The first weekend of the long school holidays saw 29 cadets setting off on the biggest adventure some of the cadets have encountered so far in their lives. They were embarking on their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at bronze and silver levels of the award.

To encourage inter-squadron working some cadets from 495 squadron joined the cadets to also participate in their expeditions. Some of the bronze participants, combining initial expedition training for their First Class with their D of E had never camped previously. Most of them had never walked so far either, but all over came these problems and despite some episodes of unseasonable weather completed their practices. The hills, wild life and weather have not dampened their spirits as they are now planning their qualifying venture in the early Autumn.

The silver candidates looked at how tourism has affected the White Peak area and soon realised how the industrial past of the area is now being used as a tourist attraction. Their routes took them along old railway lines, now cycle trails, past old watermills originally used for cotton manufacturing, disused lead mines and past old quarries. They also had the opportunity to witness how ongoing quarrying could affect the “ Stonehenge of the North” if allowed to continue.

Some of the cadets are planning their gold venture in Llanbedr, so assisted in monitoring the groups whilst refreshing their own navigation and camp craft skills.

Fg Off Hart, who was assessing the silver group, commented that “It is good to see the cadets consolidating what they learn in school with the history that they see whilst completing a rewarding but challenging experience”

Well done to all the cadets who took part and good luck to those planning qualifying ventures in the next few months.