Their story, in their words…
Our journey started with an overnight coach where we were supposed to get off at Carlisle, however, on the way up two team members realised that getting off at the stop before Carlisle would mean a quicker journey to the campsite.
After a couple of buses and wrong directions from google maps (resulting in a mini hike with all our luggage and gear), we made it to our campsite where we set up the tent and then decided we would finish our first day with a small evening hike around part of Derwentwater. This is where we came across our first exciting event – a film set.
The next day we decided to the long circular hike around the whole of Derwentwater. We were able to see more of the film set (which we’ve deduced is for the new Bridget Jones’ Diary movie) but also see some stunning views which the whole team decided was one of the biggest pros of the trip.
We came across a quote from Winnie the Pooh that was engraved on the Chinese Bridge and some team members decided to embrace nature and go barefoot through a section of the lake.
The next days (like the ones before) consisted of beating limitations and personal challenges, from rock climbing up parts of mountains, getting down on paths with loose rocks, braving the cold of the water, juggling hiking with heat and long periods of sun exposure to learning how to make successful and long-lasting campfires.
The only cons the group reported back were the pain our bodies were subject to, the difficulty of remaining resilient and the pressure put on the relationships of our group.
Overall, it was an experience all of us are grateful for having and has taught and prepared us for so many other obstacles we may face. It has allowed us to learn how to live and work with others in undesirable conditions and has made us have a lot more respect for those on tougher expeditions than us.
