Residential accommodation and facilities on Loch Goil.

We believe in being straightforward about our accommodation. Ardroy is a working outdoor education centre, not a hotel, and our buildings reflect that. What we can guarantee is that accommodation is clean, warm, well-supervised and set in one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Scotland.

We are actively investing in improving our facilities. This page gives you an honest picture of what to expect.

Where will your group sleep?

Residential groups are accommodated across three separate units, each with its own character and arrangement.

Buzzard

Buzzard occupies the upper floors of the main house and is the largest of the three accommodation units. Dormitory-style rooms sleep small groups in bunk beds. The rooms are comfortable and well-maintained, with views across the loch on the upper floors. Buzzard is typically used for the main group.

Eagle

Eagle is on the lower floors of the main house, adjacent to the main communal areas. Dormitory rooms with bunk beds, sharing facilities with Buzzard. Convenient location within the main building.

Heron

Heron is in the building adjacent to the main house and has its own entrance. It is older in character, and some groups find it more basic than the main house units. We are transparent about this: the Heron block is functional and well-maintained but not modern, and we are actively working on improvements to the building. We will always discuss accommodation allocation with schools and groups before the visit and take your priorities into account.

Staff and leader rooms

Teachers and group leaders are accommodated in smaller single or twin rooms within the main house. These rooms are separate from the group accommodation and provide appropriate privacy for visiting staff.

Overnight supervision

All residential groups have 24-hour staff cover throughout their stay. A duty member of staff is always available overnight. There is a teacher’s dorm on every floor, backed up by a member of Ardroy staff who sleeps in the centre and is available during the night if required.

Note: A floor plan of the accommodation is available to download here.

The food at Ardroy is one of the things people remember

All residential visits are full board: a hot breakfast each morning, a packed lunch for the outdoor day, a freshly cooked hot evening meal and a supper before bed. Our kitchen team prepares food fresh daily using quality ingredients, and the standard of catering is consistently one of the most praised elements of our post-visit feedback.

We are particularly proud of the evening meals. After a full day outdoors, a hot, well-cooked meal eaten together is an important part of what makes a residential feel like a community. Several visiting teachers have asked our kitchen team for recipes. We consider that a significant compliment.

Dietary requirements

We cater for all dietary requirements, including vegetarian, vegan, halal and kosher. We are experienced in managing food allergies, including severe allergies requiring careful cross-contamination management. Please provide full dietary information for all participants when completing your pre-visit forms and flag any serious allergies explicitly so we can plan the appropriate protocols.

The Waste-Watchers programme

Each mealtime includes our Waste-Watchers activity, where groups weigh food waste and work to reduce it across the week. It is a simple but effective way of developing awareness of food waste and connecting the Ardroy experience to wider environmental education. It also, in our experience, tends to make children eat more.

Spaces to meet, eat and gather.

Dining room

The main dining room seats all residential guests and is the hub of daily life at Ardroy. Meals are eaten together, which for school groups means the whole class shares the table. This communal experience is part of what makes the residential feel different from daily school life, and it is often where some of the best conversations of the week happen.

Common room and social space

A common room is available for groups in the evening for games, activities and social time. The space is used as part of the evening programme and for informal group time.

Meeting rooms and classrooms

We have meeting rooms and classroom space available for groups that need presentation or workshop facilities. Several rooms have data projectors. This space is used by school groups for evening programme sessions, by adult groups for planning or study weekends, and by organisations running hybrid activity-and-learning programmes.

Outdoor spaces

The grounds at Ardroy include outdoor gathering spaces and a fire pit area used for campfire sessions. The loch is visible from most outdoor areas of the site.

The practical things.

Showers and bathrooms

Shower and bathroom facilities are shared within each accommodation unit. We ensure facilities are clean and available at appropriate times each day. We are aware that shower facilities, particularly in Heron, are not always as modern as visitors might prefer, and this is part of the improvement programme we are working through.

Drying room

A dedicated drying room is available for the wet outdoor kit, which at Loch Goil is a practical necessity. Kit brought in at the end of the day is usually dry by the following morning.

Kit storage

Storage space for group kit and luggage is available throughout the centre. Groups are allocated storage appropriate to their size on arrival.

WiFi

WiFi is available throughout the centre. For school groups, access for participants is typically managed by the accompanying teachers and discussed as part of the pre-visit planning. Most groups find that limited device use is part of what makes the week work.

First aid room

A dedicated first aid room is available at the centre, staffed by qualified first aiders throughout every residential visit.

How do we look after this place?

Ardroy sits in one of the most ecologically significant landscapes in Scotland. Looking after it is not optional. We have operated as an eco-centre since our early years, and that commitment runs through everything from how we heat the buildings to how we manage food waste.

Since 2018, all heating and hot water at the centre has been supplied by a biomass boiler, burning sustainably sourced wood rather than fossil fuels. We recycle paper, cardboard, cans and plastics. We compost all vegetable food waste. We use biodiesel in our minibuses and minimise unnecessary journeys.

At the end of each school residential week, the group receives seeds for wildflowers to take back and plant at their school, a small contribution to offsetting the carbon of the coach journey and a tangible connection to what they have learned about the environment during the week.

We work in active partnership with Cormonachan Community Woodland, contributing to its management and conservation, and we host regular visits from conservation volunteers from Fife and the Friends of Loch Lomond and Trossachs, who give their time to maintain the woodland.

Accommodation and Facilities FAQs

Are there individual rooms or only dormitories?

Residential participants sleep in dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds. Teachers and group leaders are accommodated in smaller single or twin rooms.

Can you accommodate wheelchair users?

We have ground-floor accommodation available for participants with mobility needs. The site has a significant gradient, and our current facilities have accessibility limitations. Please speak to us directly about your specific requirements so we can plan honestly with you about what is and is not currently possible. We are working towards improved accessibility.

Is there a laundry facility?

We do not have a laundry facility available to visiting groups. We recommend packing sufficient clothing for the duration of the visit, plus spares. Our drying room is available for the wet kit each evening.

Can we see the accommodation before we book?

Yes. We encourage school leaders and group organisers to visit before booking. Contact us to arrange a suitable time.

Is there a tuck shop or a place to buy snacks?

We do not have a tuck shop. All meals and snacks are included in the residential package. Please ensure participants are not bringing excessive amounts of their own food or sweets, as this is best managed in advance by the school or group leader.