Our five-day expedition in the Lake District was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. We walked from Coniston to Borrowdale, staying in YHA hostels each night and navigating using OS maps and a compass. Every day involved long walks, steep climbs and carrying all of our equipment, which definitely challenged us.
The weather wasn’t always on our side, and it rained quite a lot, making some of the routes wet, slippery and much more difficult than we expected. Even though it made things harder, we kept going and encouraged each other throughout the week. One of the highlights of the expedition was climbing to the top of a mountain. It wasn’t easy, especially in the rain, but reaching the summit felt like such an achievement. When the weather cleared, the views were absolutely incredible. Looking out across the mountains, lakes and valleys made every difficult climb worth it, and it’s something I’ll never forget.
I got so much out of this project. It gave me more confidence in myself, improved my navigation skills and showed me how important teamwork and determination really are. More than anything, it reminded me that I’m capable of doing things that I probably wouldn’t have thought I could do before. Spending five days outdoors, away from everyday life, really changed my perspective. It was genuinely an eye-opening experience, and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to take part. It’s something I’ll always look back on with pride.
I’d also like to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Mark Evison Foundation for making this possible. I know it’s an opportunity not many people get, and I really appreciate all the time, effort and support that went into organising the expedition for us.
I’ve attached the photos as requested, but please let me know if you’d also like me to send over the routes we walked each day, mapped out from start to finish.
