At the end of the Summer holiday, we accompanied the Midsomer Norton Sixth Form to the Pyrenees for their D of E Gold expedition. The minibus went by ferry to Santander and the groups flew out Toulouse. They arrived late one evening at Luz St Saveur and early next morning they were off on a two day acclimatisation walk through the Breche de Roland and into Spain. They stayed at the Refugio Goriz and then next day down the Ordesa Canyon to spend two days in Torla. In Torla, they spent a half day on the Via Ferrata, the Cascade de Sorrosol and a half day canyoning. The whole Spanish experience was first class including staying at the excellent Camping Ordesa

Their expedition headed out up the Vallee de Bujaruelo into France to spend the final night at a wild camp near the Refuge Wallon. The weather was excellent and all groups cited the wild camp as their most memorable experience of the trip. One group described how they lay with their heads in a circle looking at the stars. Despite my suffering with a stomach bug, the whole trip was extremely successful and a memorable experience for the students and staff alike