GOLD DofE Residentials
A 'Residential' for Gold Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award is a 5-day, 4-night programme where you do activities with new people, away from home. Your residential can have any focus or include any activities that you wish, as long as it meets the above criteria.
Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) offers DofE Gold programmes at three Surrey locations:
● Thames Young Mariners at Richmond Upon Thames
● Henley Fort at Guildford
● High Ashurst near Dorking
Upcoming Residentials
Monday 19th - Friday 23rd October 2026
Multi-Activity Residential: Try out different outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, canoeing and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our yurt accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: Henley Fort, Guildford, GU2 4RH
Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
Traditional Arts and Crafts with Outdoor Activities: Includes a variety of arts and crafts such as candle making, quilling, creating pamper products, and designing seasonal table decorations. Alongside the creative activities, participants will also take part in outdoor challenges such as high ropes and team-building courses, encouraging physical activity, resilience and cooperation. You will be staying in our cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ
Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
Multi Activity: Our multi-activity residential lets you try out land based outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, ropes courses and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ
Monday 26th - Friday 30th October 2026
Cooking and outdoor activities: Develop your cooking skills while enjoying exciting outdoor activities in this fun and practical residential experience. Over five days, you'll learn essential cooking techniques, including kitchen knife skills, preparing vegetables and salads, making basic sauces, and planning and cooking healthy, nutritious meals. You'll also achieve a Level 1 Food Hygiene Certificate. To balance time in the kitchen, you'll take part in a variety of outdoor adventure activities each day, designed to build confidence, teamwork, and communication skills. During your stay, you'll enjoy the unique experience of sleeping in a bell tent with beds, making this a memorable week of learning, adventure, and new friendships.
📍Location: Thames Young Mariners, Riverside Drive, Ham, TW10 7RX
Friday 6th - Sunday 8th and Friday 27th - Sunday 29th November 2026
2 weekends Multi Activity: Our multi-activity residential lets you try out land based outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, ropes courses and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ
Friday 18th - Tuesday 22nd December 2026
Christmas Residential: Get in the holiday spirit with seasonal crafts and activities which could include, making tree baubles with foraged objects, candle making, preparing and cooking Christmas dinner, baking, gingerbread house decorating and festive outdoor activities. All crafts made you will be able to take home to enjoy after the residential. You will be staying in cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th February and Friday 5th – Sunday 7th March 2027
2 Weekends Multi Activity: Try out different outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, canoeing and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our yurt accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: Henley Fort, Guildford, GU2 4RH
Monday 15th – Friday 19th February 2027
Cooking and Outdoor Activities: Expand culinary skills and adapt to different outdoor and indoor kitchen spaces and group sizes, crucial for future cooking endeavours. Each day, you'll also participate in an outdoor activity designed to foster team building and give you a refreshing break from the kitchen. Activities may include a challenge course (low ropes), archery, orienteering, climbing, and woodland skills. You will be staying in our Yurt accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: Henley Fort, Guildford, GU2 4RH
Monday 15th – Friday 19th February 2027
Multi Activity: Our multi-activity residential lets you try out land based outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, ropes courses and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ
Tuesday 30th March - Saturday 3rd April 2027
Multi Activity: Our multi-activity residential lets you try out land based outdoor activities including archery, climbing, orienteering, woodland skills, ropes courses and practical team tasks. You will be staying in our cabin accommodation during your residential.
📍Location: High Ashurst, Mickleham, Dorking, RH5 6DQ