On Wednesday 26 June, 15 Lower Sixth students set off to North Wales in school minibuses to do their Gold Duke of Edinburgh final expedition. The weather was lovely; they packed their bags, did their food shopping, and arrived in Betws-y-Coed in plenty of time to get some rest before setting out the following morning.
The students split into 3 expedition groups, made up of experienced walkers and some direct entrants (those who had previously not done their Bronze or Silver awards). The routes were over a variety of different terrains with Saturday taking in Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa). Students stayed at a new campsite each night so had plenty of practice putting up and packing away their tents and kit.
Despite the weather being nice here in Somerset, the weather in Snowdonia was a different matter – the heavens opened up on several occasions which tested their resilience, as by this point, most students realised that their waterproofs were not as good as they thought!
The groups' progress was followed through small GPS devices that they kept in their bags which were linked to a simple app and map on our phones. It gave us all peace of mind and the ability to catch up with them sooner had they got lost or needed assistance in an emergency.
The students and staff returned home on Sunday evening for some well-deserved rest after successfully completing the expedition. Walking into the DofE store on Monday morning to a damp smell and kit hung everywhere is the sign of a good trip!
One of our students, Ollie, said:
Climbing the Devil’s Kitchen route and reaching the summit of Snowdon was incredibly tough but so worth it. Despite the rain and soaked clothes, the breathtaking scenic views and the sense of achievement made it an unforgettable experience.
Thank you to the staff for their time given in the planning, organising, and execution, and a big well done to the students. They now have the next year to complete the rest of their award by finishing off the other units; Physical, Volunteering, Skills, and Residential. We hope to see them all at Buckingham Palace in Spring 2026, receiving their awards.
