Here we will try to answer all the questions we often get asked when preparing for this field course.

What is the cost of the field course?

At the moment, the field course is covered by your tuition fees and there are no additional costs associated with taking the field course.

This includes all your meals from the evening meal on Day 1 to lunch on Day 9, inclusive; i.e. you will need to bring your lunch for Day 0 with you (while we are travelling to Dale Fort) and we hope to have you back in Leeds in time for your evening meal on Day 9 – all other meals are included (see questions about bringing a lunch box and having mainly vegetarian meals below). A sample menu is on the Menus page.

You should also check the recommended kit list and make sure you bring those items with you too.

Are there any shops at/near Dale Fort?

The short answer: no. You should bring everything you want for the week with you, including snacks and medicines.

Technically, there is a shop in Dale village, but it is only open seasonally, and never when we have been there. So we don’t know whether it stocks surf boards or sandwiches, and it will probably be closed for at least most if not all of the time we are there.

The field centre does have a tuck-shop where you can buy a few snacks or drinks, but it is not open for most of the day. The field centre does operate a bar, and you can pay by cash or open a tab using a card.

Is there a cash point at/near Dale Fort?

No. The Field Centre will let you open a tab at the bar by taking your card details on arrival. You must settle the bill before leaving. Otherwise, bring all the cash you need for the week.

Can I choose who to share a room with?

Dale Fort has dormitory style accommodation with rooms for 3 to 10+ people in single or bunk beds. Rooms and toilets/showers will be separated by gender, with some gender neutral bathroom facilities also available.

We will do our best to bring a sign-up sheet to the compulsory pre-course briefing (usually held on the Tuesday of week 0) so that you can choose which room to sleep in, but this depends on the field centre having prepared and allocated us the rooms already, and on how busy week 0 is for our teaching staff, so we cannot guarantee to be able to do this. Please be aware that we may need to assign your rooms for you and please talk to us if you have any questions or concerns about who you share your room with.

How big should my luggage be?

For your luggage, you can bring a large bag. We will be traveling by coach with a luggage hold for bags, and there is not normally any trouble with you bringing a large case: we will be away for several days after all!

For day-to-day activities, please bring a good sized backpack (25-35 litres should be enough). You will need to carry equipment; your lunch, snacks and water to drink; and any spare clothes or extra layers you want to take out with you.

You said we need to bring a lunchbox and water bottle…?

Yes! Every day you’ll need to make your own packed lunch. The field centre provide the facilities and food, but they do not wrap the sandwiches or give you anything to put them in. So think about how you want your lunch to be stored, the size of the box to hold (together!) your sandwiches, and maybe bring a few sandwich bags as well, just in case. You can buy a large lunch box from the kitchen or bar at Dale Fort for a few £s, though students often find that their sandwiches rattle around a bit in these. You will also need to bring your own bottle to fill up with water from the drinking water taps at the field centre.

Why is the catering mostly vegetarian?

This is the best balance we could strike between what our students want and need, and our commitment to reducing our environmental impact (supporting the University of Leeds’ campus wide efforts in sustainability and pledge to become carbon net zero). The evening meal on two days a week will have meat options, and the packed-lunches will also have meat options. Please be advised that everything else will be vegetarian.

What is it actually like at Dale Fort?

Take a look at the FSC’s dedicated webpages on Dale Fort, there’s even a virtual tour of the facilities and a short aerial video showing you the field centre and the local area we will be working in: https://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/dalefort/

You can also check out our Gallery pages for photos from previous field courses, this shows the kinds of activities you’ll be doing and in what settings – useful when thinking about what clothes/footwear to bring.

Will we be outside mostly during the field course?

It’s quite a mix. There will be lots of outdoor time whatever the weather (so bring appropriate clothing), but note we will also be spending time learning in the classrooms at Dale Fort, and there is a student lounge for you to relax in at the end of the day.

The field centre can lend you a waterproof coat and waterproof trousers as well as wellies, but do bring plenty of warm layers for working inside and out.

When will I be able to use the toilet?

Travelling to/from Dale Fort: we have requested coaches with toilets, but they may not be available. We have asked the drivers to stop every ~2 hours. If you have any concerns about needing the toilet while travelling, please talk to the staff leading the main party when you arrive to get on the coaches; we can adjust the travel plan if needed.

While at Dale Fort: all of our activities are taught on/around the field centre and you can use the toilets whenever you need. You may choose to walk further away from the field centre, in which case you may return to use the facilities, or you can use a buddy system for relieving yourself in remote localities: tell the group you need a break, take a buddy or two to keep watch & find somewhere discreet (bring bags for period products, hand sanitiser and toilet paper).

There is a handy resource about toilet stops in the field, here: https://above.nasa.gov/safety/documents/ToiletsAndFieldTrips.pdf
and we will be doing our best to adhere to best practices.

Please do not limit fluid intake because you are worried about using the toilet – we can help you manage if you need us to, come and talk to the field course staff.

Please talk to staff if you have any worries at all about this topic.

What if it’s my period during the field course?

[Please also read the topic above on toilet stops.]
Lots of people have their periods while on field work, this is absolutely something you can manage, and that we can help you manage if you need. You may want to investigate period products such as Diva Cups or Wuka/Thinx. However, it is also okay to just use your normal products – you can return to the toilet whenever you need. Or, if you choose to be further away in the field during the day and do not want to have to return for the toilet, use a ‘buddy’ system, as described in the note above on toilet stops. If doing this, please ensure you bring a bag for your used period products, to be disposed of in the bins provided at the field centre, and hand sanitiser.

Staff will have some emergency period products, should you need them, the field centre shop usually also stocks a few toiletries and, when available, staff can drive you to a shop or pharmacy during opening hours if you let us know that you need this.

I have specific medical or mobility needs, who should I discuss these with?

Contact the field course leader* as soon as you can ahead of the field course to discuss any specific needs you have, so that we can make the appropriate accommodations and ensure you get the most out of the field course while staying safe and comfortable. You do not need to do this for dietary needs, which are captured in the faculty medical form (see paragraph below).
*There is a link on the home page, under ‘Contact’.

All participants should have filled out the faculty medical form, which includes dietary needs, allergies and medication. Contact see-fieldtrips if you need the link resending to you. This information is kept in confidence, and must be up to date for us to be able to accommodate any specific needs, including for meals. Please ensure you have filled it out as soon as you can ahead of the field course.

Are there any fees or associated costs for attending the field course?

Currently all costs for field instrumentation, as well as accommodation and meals at the field centre are covered by your tuition fees. You will not need to pay any additional cost or fee for attending the field course. You will need to bring/purchase food and drink for our journeys between Leeds and Dale Fort.