In September and October 2025 Trent Wing undertook two DofE Training weekends aimed at Gold / Silver Practice and Assessed Expeditions in the White and Dark Peak areas of the Peak District.

Weekend 1 saw some 31 Cadets undertake Silver Practice, 20 Silver Assessed and 33 Gold Practice expeditions. The weekend was based between Millers Dale and Edale, starting in Eyam (Gold) or Ashford in the Water (Silver) and taking various routes through the valleys and dales to Beltonville Farm on night 1 and then on to Rowter Farm, above Whinnets Pass for night 2. En route the teams took in areas like Monsal Head, Chea Dale, Monks Dale and the Limestone way. The last day involved routes following or crossing the Edale Skyline section from Mam Tor to Lose Hill and then descending to Ladybower Reservoir to finish at Heatherdene car park. The weather was generally kind although there were some significant showers and the campsite conditions at Rowter Farm were fairly basic. With over 100 staff and cadets out it took a real team effort to manage the logistics but a highly successful weekend prepared everyone for the October assessment weekend.

Weekend 2 was a whole different story with a yellow weather warning in place for Storm Amy for the first two days of the expedition. The meet in Glossop saw31 cadets arrive for Silver Assessed and 23 for Gold Assessed the ML staff frantically re-devising routes to keep all the teams off the high ground with 50mph winds predicted and the intended routes visiting a number of crash sites being cancelled sadly. The new routes got the teams into their respective campsites in Hayfield and Chinley before the worst of the weather hit encouraging them to make food and have an early night.

Despite the best efforts of wind and rain overnight the tents held firm and the teams were up and motivated on Day 2 to crack on. Cue some of the worst weather experienced on a cadet DofE in a long time but the cadets showed incredible drive and resilience to take on more revised routes in the weather. The staff too were out with the cadets maintaining much closer supervision because of the weather with vehicles available to move the cadets to lower ground if required.

The teams made camp 2 in Edale under foot power and were grateful of the new facilities at Newfold Farm Campsite, and despite another very windy night were able to wake up on day 3 in dry conditions with reduced winds, to the point they were able to pretty much walk their planned routes, with the Silvers again finishing at Heatherdene, collected by grateful parents to be taken home for the promise of hot meals and showers. The Golds still had one more day though and were able to complete the “Dambusters” loop over Rowlee Pasture and Howden Moor above Ladybower Reservoir to finish at Fairholmes.

The cadets on weekend two in particular can honestly say they really earned their expedition pass and this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Ulysses Trust who’s funding enabled us to change plans to keep the cadets safe as well as reduce the headline costs to the cadets.

Gill Wills Trent Wing DofE Officer

“The cadets showed incredible resolve and teamwork, especially on the second weekend where Storm Amy threw everything at the cadets and they prevailed, The good weather on Day 4 of the Gold was almost as if it surrendered after its best efforts to test the cadets. It must also be said of the efforts of the staff team to keep the cadets safe, revising plans, out in the hills with cadets sweeping routes and covering checkpoints away from vehicles so the cadets were never more than 1km from a staff supervisor throughout the first two days. The investment we have made in kit so we could ensure the cadets had appropriate tents and waterproofs plus the trackers we use really came into there own and I am not sure we would have been able to pull the weekend off without them”.