Cadets and staff from 497 (Daventry) Sqn have recently enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Peak District, to allow them to complete a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition and Silver Duke of Edinburgh training. Also included in the weekend was a rope skill lesson, in preparation for the Squadron's summer project – Knots and Ropes.

The route involved walking the Limestone Way , from Wheston to Castleton, from there the cadets got to walk up some very major hills, to Loss Point. During the walk the cadets got a very good view of Peveril Castle , a Norman castle. The cadets also walked along the ridge, from Loss Point to Mam Tor (although they stopped walking quite a way off Mam Tor). The ridge gave brilliant views of all of the surrounding area, including on one side seeing how far they had walked, which made everyone feel very proud of themselves and on the other side brilliant views of Edale and the campsite they were aiming for. The cadets learnt that all of the ridges in the area that they were walking in were formed as a result of glaciation during the ice age.

Once the silver group got into the campsite, they pitched tents and got themselves a well deserved hot drink and rested sore feet, whilst waiting for the bronze group to arrive. Once the weary bronze group arrived they pitched their tents and everyone cooked dinner. In the morning the group had a rope skills and knot tying session, learning how to tie reef knots, figure of eight knots, double figure of eight knots, rethreaded figure of eight knots, stopper knots and accidentally figure of nine knots. After the lesson, the bronze group set off to finish their expedition whilst the silver had an intensive course on intermediate and advanced navigation skills.

Overall the weekend was demanding but enjoyable for all, with weather ranging from extremely sunny to hail to rain.

Cpl Sam Wright said it was some of the most amazing scenery he had ever seen! Whilst Corporal George Ing, who finally completed his bronze expedition, after nine attempts said he really enjoyed getting out of his comfort zone, going into unfamiliar territory and pushing himself harder than he would have doing it around Daventry and the local area.