On foot?
Bike?
Canoe?
Wheelchair?
Horse?
Llama?! (yes llama!!)

It’s up to you but at Gold level you must be in “Wild country”.

From cycling in the Galloway Hills, walking in the Brecon Beacons or canoeing down the Thames to sailing in the Mediterranean or horse riding in Chile, where you complete your Expedition is up to you.

Expeditions outside of the UK provide varied challenges which may broaden your experience. All Expedition section conditions apply equally to expeditions taking place outside the United Kingdom. Please contact the SU if you would like further information on completing your Expedition abroad.

4 days and 3 nights

You must have at least 8 hours of planned activity during the daytime (at least 4 of which must be spent journeying)

Each team will have between 4 and 7 of you (8 if you travel by tandem canoe or bike)

We use an AAP – Approved Activity Provider – and they take you on a practice expedition a few weeks before you do your qualifying one. During this time they will give you all the training you need from map reading, first aid & even how to pack your rucksack properly. They also provide all your group kit e.g. tents & stoves so that you just need to get your personal kit. 

The D of E provide a recommended kit list which you can find here

See the DofE’s advice on rucksacks and packing here.

Unsure about walking boots and socks? For more advice click here.

We’ve just had our first group complete their practice expedition & the have produced some really handy top tips from their experience:

• Walk more in preparation
• Take more snacks – yes you really need to eats lots of calories!
• Take foot tape & talcum powder – your feet are going to hate you
• Take loads of plastic bags to put wet things in & even put inside your boots
• Pack your dinner as a group
• Pack lots of socks then pack even more socks!
• Practice packing/unpacking your bag – there’s an art to it

If you’d like more information about doing your expedition including an idea of what costs are involved email [email protected]
 

1. Leave gates as you find them

A farmer will normally close gates to keep farm animals in, but may sometimes leave them open so the animals can reach food and water. Leave gates as you find them or follow instructions on signs. Leaving a gate open if it was shut could let animals stray onto dangerous roads.

2. Leave no trace

Protecting the natural environment means taking special care not to damage, destroy or remove features such as rocks, plants, and trees. They provide homes and food for wildlife and add to everybody’s enjoyment of the countryside. Litter and leftover food doesn’t just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous to wildlife – so take your litter home with you, and help protect our environment by removing any other litter you see.

3. Respect livestock

Large farm animals can be daunting, but they are likely to be just as scared of you as you are of them! Keep to paths and pass animals calmly and quietly to avoid disturbing them – and please do not feed them.

4. Stick to the pathways

We are lucky to have free access to routes across farmland throughout the UK. Straying from official paths in these areas can damage the crops that farmers depend on for their living. Damaging crops costs farmers money and threatens access to the countryside that many people enjoy. Stick to the paths provided. It’s worth remembering that each of the countries across the UK has its own rules, policies, and rights of access and we should be familiar with these if we venture further afield.

5. Follow the signs

England has about 118,000 miles of public rights of way, providing many opportunities to enjoy the natural environment. Before you go on expedition get to know the signs and symbols used in to show paths and open countryside.