Explorers and Network members ascended to lofty heights at the end of the summer, as they embarked on an epic expedition in the stunning Brecon Beacons, working towards their top awards.
16 intrepid adventurers from seven districts were supported by a team of trained Berkshire Scouts volunteers, who supervised and assessed their expedition across four nights and three days of hilly hiking, taking in breathtaking scenery.
Split into three groups, each colour coded and following different itineraries, the hikers all started their exploration at 1st Brecon Scouts HQ, where they prepared for a self-led expedition across some of the Brecons’ most iconic terrain.
Each of the participants had already completed a practice expedition earlier in the year, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Taking in a triangular route, the hike took the group up to the tallest mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Pen y Fan, standing 886m above sea level, where they were treated to glorious views.
Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition requirements, the groups were required to cover eight hours of planned activity each day, including project work. Journeying was undertaken by the participants’ own physical effort, and they were required to plan, cook and eat a substantial hot meal on each day. Some hikers were using the expedition specifically towards their King’s Scout Award.
While the requirements were familiar from previous expeditions, the travails of hiking on the mountainous elevations of the Brecon Beacons added a new level of challenge. The Brecon Beacons range comprises six main peaks including Pen y Fan, its tallest, Corn Du (873m), Cribyn (795m), Fan y Bîg (719m), Bwylch y Ddwyallt (754m), and Waun Rydd (769m), each forming a long ridge.
The route undertaken by our expedition groups afforded picture postcard opportunities, as captured by participants and the county-trained adults supervising them, two of whom were recently qualified hillwalking leaders.
Conor, who got more involved with hill walking after completing his own DofE Gold and King’s Scout Award said: “Being part of and supporting the county expeditions has been great fun all the way through and helped me see and experience the great sense of achievement people get from completing the expedition.”
For this particular event, a Welsh assessor was used, who provided invaluable local knowledge and many interesting discussions on running such expeditions. He said of the group: “Overall, a very well organised and supported expedition. It was good to see younger generations of leaders getting involved and being so enthusiastic.
Participant Ed from Pang Valley (whose pictures are below) added: “A couple of Skittles can get you very far,” summarised Ed from Pang Valley. “I found the trip absolutely amazing, and I was never dissatisfied with any of the views that were there 100% of the time,” he continued. “The group was a good mix of amazing people, and we worked great as a team!”
The County Top Awards team will be offering a training / practice and qualifying expedition programme for 2025 to participants wanting to achieve their Gold DofE or King’s Scout Award but who do not have teams in their District to do it with.
The dates are currently being explored with a practice expected over the Easter holiday and qualifying in either early summer or in the autumn. More information about registration will be issued in due course.