On Monday 07th April 2025, intrepid Air Cadets from 1244 (Swindon) Squadron set off from Swindon to the Outward Bound Centre at Ogwen Cottage, North Wales. The group comprised a mix of young people between the ages of 13 to 16, from a very wide range of backgrounds and experience; for a few, it was their second highly anticipated expedition, for others it was their first time away from home!
“We were excited about the thrilling adventures to come, but we also knew we faced with challenges that were to push us out of our comfort zone.” Cadet Sergeant Z R
Background: Following the COVID19 pandemic and the subsequent pause in activity, many of the Air Cadets of 1244 (Swindon) Squadron had never had the opportunity to experience first-hand life and adventure in the great outdoors, until the Squadron’s first expedition in 2024 which travelled to Ullswater in the Lake District. Such was the success of the expedition that the Cadets demanded a second expedition the following year!
Established by Kurt Hahn and Lawrence Holt in 1941, Outward Bound was founded with a mission to give young seamen the ability to survive harsh conditions at sea by teaching confidence, tenacity, perseverance and to build experience. Today, in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic and the associated social challenges this has exacerbated, Outward Bound still strives to teach all young people the most important lesson they can learn: to believe in themselves. Through a wide range of challenging adventures, Outward Bound delivers inspirational outdoor learning that enables positive, purposeful and lasting change in tens of thousands of young people every year and equips them with the skills and capabilities to realise their potential and positively contribute to their schools, workplaces and communities.
Priority for 1244 Squadron’s 2025 expedition was given to those Air Cadets who had not been part of an expedition before, though all of the previous year’s adventurer’s also wanted a piece of the action, and a few of these were able to form part of the team, guiding and supporting younger members breaking new ground at the Ogwen Cottage Centre.
Day 1: Almost as soon as we arrived at the Outward Bound Centre and sat down with our bags, we watched an RAF Typhoon fighter jet on a low-level training mission scream over us at about 500 feet, as low as any of us had ever seen before! The whole room erupted with cheers and high fives ….. we are Air Cadets after all, and this couldn’t be a better omen for the week!
After a brief tour of the centre, we were placed into our teams for the week and then launched into our first challenge, when we were given 20 minutes to unpack and change into swimming attire, then we headed down to the nearby waterfall and plunged into the cold waters. At first it was a shock to the system, and we were all freezing, but despite the cold we were all soon having fun and admiring the waterfall.
Once back from the waterfall, we had to prepare for the upcoming 2-day mountaineering expedition. Luckily the centre is stocked with specialist kit, so finding backpacks to fit our sleeping bags, cooking equipment, and clothes wasn’t difficult, although it was the first time that many would carry so much kit! We then spent time carefully packing until it was time for our evening meal. The evening meals were a small, but significant highlight of the trip, and provided an opportunity to relax with our teammates! After the meal, we gathered in the briefing room, our team leader explained the plan of action for the next day, and we were urged to get a good night of rest, as the coming days were going to be tough!
Days 2 & 3: We awoke bright and early and headed straight down for breakfast and all ate quickly as we were looking forward to the expedition ahead. After breakfast we had time for a final kit check, and then we were off!
We set off on our 2-day mountaineering expedition, with a planned overnight camp high up on the mountains. This was the first time away from home for some of the cadets, let alone the first time on a mountain carrying kit and equipment in big heavy bags, so those of us that had been on Outward Bound last year were able to offer a helping hand, but still the journey up the mountain through the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’ was far from easy.
The ascent was challenging and like nothing we had ever done before and tested everyone’s durability; however, we persevered and made it to the top.
“I have a fear of heights, so when I was climbing up Devils Kitchen I knew I was going to find it difficult, but looking back, it wasn’t that hard, I’ve learned I can overcome my fears and actually have a lot of fun!”
Cadet C A
“On my second Outward Bound experience, I thought back on my previous experience and really tried to give as much encouragement and positivity as I could to the team, to help us overcome the HUGE goal of reaching the mountains summit, which we did!”
Cadet Corporal A O.
