Earn Gold. Build Confidence.
RAW Adventures’ Gold Residential programmes provide immersive, skill‑building weeks nestled in the wild landscapes of Scotland. These residentials are designed to go beyond the typical “stay and learn” model - each is a compact but intense opportunity to gain nationally accredited mountain or rock skills, step outside your comfort zone, and form friendships through shared challenges.
What an incredible team! Definitely recommend booking with RAW Adventures. The team were lovely and so welcoming. Definitely will not forget the experience.
Cameron, DofE Rock Climbing Residential
Over the course of five full activity days (plus journeys, evenings, and one or more expedition days, depending on the programme), participants have everything taken care of: food, accommodation, in‑week transport, and registration fees are included. The groups are kept intentionally small (maximum six participants), allowing for high instructor contact, personalised mentoring, and deeper learning.
RAW currently offers three distinct residentials under the Gold Award umbrella:
Winter Mountain Skills Residential
Bringing you into harsher conditions, teaching winter walking techniques, snow and ice awareness, and strategies for navigating changing mountain environments through the winter season.
Mountain Adventures Residential
Integrates the Mountain Skills course and a Rock Skills Introduction, culminating in a 2‑day/1‑night journey in remote Snowdonia terrain putting all your mountain skills into practice: a true personal adventure.
Rock Climbing Residential
Designed for those with some climbing experience, focusing on the Rock Skills Intermediate syllabus, exposure to varied climbing environments, and adventure activities to round out the week.
Each of these options gives you more than just the hours you need to qualify - you’ll come out the other side with stronger competence, confidence, and a deeper engagement with the mountain environment. Whether you’re stepping into winter terrain for the first time or pushing your climbing to the next level, RAW’s Gold Residentials offer a structured, supportive, and inspiring pathway to completing your Gold Award.
If you're looking for Open Gold DofE Expeditions, view our dedicated section.
Winter Mountain Skills Residential Details
Walking in the mountains in winter can offer the most rewarding of days and a sense of achievement in potentially more challenging conditions. Being able to cope with a constantly changing environment when snowfall changes the most familiar of locations, brings a whole new world of walking to the summer hill-goer.
We can help by introducing new winter skills and techniques to build upon your current summer mountain walking experience. We will include all key principles in our planning and help you understand what to think about before a challenging day out in the UK winter mountains.
This unique Winter Mountain Skills Residential, will give you the confidence to take yourself on a mountain adventure anywhere in the UK, with skills to increase your personal safety and maximise enjoyment!
The cost of the residential includes all food, accommodation, transport during the week and registration fees.
I had a great week. Jen was a fab instructor and was so supportive all week even when I felt out of my comfort zone.
Emily
Mountain Adventures Residential Details
Including Mountain Skills and Rock Skills Introduction Course
This Gold DofE residential is designed for anyone who loves the mountain environment. Whether you’re already enjoying time in the hills, or if heading out into the mountains is fairly new to you, come and join us for a week of learning and fun!
This special residential week will consist of 5 activity days, with all food, accommodation, Mountain Training registration fees and transport during the week included. With a maximum of 6 participants in each group, you’ll receive a wealth of experience to help you on your way to completing your Mountain Skills course – a 2 day nationally recognised personal skills scheme run by Mountain Training.
We’ll also complete a 1 day Rock Skills Introduction course, before finishing the week with a 2 day/1 night journey into some more remote parts of Snowdonia, putting all your mountain skills into practice: a true personal adventure.
This unique Mountain Adventures Residential will give you the confidence to take yourself on a mountain adventure anywhere in the UK, with skills to increase your personal safety and maximise enjoyment.
The cost of the residential includes all food, accommodation, registration fees and transport during the week.
Thank you for giving my son such a great experience. When I met him at the station he was buzzing from his time with you in Wales.
Parent, Mountain Adventures DofE Residential
Rock Climbing Residential Details
Including Rock Skills Intermediate Course
This intensive week of training and instruction is intended for those who have a little climbing experience and are keen to learn more. Whether you’ve climbed indoors or outside before, as long as you can belay safely, this exciting residential is for you! We will maximise your learning by keeping your activity groups small, giving you plenty of contact with your climbing instructor.
What an incredible team! Definitely recommend booking with RAW Adventures. The team were lovely and so welcoming. Definitely will not forget the experience.
Cameron, DofE Rock Climbing Residential
During the week we’ll complete the Rock Skills Intermediate course - a nationally recognised personal skills scheme run by Mountain Training. Our aim is to enable you to enjoy rock climbing under your own steam at a suitable crag, using traditional protection. We’ll add in a day of other adventures, which will introduce you to other climbing-related activities, before returning back to rock climbing, perhaps for a taste of sea-cliff climbing (depending on weather, tides, etc).
Finally, we’ll spend the last day looking at personal development and how to move forward with your personal rock climbing skills in the future.
The cost of the residential includes all food, accommodation, registration fees and transport during the week.
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