Delving into Dartmoor

Notoriously hard to navigate, pupils honed their skills in the National Navigation Award Scheme.

by MRS GUTHRIE

ver the course of the year

Owe (pupils in the Middle Fifth) have completed our National Navigation Award Scheme and 1633 Challenge training programme. Starting off with the NNAS training, we walked through Ludwell Valley Park, learning navigation techniques (such as using a compass) and team-building skills. Although many training weekends were cancelled throughout the year due to weather and COVID, we still made the most of our training walks up at Woodbury. Towards the end of the year, we managed to get up onto Dartmoor, and practise our skills, pacing and navigating. On these walks we completed our silver NNAS training, whilst getting to walk in the beautiful area of Meldon Reservoir.

After these training weekends we were now ready to complete The 1633 Challenge on Dartmoor. On the penultimate weekend of summer term, 56 pupils from the Middle Fifth walked over 45km near the Okehampton area of the moors. On the first day we faced some challenging tors but managed to all pull through and arrive at Ford Farm (where we were camping) by around 6:30pm. After a good night’s sleep, we headed off on our second day, and completed our 1633 walk, arriving at the finish line with many family members and friends ready to cheer us on. We have all loved the experience and learned many new skills for the future.