Upon reaching the top of the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’, we found ourselves on a plateau overlooking the nearby lakes and surrounding mountains. We went to a nearby tarn (mountain lake) and had a rest, before heading for the summit of Y Garn. It took us an hour to reach the top, but the views were most certainly worth it. You could see for miles, and it truly was breathtaking, definitely the best place I have ever had dinner! As the light fell, we set up camp (again, a first experience for some), made hot chocolate and spotted the stars, constellations and planets with the adult staff.
“My favourite moment of Outward Bound was the expedition and waking up to the beautiful views on the mountain.”
Cadet R H
“The challenging part of the whole expedition was climbing the ‘Devil’s Kitchen’, but I enjoyed expanding my comfort zone and really learned how teamwork can be used effectively to overcome these obstacles.”
Cadet L M
The decent from the top of the mountain began early, and as we headed down we learned how to fill our water bottles from mountain streams, learned about quartz and the geology of the mountains, tried edible flowers and spotted tadpoles in streams, though we couldn’t work out how they got there on the mountain! After getting back to the centre, and lots of long hot showers, we sorted our kit out and grabbed an early night ready for the next adventure.
Day 4: In true Outward Bound fashion, it was time to hit the water again with a raft building challenge, but before we could get there, we had to complete an orienteering challenge in pairs in the morning. We hopped in the minibus and when we arrived in the woods, we were briefed that the more checkpoints we found within the time limit, the more points we would get to ‘buy’ pieces of equipment for the raft…no pressure then! Our team captain for this challenge was one of the younger cadets and, as a team, we decided which pieces of equipment might be most useful and then set off to the lake to assemble a homebuilt raft!
“For me, watching one of the more senior and more experienced Cadets consciously take a step back from naturally leading the group, to give space for and then support the younger Cadet leading the raft build, was a pleasure to see. Observing this small, but so important gesture of teamwork, support and encouragement to another was evidence enough for me that work that Outward Bound do, really does make a difference.”
Flight Lieutenant Peter Hitchings, Officer Commanding 1244 Squadron, RAF Air Cadets.
Despite the amazing weather we had all week, the lake was still pretty cold, which did add some incentive to the team in making sure our rope knots were good, and the raft wasn’t going to fall apart. But after our jog and dip in the waterfall on day 1, we knew we could handle it if we did get wet!
Day 5: Our fifth day at Outward Bound brought us possibly our biggest challenge yet – climbing the north face of Tryfan. The instructors told us this would be a big day, and that only a handful of groups each year are good enough to attempt climbing this mountain, but we were up for the challenge!
After getting our climbing harnesses sorted and kit checks done, we headed off for what started out as a gentle climb and scramble, but very quickly got to being a serious full on rock climb! A couple of cadets in the group had climbed on indoor walls before, but nothing quite like this!
“On Outward Bound I felt my confidence highly increase and actually found I’m a good rock climber! I did find climbing Tryfan hard, but I persevered, and I got to the top.”
Cadet Corporal C H.
“As the climb went on, I did wonder if this would be too technical, physical and adventurous for some of the cadets, but they were all outstanding. In one instance, I paired a younger cadet with a physically stronger and more experienced cadet, but it was the attitude and approach of the junior cadet which shone through, and it was them dragging the stronger cadet up the mountain, but they all seriously impressed me. Underestimate an Air Cadet if you dare!”
Flight Lieutenant Peter Hitchings, Officer Commanding 1244 Squadron, RAF Air Cadets.
As the climb progressed, we all really started to enjoy ourselves and even though most cadets hadn’t climbed before, and some had a fear of heights, any worries faded away as we watched more RAF F35 and US Air Force F15 fighter jets on training sorties scream through the mountain valleys well below us. At the start of the expedition, we all found the Devil’s Kitchen tough, but this was way beyond that, and here we were – we had climbed one of the toughest mountains in the area!
All the Cadets of 1244 (Swindon) Squadron are very thankful to the Ulysses Trust, our Civilian Committee and other donors for their support. Without them, this expedition would not be possible.
The last word goes to Cadet R H, on his first Outward Bound expedition:
“Something I found challenging was the climb up Tryfan, but with words of encouragement from my team I was able to push through and do it. My takeaway was to stay calm in tough situations, and push through them. I learned I can do it.”
Cadet R H
The Ulysses Trust also wish to thank the generosity of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust for supporting this expedition. www.rafct.com
