Blisters, musical beats and bragging rights on the road to Bronze

The inimitable Mr Scott writes: “Last week, 22 of our finest Bronze DoE adventurers swapped WiFi for wildflowers and took on the great outdoors. With two groups setting off from Clough and two from Shimna, all roads (eventually) led to Tollymore, just in time for sunset and some Autumn campsite vibes.

Our campsite highlights included:

• A gourmet fillet steak dinner cooked on a Trangia by Maura, Lucy & Mollie (without a super noodle in sight!)

• Campfire tunes courtesy of Mila Astruc-Kidd on guitar

• Everyone in tents and asleep by 11.30pm… a first for Bronze and a welcome miracle for the staff who, for once, were in bed before midnight!

  
  

Friday brought a rare treat: a Bronze Award lie-in (thank you, Autumn sun), and by 10.00 am, our groups were off again - some heading to the Twelve Arches car park, others back to school but all ready for a well-earned rest over the weekend and many in need of a bath!

The feedback? Glowing. The teamwork? Pretty impressive. The memories? Unforgettable.

Well done to all our participants - you’ve earned your Bronze blisters and your bragging rights!

And the best bit... not a phone in sight!”

Find out more about the reality of an expedition by watching Mila’s no-holds-barred film.

Thanks to our staff team of Niamh Lindsay, Stephen Hanna, Shelagh McCann, Chris Smyth, Tom Rodgers and Catriona O'Neill, plus our assessors Stuart Scott and Campbell Mayers.