Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, Silver and Gold groups have been out, in all weather over the past few weekends:

This term has been exceptionally busy and eventful for the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at Kilgraston. Our students have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination as they tackled the challenges presented by the unpredictable Scottish weather.

The Bronze teams kicked off the expeditions, facing some of the most dreadful weather conditions. Despite having enjoyed sunshine during their practice walk back in March, the actual expedition through the Pentland Hills was a stark contrast. Battling through torrential rain and being soaked to the skin, the girls showed immense perseverance. Unfortunately, the severe weather forced the abandonment of the expedition, and we are awaiting a decision on whether they will need to retake this element to complete their award.

Next up were the Silver teams, who embarked on their expeditions with impressive enthusiasm. They completed two weeks of back-to-back expeditions, starting with a 2-day practice hike in the hills around Dunkeld. Unlike the Bronze teams, they experienced the heat of the sun, a stark reminder of Scotland’s ever-changing weather. Their 3-day qualifier took them to the scenic area of Callander, where they continued to demonstrate their skills and endurance. Well done to all our Silver participants!

Finally, it was time for the Gold Qualifier. Having completed their practice earlier in the year, the Gold participants faced the exciting challenge of traveling to the other side of Scotland to Fort William. Over four days, they experienced the full spectrum of Scottish weather—sunshine, rain, wind, and even snow on the final day. Their determination and spirit were truly commendable as they completed their final trek back to the bus, ready to enjoy the well-deserved ride home.

Congratulations to all our Duke of Edinburgh participants for their incredible efforts and achievements this term. Your resilience and teamwork have been inspiring, and we look forward to seeing you continue to thrive in your future adventures. A huge thank-you to Stuart and his team at Outlook Adventures as without them these expeditions would not have been possible.

Mr Brookes, Duke of Edinburgh Manager and Head of Mathematics