Scott Gillan, the outdoor campaigner known online as @geordieramblers, has described the closure of High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre in the Lake District as a 'disgraceful' decision that harms working-class children.
Closure announced for November 2026
North Tyneside Council confirmed the centre will close at the end of November 2026. The council cited a £3 million infrastructure bill and falling attendance as reasons. Gillan said the centre could serve over 9,000 pupils a year and argued that instead of investing, the council is 'shutting the door on it'.
Campaigner's perspective
Gillan, who founded the community interest company Tyne to Summit to increase outdoor accessibility, recently spoke to MPs at Westminster. He said he 'couldn't let the day pass without talking about High Borrans'. He added that 'schools and councils need to stop treating outdoor education as a "nice to have" that gets cut first when budgets are tight'.
Rebecca Wall, director of children’s services at North Tyneside Council, said: 'The Council has taken the difficult decision to close High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre following a detailed review of its usage, costs and long-term sustainability. We know how valued the centre is and the important role it has played for many years. However, like councils across the country, we are facing significant financial pressures. The level of investment required to maintain and modernise the centre, alongside the ongoing subsidy needed to support each visit, means it is no longer financially viable.'
Impact on young people
Gillan stressed that outdoor experiences are not a luxury, but 'often a working-class kid's only chance at that experience'. He argued that cutting such centres moves the cost 'onto that kid's future'. He also highlighted the mental health benefits, saying 'problems become smaller on top of a mountain', especially amid the looming under-16s social media ban.
