In June, I joined James in Scotland at Lathallan School to work with him on an SPA Training Course for his school staff and also Assess a Gold D of E Expedition. We went to Cummingston on the coast near Elgin for the personal climbing day and was hit by a North Sea fret creating very damp rock. However it dry out later to give some good climbing. The Sunday found us up the coast at Newtonhill Crag on a much sunnier day. We also went to Extreme Transition in Aberdeen, another first for me.

The D of E Gold Expedition aimed to walk from one side of the Cairngorms to the other. Setting off from the Sugarbowl Campsite near Aviemore, the route took us through the Chalamain Gap into the Lairig Ghru to camp near Corrour Bothy. The second day took us on to Derry Lodge, Mar Lodge and Braemar. To finish, the route followed the Jocks Road over to Glen Clova. It was a good route in reasonably good weather across some beautiful scenery. The group were overjoyed with their success