Hilston Park
Hilston Park operates a 60-acre outdoor activity and residential venue in the Wye Valley, Wales, delivering school residentials, corporate team-building retreats, and private countryside stays through accommodation, 15+ outdoor activities, and on-site catering.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersNewcastle, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Hilston Park does
Hilston Park is a UK-based outdoor activity centre and residential venue operating from a 60-acre historic estate in the Wye Valley (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), Wales, between the River Wye and the Black Mountains. The estate centres on a Grade II-listed 19th-century Palladian mansion with origins dating to 1293, converted to educational use in 1971. The company operates as a single integrated venue offering accommodation (Manor House sleeping 130+ in dormitory bunk rooms, Courtyard Rooms for 2–6 guests, and a self-contained Gatehouse for 9–12 guests), 15+ staff-led outdoor activities (high ropes, canoeing, paddle boarding, bushcraft, climbing, orienteering, raft building, night hikes), and on-site catering with an international menu accommodating halal, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets at no extra cost.
The business serves three customer segments: schools and youth groups (KS2 through Post-16, including SEND-inclusive programmes), which is the primary segment; corporate teams booking exclusive estate hire for team building, leadership retreats, and wellbeing events; and families and private guests booking individual rooms or full-estate exclusive use. Operations are AALA-licensed with DBS-checked, SEN-experienced staff. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct — schools, corporates, and private visitors submit enquiries through website forms, email, or phone, and bookings are confirmed with deposits. Third-party platforms (Booking.com, Airbnb) handle a portion of private accommodation bookings.
The company is registered as HILSTON PARK LIMITED (company number 12944054), a private limited company in England and Wales, with no disclosed funding events, parent company, or institutional investors. Technology stack is minimal: Webflow for the website, Q-Book for bookings, and Web3Forms for enquiry capture. The company employs 51–100 staff and is described in its own materials as a 'charity-run residential centre', though its actual legal form is a private limited company. Revenue is generated through per-stay pricing on accommodation, activities, and catering, bundled into residential packages for groups or per-room/per-night pricing for individual private stays via third-party platforms.
Hilston Park firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hilston Park
- Legal name
- HILSTON PARK LIMITED
- Website
- https://hilstonpark.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Hilston Park operates a 60-acre outdoor activity and residential venue in the Wye Valley, Wales, delivering school residentials, corporate team-building retreats, and private countryside stays through accommodation, 15+ outdoor activities, and on-site catering.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hilston Park industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Activity & Residential Hospitality Services
- NAICS
- Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks) (THAJAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus) (THAMAJAJ), Large Group & Event-Friendly Homes (THAMAAAM)
Keywords
Where Hilston Park is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newcastle
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Hilston Park business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Residential Stays and Accommodation: Hilston Park generates revenue primarily through residential accommodation bookings. Groups book stays at the Manor House, Courtyard Rooms, or Gatehouse. Pricing varies by accommodation type, group size, duration (1 to 7+ nights), and package selected (self-catered or full-board). The Manor House accommodates 130+ guests in dormitory-style bunk rooms. Courtyard Rooms offer private individual rooms. Gatehouse provides self-contained accommodation for smaller groups.
- Outdoor Activity Programmes: Revenue is generated through structured outdoor activity programmes for schools, corporate groups, and private visitors. Activities include high ropes, climbing, canoeing, paddle boarding, bushcraft, orienteering, raft building, and team challenges. Activities are included in booking packages rather than sold as separate add-ons. Pricing depends on group size, length of stay, and programme requirements.
- Corporate Events and Team Building: Corporate groups book exclusive estate hire for team building, leadership retreats, and corporate events. Revenue derives from tailored programmes that may include accommodation, catering, activities, and meeting spaces. Multi-day residential formats are available alongside half-day and full-day options. The estate offers exclusive use for corporate bookings.
- Catering Services: On-site catering is provided as part of residential and event packages. Fresh meals are prepared in-house. The international menu includes options for Halal, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dietary requirements at no additional cost. Both self-catered and full-board arrangements are available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Manor House - Large group residential accommodation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Courtyard Rooms - Private restored accommodation |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Gatehouse - Intimate countryside stay |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Exclusive Use of Manor House |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Room Options - Cosy King, Double Garden View, Large Double Garden View, Family Room |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Hilston Park product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hilston Park operates a residential outdoor activity centre on a 60-acre historic estate in the Wye Valley, Wales. It sells multi-day residential packages combining on-site accommodation (Manor House, Courtyard Rooms, Gatehouse), 15+ staff-led outdoor activities (high ropes, canoeing, bushcraft, climbing, orienteering, raft building), and in-house catering to schools, corporate groups, and private visitors.
