Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Training & Qualifying Expeditions open to all Gold DofE level participants.
Gold DofE Training
Participants are required to complete the compulsory expedition training at Gold level, to be signed off as competent to safely undertake their practice and qualifying expeditions. This is in addition to any previous training undertaken at Bronze or Silver levels and includes the topics outlined in the Gold Expedition Training Framework.
We deliver a comprehensive training programme for the Gold Expedition section that ensures each participant has the required skills, knowledge and confidence, to complete their practice and qualifying expeditions in a safe and enjoyable manner, which also helps to promote a positive experience whilst undertaking this aspect of their Gold DofE programme. We do not compromise safety, or the importance of the training topics that are required to be completed as part of the Expedition section, hence the longer training period than that delivered by some other providers. These are indicated in the Gold Expedition Training Framework, DofE Expedition Guide and The Handbook for DofE Leaders and is in keeping with the values, ethos and spirit of the DofE. The Expedition Training Framework states ‘The training plan for a DofE team should be a progressive process with skills being acquired on training sessions and then practised in the outdoor environment until participants are capable of carrying out the skills without support or adult intervention.’ This cannot be effectively achieved in one day!
Gold DofE Practice Expedition
Our practice expeditions are open to individuals or any number of participants from a DofE group and you do not have to have completed the Gold expedition training with us! They also offer participants who are unable to form a team within their DofE centre, the opportunity to complete the practice element of the Expedition section. The expeditions are run by a team of experienced and qualified supervisors, all of whom have sound knowledge of the DofE. Route planning and pre-expedition checks take place the day before the start of your expedition, which also allows for the required ‘acclimatisation’ period.
Gold Qualifying Expedition
Our qualifying expeditions are open to individuals or any number of participants from a DofE group and you do not have to have completed the Gold expedition training or practice expeditions with us! They also offer participants who are unable to form a team within their DofE centre, the opportunity to complete the Expedition section. The expeditions are run by a team of experienced and qualified supervisors, all of whom have sound knowledge of the DofE. Route planning and pre-expedition checks take place the day before the start of your expedition, which also allows for the required ‘acclimatisation’ period.
Costs (inclusive of VAT)
Training & Practice Expedition |
£310 |
Practice or Qualifying Expedition |
£235 |
Training, Practice & Qualifying Expedition |
£525 |
Please Note
‘The Black Mountain’ and ‘The Black Mountains' areas of Brecon Beacons National Park are two distinctly separate regions of the National Park, approximately 50km apart, therefore, this meets the requirements of the DofE Expedition section for the practice and qualifying expeditions to be undertaken in different areas.

18th/23rd April |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice Expedition |
29th May / 3rd June |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice Expedition |
10th/15th July |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice Expedition |
19th/23rd April |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
30th May / 3rd June |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
11th/15th July |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountain area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
17th/21st July |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountains area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
22nd/26th August |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountains area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
23rd/27th August |
Brecon Beacons – Black Mountains area |
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award practice or qualifying expedition |
Before applying, please download and read our DofE Gold Open Terms & Conditions
Silver participants who progress to Gold will be able to use their Gold practice expedition as their qualifying expedition at Silver. This expedition must meet the requirements of the Silver qualifying expedition (three days and two nights). In addition, participants wishing to do a combined Gold/Silver expedition must meet the age requirements of the higher level (they must be at least 16 years old) and they must be enrolled at Gold.