In 1963 Northampton Borough Council bought The New Inn in the village of Longtown, which is high on the side of the Black Mountains on the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Inn had supplied the needs of locals, travellers and sporting parties who came to shoot grouse on the mountains. It was used as the Court House for regular quarter sessions.
The old police house still exists across the road, with its holding cell and there are grizzly tales of executions on the nearby village green.
Longtown Youth Adventure Centre was formally opened in 1964 by John Hunt. He had led the successful 1953 expedition which first climbed Mount Everest.
Sir John - later Lord Hunt - was keen to challenge young people to aim high and achieve great things in the outdoors. He and HRH Prince Phillip together devised the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. Lord Hunt was an enthusiastic supporter of Longtown until his death in 1998.
Northamptonshire County Council took responsibility for the centre during the early 1970's and developments in education generated a name change, to - Longtown Outdoor Education Centre.