Last week as part of activities week, 27 pupils completed their DofE Gold assessed expedition in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. This group of students have been working all year on the 5 elements that make up the DofE gold award; Physical activity, skills, volunteering, residential and expedition. 

They then had some training for expedition in school, and then on a rainy weekend down in Dartmoor back in April. This expedition to the Brecon Beacons was the opposite, it was a heatwave, with temperatures reaching to 30C. Day one saw the pupils head out of Hay on Wye and head up to the mountains, going over Twmpa mountain at 690m. Thankfully it was cooler in the hills despite the lack of shade. That evening the campsite was cool and shady, with the chance to cool off by a stream. 

To escape the heat the groups set off early the next day, before 6AM, and took routes along the valley and up on to the Offas Dyke Ridge that separates England and Wales. These routes took them down to camp by Llanthony Priory, a 12 Century priory. All groups were out of the sun and making the most of the shade at the campsite by 3PM.

Day three saw the groups take on the longest day, around 24KM, heading up on to the ridge and the highpoint of the expedition at Rhos Dirion (713m). There were multiple water top up spots as the groups completed their own navigation and worked on their project along the way. All of the pupils were glad to get down to the sanctuary of the campsite that evening. 

The fourth day of the trip was a loop from Newcourt farm campsite on the foothills of the Brecons, before the groups cleaned their tents and trangias and headed home. Not before stopping for a well earned feast at KFC on the way back.

Well done to all of the pupils who passed this element of their DofE award, they coped with challenging conditions and weather.