Trips

Ten Tors

On 7th May, a team of six Clifton College pupils took part in the Ten Tors expedition alongside 2,226 other competitors. The team navigated the 45-mile Route Q over North Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors and checkpoints in under two days. The team needed to be selfsufficient, carrying everything they needed to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.

The team summited their seventh tor at 7.07pm on the first day and continued on to camp at their eighth tor at 9pm. They were up early on Sunday morning, cooking breakfast and taking down tents at 4.20am, ready to get their control card stamped at 6am. They navigated

35 miles on the first day with a height gain of 1,396 metres. The team crossed the finish line at 11.21am on the second day, coming second in their category. They covered a total of 48 miles and an impressive 2,040 metres of ascent over two days.

The team showed great determination, resilience and teamwork throughout all the training and the event itself, which is what Ten Tors is all about. The group was led by the focused and determined Tom Murray with Jonathan Ambler as his deputy, both expertly navigating the team to success. Undoubtedly these pupils will remember this experience for the rest of their lives.

Jody Sumner

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award

During summer 2022, four teams of Gold Duke of Edinburgh pupils successfully completed their Qualifying expedition in the Black Mountains, Wales. During this four-day expedition, the pupils navigated over 80 km, summiting peaks including Twmpa (690m), Hay Bluff (677m), Pen Allt-mawr (719m) and the Sugar Loaf (596m). The pupils documented memorable experiences on a t-shirt each day, creating a visual diary to wear.

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh pupils successfully passed their expedition section, walking the famous Ridgeway over two days. The group navigated through the rolling chalk downland and explored many archaeological treasures, including Neolithic long barrows, Bronze Age round barrows, Iron Age forts and the famous White Horse cut into the chalk. They also walked to Dragon Hill, where, according to legend, Saint George slew the dragon. A bare patch of chalk upon which no grass grows is said to be where the dragon’s blood was spilled.

Jody Sumner