Snowdonia

Y9-10 Snowdonia 2022

Day 1 – Monday 27 June

All arrived in good humour.  After a quick lunch. We all donned wetsuits and headed out onto the lake for a spot of paddle boarding and canoeing in force 3-4 winds! Teamwork was required to paddle against the wind - canoes were strapped together and paddle boarders worked in pairs, paddling on one board and towing the second. The run back home in a following wind was a lot of fun.

Back to the centre for a quick change and on to the evening activities. Two groups worked on team problem solving on the low ropes course while the others went to a nearby bouldering area. After a delicious and gratefully received evening meal, the students entertained themselves by watching films and playing cards. All happy and tired and in bed at 10pm!

Day 2 – Tuesday 28 June

A wet and windy day in Snowdonia.  Groups 3 and 4 braved a ridge walk up Moel Siabod in howling winds.  It was a real challenge for a number of the students but they helped each other through the hard bits and all felt a real sense of accomplishment (and quite a bit of relief!) on reaching the warm dry centre!

Groups 1 and 2 scrambled up a beautiful gorge, where they were lucky to be sheltered from the wind.  

In the afternoon and evening, there was abseiling, indoor bouldering and team problem solving going on.

Day 3 – Wednesday 29 June

Groups 1 and 2 were mountain biking and indoor climbing during the day, and in the evening tried their hands at a local orienteering course.

Groups 3 and 4 scrambled in the gorge this morning, at times finding their own routes and helping each other when things got challenging. In the evening they abseiled and climbed indoors.

Day 4 – Thursday 30 June

We’ve had an outstanding day in natural Northern Ireland. On the ferry across to Rathlin Island we were accompanied there and back by a pod of dolphins; twenty or so of the most gorgeous guides surfing along in our wake was the highlight of a day of highlights. We were on Rathlin for the puffins and they also obliged; gliding and nesting the puffins amongst a huge range of sea birds definitely put on a brilliant show. After lunch, a play in the park and an ice cream we headed out to The Giants’ Causeway. Brilliant sunshine and brilliant blue skies made for a superb experience. The hill climb back had many of the adults huffing but the views were spectacular. It was a wonderful last day on the coast.