Just before the end of March, a group of 9 Bethany pupils, who are all on the way to completing their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, set off for the Lake District for an adventurous Easter weekend.

After a long journey up north and arriving safely, the group settled at their first location and set up camp for the first night. The campsite had very few other people, however there was a huge flock of ducks who were enjoying the Lakeland drizzle.

The following day, which was Good Friday, was spent traversing up and over Stake Pass, a high mountain pass where careful navigation is required, and down Langstrath Valley to the the location of the next campsite, Chapel House.

On Easter Saturday, the hike continued over to Watendlah, a hamlet and tarn owned by the National Trust. Watendlah sits high between the Borrowdale and Thirlmere valleys at 863 feet above sea level. Saturday’s hike finished after the group made it to their campsite for the night at High Bridge End.

It was a clear but cold start on Easter Sunday, however the weather soon turned and it ended up being a wonderfully warm day. Unfortunately there were no Easter eggs waiting for the group, but there was lots of water that was crucially needed for the return trip to Chapel House campsite.

The final day, Easter Monday, gave the group a taste of some cold, rainy Lakeland weather as they made their way to their final location of Windermere, which is home to the largest lake in England. The group ended the day with a well deserved hot shower, a hot meal and comfortable bed at YHA Windermere. The expedition ended on Tuesday at 6am when it was time to set off back to Bethany.

Mrs Rendall-Jones, who was also on the expedition, said, “This group were fabulous. Everyone was so supportive of each other, determined to complete the expedition and, in the main, positive and cheery in outlook.”