Mr Farrell (DofE Manager)

The Easter holidays saw the 2022 Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition season starting with two expeditions.

Straight from the final bell of Term, 46 students from Years 10 and 11 embarked on their Silver practice or qualifying expedition in the South Downs National Park. Our first night was spent in a local Scout hut where we planned routes; packed and repacked rucksacks and enjoyed chips for supper!

During the weekend, seven expedition teams undertook a three-day expedition on the chalk uplands of the south downs escarpment, visiting places like Devils Dyke and Ditchling Beacon. They followed a route that provided a good challenge to their navigation skills and also took them up and down plenty of hills! They camped two nights in crisp, cold conditions and cooked their meals on a gas stove. All groups worked really well with only a couple of minor “navigation challenges'', before returning to Bedford by train.

This was a new expedition area for us and it really didn’t disappoint with the expedition being held in lovely early spring sunshine. Everyone enjoyed the three days and was rewarded with beautiful views of the countryside.

Our second expedition took place a week later in the Peak District National Park. A slightly smaller affair saw a single group of Gold participants from Year 12 tackle their practice expedition. The weather had turned much cooler and windier with some rain and occasional snow flurries. Our first night was spent just outside Chesterfield with route planning and rucksack packing. After a good night, sleeping indoors, we set off to the Start point of Hayfield, home of the original mass trespass of Kinder Scout 90 years ago which paved the way for increased rural access allowing walkers to enjoy the hills of England.

The first day saw the group walking over Kinder Scout and dropping down into the Hope Valley and their first campsite. Snow, rain and gusty conditions meant that ice had formed on the outside of our tents by 8:00pm making for a chilly night. Day two saw the group keeping to the high ground past Mam Tor and Lose Hill before dropping down into Castleton. The final day had one final uphill leg to get onto the Gritstone edge at Stanage before finishing on the Sheffield road at Burbage, conveniently at an Ice-cream van! The group worked really hard in changeable and challenging conditions and were always upbeat and happy whenever seen.

It was a busy two weeks but a highly rewarding time with lots of students completing their expeditions. Many thanks to all staff who came along to support them.

View photos from the expeditions here.