On 18-22 October 2024 – Hertfordshire Wing RAF Air Cadets successfully completed their Gold level Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Dartmoor National Park.
“I am so grateful for your [Ulysses Trust] support – I couldn’t have attended without it”
Cadet George
Background: The planning started in the summer due to a number of cadets not being able to attend the planned expedition in August and, as the expedition window closes at the end of October, they set their sights on the half term in October.
There were enough cadets for two groups, the main issue being this was 14 cadets from across 9 different units. Once the groups were set up, online planning meetings between the groups were carried out to start the planning of routes, campsites, menus and equipment requirements.
The overall aim of the expedition was to inspire young people to develop initiative and a spirit of adventure and discovery by planning, training for and completing an adventurous self-sufficient journey as part of a team.
The cadets did not shy away from a challenge and agreed to go to Dartmoor National Park. Whilst not the closest location, all wanted a challenge to finish their award in style.
With it being the end of season, the area being used and the distance required to travel, it was evident early on that the required funding was at the top end of the scale and that these were a group of cadets from various backgrounds who were going to need financial assistance so in went the application to the Ulysses Trust – a simple process and a perfect result.
Preparation days: A small staff team travelled down the day before to set up base camp and check campsites and hazardous parts of the route. On the second preparation day the cadets arrived and met physically in person, some for the first time.
Full kit checks and final planning amendments to the routes for safety were completed. Early to bed!
Day 1: The cadets started their expedition from Okehampton heading south into the training area. At the start of the day, the weather was very kind to them as they headed out towards Meldon Reservoir over Longstone Hill. In the afternoon the groups travelled over Sourton Tors and Great Nodden before dropping into Lydford. For a first day on the hills together, the groups gelled well and there were the first signs of good team work and friendships and the team enjoyed their first meal cooked by their own hand in the wild.
Day 2: The groups planned an early start as they knew the weather was turning to rain mid morning. All were up, fed and ready to go for 7am and nobody else had even stirred on the campsite. The groups left quietly and headed back up onto the hills. They headed over Kingsett Down, through the disused mines in Horndon and over into Peter Tavy. The bad weather had now settled in, with driving rain and gusts of high winds. The groups completed their own risk assessment and walked around instead of over Cox Tor and into Longford to camp. Camp was struck in rain, the cadets found shelter under a tree canopy to cook and decided to go early to bed to stay out of the bad weather with high winds and rain continuing all night. Not much sleep was had.
Day 3: The remnants of the poor weather were still ongoing when the groups woke up, had breakfast and and packed up camp with some very wet and heavy tents going into rucksacks. This did not deter the cadets who amazingly still had smiles on their faces. With rain still falling, the groups wanted to walk their original routes, so, checking the weather which showed signs of improvement off they went. Starting on Middle Staple Tor, then over Great Staple and Roos Tor, they were well into the centre of Dartmoor. Dropping around Great Mis Tor, the weather finally broke as they climbed Beardown Tors. With some good decision making, they kept their waterproofs on so they dried as they came in to their wild camp site, just north of Beardown Farm. Tents were pitched so they could dry out and then the groups were able to cook in the last hour of light. All were looking forward to catching up on some sleep after two days of challenging terrain and weather.
Day 4: The groups woke up to dry weather – hooray!! Tents were half the weight they were yesterday as they were packed away dry. The final day was due north across the tors, starting with a nice walk through the nature reserve by Wistman’s wood then up and over Higher White Tor, up to Rough Tor, lunch on the top then east down off the hills into Postbridge where the groups were met with the sight of two minibuses with heating!
Groups were debriefed on site by the accredited assessors who were quick to tell them they had all been successful and the smiles on their faces were clear to see. All changed quickly and then onto the buses for the journey home, not one of the awake 30 minutes into the journey.
This expedition would not have happened without the support and generosity of the Ulysses Trust which has led to the completion of 14 gold Duke of Edinburgh’s awards. We are forever grateful.
The Ulysses Trust also wish to thank the generosity of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust for supporting this expedition. www.rafct.com
