Leaving from Hay on Wye, a town famous for bookshops, the group created their own story filled with determination, friendship and happiness. The group would agree that on a scale of one to ten, the DofE expedition was amazing. Very steep hills, stunning views and mixed terrain lead to four tough but rewarding days of walking. Each night, the group stayed in an idyllic campsite which, however lacking in sanitation, made up for it with beautiful scenery, a church or an ancient priory or abbey to discover. The evenings were filled with unique and hilarious games of cricket and catch, birdwatching, damming the river or relaxing. Breakfasts and dinner were cooked every day on stoves and the meals varied from delicious to somewhat gross. Groups would eat lunch whilst out on the walk sometimes meeting up together such as when everyone stopped together on the tip of Lord Hereford’s Knob on the first day of hiking which was a much-loved moment for everyone.

The walkers carried all of their food and kit weighing around 15kg a total of 45 miles and climbed 2100 meters overall. The expedition was planned and assessed by the fantastic Ocean rock staff: Kaf, Simon and Rachel

Luckily, the weather was perfect for the entire week with clear, sunny days and cooler nights well deserved after a hail and rain dominated practice expedition in Dartmoor.
Despite having a great time, everyone was happy to go home on Friday for a wash and a comfy bed, and a flushing toilet.