are designed to be enjoyable, achievable and rich with learning opportunities.
Scenario‑Based Practice in Real Terrain
Students take part in practical, scenario‑led sessions that reflect the realities of outdoor incidents—communication, teamwork, casualty care and safe decision‑making.
Time to Reflect, Ask Questions and Build Confidence
Evenings in the cottage offer space to review learning, ask questions, and connect with fellow students. It’s a supportive environment where everyone is encouraged to grow at their own pace.
Who These Weekenders Are For
Our Student Support Weekenders are ideal for:
- Anyone aged 16 plus (under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian throughout)
- Students may book family and friends onto these weekenders. There is no formal requirement to hold any first aid qualification to join these events; in fact, we encourage you to support family & friends in developing new skills and new friendships
- Learners wishing to expand their outdoor skills or those heading on an overseas adventure trip this year
- Outdoor leaders, educators and volunteers wanting more hands‑on experience supported by our expert team members
- Anyone who learns best through doing, exploring and practising in real environments
Whether you’re building up to more advanced outdoor first aid skills or simply want to feel more confident outdoors, these weekenders offer a powerful blend of learning, adventure and community.
Why Choose Remote First Aid
Remote First Aid has been delivering inclusive, scenario‑based, outdoor‑ready training for over 45 years. Our approach blends professional standards with a warm, supportive ethos that helps every learner succeed. Our instructor team consists of Mountain & Expedition Leaders, A Doctor who holds the Diploma in Mountain Medicine and all who teach first aid across the UK & Worldwide.
Our Student Support Weekenders reflect our core values:
- Accessible learning for all
- High‑quality instruction grounded in real experience
- Community, confidence and practical skill‑building
- Training that prepares you for real‑world environments
Join Us in South Wales Waterfall Country
If you’re looking for a supportive, enjoyable and confidence‑building way to develop your first aid skills, our Student Support Weekenders offer something truly unique. Walk with us, learn with us, and experience the landscape that shapes so much of our outdoor training.
Typical weekender structure
- Arrive Friday between 7 pm and 9 pm.
- Room allocation
- Meet your instructors, 9 pm Saturday Health & Safety Briefing and activity briefing
- Meet under the boot area at 9 am and depart the centre on foot for the day’s planned walk and activities
- Return to base for 4 pm tea & biscuits, welfare checks feet & minds
- Review the day’s activities in groups 4.15 to 4.45 pm
- Mental Well-being in Adventure Settings 4.45 to 5.30: Self-care plans
- Sunday meet under the boot area at 9.30 am for a consolidation walk from the boot area returning to the centre for 12.30. Lunch outdoors
- 1 pm, everyone assists in cleaning down centre, ready to support the next incoming group.
- Final centre walk-through by the leader team, ensuring no kit is left behind 1.20 pm.
- Group photo call 1.25
- Depart centre 1.30 pm
Activity Structure
Students will learn about clothing and equipment for a safe day in the hills and valleys while trekking on foot, what first aid equipment to carry, and how to signal or call for help, while using a map & compass to navigate under the direction of your instructors. There will also be several opportunities to put your first aid skills to use in simulated scenarios. On Sunday, students will have the opportunity to lead short navigation legs if they wish.
Spaces are limited, and weekends fill quickly—especially during spring and autumn.
Your place on the weekender is just £95 per person, fully inclusive.
We also offer this package as weekday events to organisations seeking a structured team building event that can be developed as one, two or three night training packages.
Find out more or register your interest today.