Week in the Peak - Gold DofE Residential
My Gold DofE residential started with a particularly long 7-hour journey up north from Cornwall to Hathersage train station where the week began. We were quickly registered and loaded into transport which is when everything became so real this was happening!
I had Rick as my driver and immediately his calm and chatty nature and knowledge of the area made me feel I was in an expert's safe hands as did all the other instructors when we met them at the site which was picturesque to say the least.
Days were filled to the brim with so many new experiences and getting to do them with 23 other amazing individuals was just a bonus. Everyone was so welcoming, lovely and just incredible to be around which made the week we spent there so much more special.
I did the open activity gold residential meaning I got to experience weaselling an unexpectedly fun activity, climbing an adrenaline inducing experience seeing views I will never forget, bouldering something my 8 years of gymnastics has finally benefitted me in as well as scrambling up some of the most gorgeous places not to mention our abseil of the railway bridge on the final day which hands down is one the most exhilarating experiences in my 19 years on this earth would go back and do it again in a heartbeat if I could the activities did not disappoint!
As much as the daytimes were the main event evenings back at the site were never dull getting to dine and chat whilst eating some delicious home cooked meals and plenty of peach and ice cream for afters followed by some fiercely competitive games of uno and not to mention the classic charades of course before tucking yourself in to bed ready for whatever was being thrown your way tomorrow was just equally as amazing.
Having started the award at bronze and moving on to do silver and gold and the residential being the last thing I had to complete made this just that little bit more special and what I loved just as much as any wild thing I did in my week in the peak as I now refer to it as was the sincere understanding of every instructor how much this meant to me as an individual.
As well as their true passion for their job, being there wasn't a chore hearing about our stories and our lives wasn't an inconvenience it was their passion and I left my residential on the Friday feeling overwhelmed and with a great sense of achievement and joy in my heart but almost sad it was all over.
We all began the week total strangers and we left having shared a once in a lifetime experience together lives forever intertwined instructors included. I guess that is arguably the best part of this and DofE is it brings together people from many walks of life with many different lives and unites them in their love of the outdoors.
My week in the peak is something I will never forget so if you reading this and not sure what to do put some trust in a total stranger (good preparation for when your 40ft in the air taking advice from someone you have only known a day on where to put your feet) and just do it adventure expeditions thank you I ended my DofE journey on the biggest high and I have you to thank.
Caitlin