Product overview
Hilston Park is an outdoor activity centre and residential venue operating from a 60-acre historic estate in the Wye Valley, Wales. The company offers a portfolio of accommodation products (Manor House, Courtyard Rooms, Gatehouse, and individual room options), an outdoor activities programme (15+ staff-led activities spanning high ropes, water sports, bushcraft, and team challenges), and educational programmes for schools from KS2 through Post-16. It also hosts corporate events and private stays, with all bookings including on-site catering. The offering is structured as a single venue with multiple integrated product lines — accommodation, activities, and catering — rather than a modular software platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Manor House Residential Accommodation Large-scale residential accommodation in the historic 19th-century Palladian Manor House offering bunk-style and private rooms for up to 130+ guests, shared dining hall and common areas, designed for school residentials, large corporate groups, and full-site exclusive-use bookings.
- Courtyard Rooms Accommodation
Quantifiable outcome
- Children leave Hilston Park with measurable gains in self-confidence, problem-solving ability, and capacity to work as part of a team following residential experiences.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hilston Park
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Hilston Park technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hilston Park partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Hilston Park competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rock UK: Rock UK operates outdoor activity centres across the UK providing residential school trips, team building, and adventure experiences. Comparable in serving schools and groups with multi-day residential outdoor activity programmes at dedicated estates.
- Kingswood: Kingswood operates a network of UK outdoor activity centres delivering residential school trips, team building, and adventure programmes. Comparable in serving the same school and youth group segments with multi-day residential packages and structured outdoor activities.
- Stubbers Adventure Centre: Stubbers is a UK outdoor adventure centre offering water sports, climbing, and team activities for school groups, corporate teams, and families. Comparable in offering multi-activity programmes with on-site accommodation options for schools and corporate groups.
- Manor Adventure: Manor Adventure runs residential outdoor activity centres across the UK focused on school trips with on-site accommodation and adventure programming. Directly comparable to Hilston Park in target market (UK schools), product (residential + activities), and operating model.
- The Bushcraft Company: The Bushcraft Company delivers residential bushcraft and outdoor activity experiences for UK primary schools at multiple woodland sites. Comparable to Hilston Park in delivering structured outdoor residentials to school groups with a similar activity-led pedagogical model.
- PGL Travel: PGL is the largest UK provider of outdoor education and adventure activity residentials for schools, offering multi-activity programmes, on-site accommodation, and curriculum-linked learning across multiple centres. Directly comparable to Hilston Park in target customer (UK schools), activity mix, and residential model.
- Caldecotte Xperience: Caldecotte Xperience is a UK outdoor activity centre delivering water sports, climbing, and adventure programmes for school groups and corporate teams. Comparable to Hilston Park in activity mix and school/corporate target segments.
Regional players
- Bluestone National Park Resort: Bluestone is a Welsh short-break resort offering family accommodation, on-site activities, and dining in Pembrokeshire. Comparable in geography (Wales), family/private guest segment, and integrated activity-plus-accommodation model, though at significantly larger scale.
Broad incumbents
- Center Parcs UK: Center Parcs operates large UK forest resorts offering family short breaks with on-site activities, accommodation, and dining. Overlaps with Hilston Park's family/private stay and activity-led offering, but at significantly larger scale and with broader leisure positioning.
- Forest Holidays: Forest Holidays runs UK cabin retreats in forested settings with on-site activities. Comparable to Hilston Park's family/private stay segment and rural estate setting, though with a leisure cabin model rather than heritage manor positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Hilston Park social profiles
Digital presenceHilston Park financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hilston Park leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Hilston Park funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hilston Park M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hilston Park
What does Hilston Park do?
Hilston Park operates a residential outdoor activity centre on a 60-acre historic estate in the Wye Valley, Wales. It sells multi-day residential packages combining on-site accommodation (Manor House, Courtyard Rooms, Gatehouse), 15+ staff-led outdoor activities (high ropes, canoeing, bushcraft, climbing, orienteering, raft building), and in-house catering to schools, corporate groups, and private visitors.
Is Hilston Park a public or private company?
Hilston Park is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hilston Park founded?
Hilston Park was founded in 1971. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Hilston Park based?
Hilston Park is headquartered in Newcastle, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Hilston Park make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Residential Stays and Accommodation is the primary driver. The others are outdoor Activity Programmes, corporate Events and Team Building and catering Services.
Who are Hilston Park's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rock UK, Kingswood, Stubbers Adventure Centre, Manor Adventure, The Bushcraft Company, PGL Travel and Caldecotte Xperience. Bluestone National Park Resort is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Center Parcs UK and Forest Holidays.
Does Hilston Park have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hilston Park.
What industry is Hilston Park in?
Hilston Park's product category is Outdoor Activity & Residential Hospitality Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAEAG, Educational & Edutainment Parks (Science/Discovery/Children’s Parks), with a secondary code of THAMAJAJ, Family & Recreation Campgrounds (Amenities/Activities Focus). Its NAICS code is 71311 and its SIC code is 7000.