LVI Students Conquer Brecon Beacons on Gold Duke of Edinburgh Expedition
Published by St Mary's Calne on Monday 30th of June 2025
Fifteen students from the LVI took part in the expedition element of their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award in the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) last week. Arriving on the Monday they spent the first afternoon checking kit, pitching tents and route planning with our providers H5 Adventure.
After a carb heavy supper they then set off on Tuesday morning for a 4 day self sufficient hike. Covering between 12 and 18km a day, navigating through an unfamiliar landscape with lots of ascent and carrying all their tents, stoves, clothes and food makes it a challenging experience. During the walk each team also has to complete a project, usually based on the environment that they are in.
On the Thursday evening each team presented their projects to the group and their assessors and we spent a fun couple of hours watching a video diary (full of motivational quotes), taking part in a quiz covering all the things students should have learned on their expedition and listening to a fantastic poem recounting all the friends met enroute.
Despite a real mix of weather all students passed this element of their award and were commended on their resilience, teamwork, perseverance, navigation skills, good manners and good humour.
My thanks go to all the students for making it a great event to supervise, to H5 for their professional and caring approach and to Mr Curran for his support in meeting the teams, driving the minibus, helping with planning and decision making and his excellent cooking skills.
Two of our students reflected on the expedition:
Georgie:
On Monday 9 June we set off for the Black Mountains of Wales to embark on our Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. We were greeted by H5 Adventure to make our route plans for the week and set up camp, followed by a delicious supper of pizza and chips in a local pub.
While day two began with grey skies and many hills to climb, the weather soon cleared and we made our way to our second campsite, a historic priory hidden in the bottom of a beautiful valley. Our second day of walking was a long one but made all the better with bright sun and beautiful views as we climbed Sugar Loaf, one of the highest hills in the Brecon Beacons.
At our third campsite we met a very friendly horse, did a quick spot of yoga and settled down for our third night of camping. While the weather took a turn for the worse on Thursday, we pushed through, still managing to befriend wild horses and take in the stunning views.
We reached our fourth and final campsite and enjoyed watching each other’s group projects, which included everything from vlogs to quizzes to poetry. We woke up bright and early on our final morning, tired but ready to push through to the end. While this day involved some of the toughest climbs yet, all three groups finished with smiles on our faces. Gold Duke of Edinburgh is an experience we will never forget, and while the blisters and sunburns will fade, the memories will always remain.
Allison:
Over four unforgettable days in the Brecon Beacons, 15 girls in LVI took on a real adventure and participated in the Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition. From steep hills and tricky navigation to cooking our own meals and camping at different campsites each day, not only has this experience taught us about resilience and teamwork; but also gave us memories that will last for a lifetime.
Although the weather in Brecon Beacons really was unpredictable, especially on Day 2 when we faced heavy rain and thunderstorm, we managed to work as a team and navigated our way to our third and final campsite. Despite many obstacles faced and severe body aches, we supported and motivated each other, and learnt the true meaning of resilience. Every step taken and hill climbed felt extremely rewarding and was totally worth it for the amazing view!
Having to cook our own breakfasts and dinners with cookers and gas, setting up tents, and waking up early in the morning definitely allowed us to be appreciative and grateful for the small things in life – fresh water, being to walk on ‘normal flat ground’ and most importantly on the final day, a surprise treat of fresh apples and strawberries.
Huge thanks to Mr Rose, Mr Curran, Alex and Mark-Jan who were always there to support and check in on us, making sure we had everything we needed to complete our expedition. The campsites were amazing and the organisation supporting us was incredible, and we were constantly reminded that the most important part of the journey was to enjoy it and have fun. ‘Happy Days!’
