Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Training, Practice & Qualifying Expeditions open to all Gold DofE level participants.
Do you want to have fun, make new friends, meet a challenge, take away great memories, and have an amazing experience? Then look no further!
Our expeditions are fun, memorable and challenging, offering young people valuable experiences, which meet both the aim and benefits of the Expedition section and the wider DofE programme, and are open to all DofE participants from any background, DofE centre, group or organisation.
The positive feedback we receive, endorses the way in which we facilitate success and fun, generating memorable, challenging and valuable experiences in the DofE Expedition section, enabling young people to learn and develop, as we guide and support them through their expeditions. This is why we are recognised as being one of the foremost DofE expedition providers in the country.
Gold DofE Training
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 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 ‘Expedition Supervisors and Leaders must ensure that participants are trained to an appropriate level for the nature of the expedition that they are going to be undertaking and its environment. The training plan for an expedition team should be a progressive process, with skills being acquired on training sessions and then practised in the outdoor environment until participants are able to carry out the skills without support or adult intervention.' The training cannot be effectively achieved in one day or through online sessions!
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 Expedition Training Framework, including an instructor led navigation day in appropriate terrain.
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)
Your payment covers the cost of administration, bunk house accommodation and food whilst at base, safety supervision, and campsite fees. As a team, you must bring your own food with you for the duration of the expedition and organise your own transport to the venue.
Combined Training & Practice Expedition |
£310 |
Practice or Qualifying Expedition |
£235 |
Training, Practice & Qualifying Expeditions |
£525 |
Useful Information
‘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.
The environment chosen must become progressively more challenging through the award levels – environments could include rural, urban or restricted spaces and should be an appropriate challenge as participants progress through the levels. At Gold level, the leader should consider the expedition the group completed at Bronze and Silver or their level of experience and training and decide how to increase this challenge at Gold. Most Gold level expeditions will be remotely supervised in remote and unfamiliar outdoor environments to demonstrate the progressive challenge between levels. Expeditions can be made more challenging by choosing a location that is unfamiliar, more remote, and more challenging to navigate in.
Participants must be adequately trained to safely complete an expedition in the environment in which they will be operating.
Expeditions will usually take place between the end of March and the end of October. DofE Leaders and participants can decide on the gap between practice and qualifying expeditions. This may vary due to considerations such as age, Award level and mode of travel.
1st / 6th April 2024 |
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park - Black Mountain area (Merlins Bunkhouse - Ystradgynlais) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Training & Practice Expedition |
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27th May / 1st June 2024 |
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park – Black Mountain area (Merlins Bunkhouse - Ystradgynlais) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Training & Practice Expedition |
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2nd / 6th April 2024 |
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park – Black Mountain area (Merlins Bunkhouse - Ystradgynlais) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Practice or Qualifying expedition |
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28th May / 1st June 2024 |
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park – Black Mountain area (Merlins Bunkhouse - Ystradgynlais) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Practice or Qualifying Expedition |
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11th / 15th August 2024 |
Long Mynd (Shropshire) (Long Mynd Adventure Camp) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Practice or Qualifying Expedition (only suitable for participants who have undertaken their Gold expedition training or a practice expedition in a non-wild country environment - please contact us if unsure) |
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26th / 30th August 2024 |
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park – Black Mountains area (Llangorse Multi Activity Centre) |
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Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Practice or Qualifying Expedition |
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Before applying, please download and read our Open Gold DofE Terms & Conditions