These Boots Are Made For Walking…The Pentlands

October 8 2024

Pupils take on the highest peak of the Southern Pentlands for Duke of Edinburgh excursion, walking almost 20k over two days, following three weeks of training as part of the school day.

Class 10 have completed a three-week Main Lesson block on Duke of Edinburgh, providing an overview over the four sections of the DoE Award: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition; as well as discovering how completing the DoE can help with personal development. The pupils are supported in finding goals for each of these sections and the time commitments required.

Thanks to the Christmas Market Fund, the School is now in possession of backpacks, camping and cooking equipment, as well as compasses; and we can conduct a fair amount of practical instruction on campus in the grounds.

The Upper School cohort then swiftly moved on to the preparation for the expedition, which lasted two days and a planned overnight. After erecting the tents on the school lawn, they also practised their cooking in the School’s kitchen. Back in the classroom, route cards were made, and compass skills learnt.

“The first DofE group in quite a few years set off for their practice expedition on Friday 27th September at 9.30 from Harlaw carpark in the Pentlands.

Our hike took us around the Black Hill, down to Loganlea reservoir, where we had lunch and tried the Bothy Bag to stay out of the wind,” reflects DoE lead, Uschi Rosmanith.

Day One and Two combined height of 750m (only 160m off a Munro), hiking close to twenty kilometres.

“We then climbed up to the Phantom’s Cleugh and came into Bonaly Scout Camp an hour early, the group had walked so fast despite being weakened by their streaming colds.

: Pupils learn to navigate with compasses as part of their DoE Main Lesson.

: Map reading to maintain their bearing in the wilderness is key.

“Here we practised cooking, using our new Trangia cookers. Due to the 3-degree forecast for the night we did not stay over, but all returned for Day 2 the next morning, some more fresh than others.”

Despite the freezing night-forecast calling off the overnight camp, the team carried their full kit in their backpack. “I admire their skill in lightweight packing.” (Ms Rosmanith)

“During the second day, each pupil took the lead for one leg of the expedition, taking responsibility for navigation, team morale and team cohesion, and what an excellent job they did!

After a short debrief in Swanston village the expedition ended at about 3pm and I trust that everybody had a well-deserved rest and is looking forward to putting their skills to the test in our assessment expedition in early summer 2025. I am already on the lookout for our route!”

Ms Uschi Rosemanith, ESS Teacher and DoE Leader & Assessor

“When I had just started teaching, I was very disillusioned and was about to leave the profession. At that point my school’s Outdoor Education Department was looking to train up more trainers, so I joined and this saved my teaching career! I first gained Basic Expedition Leader and with it DoE leader and later DoE Assessor,” says Ms Uschi Rosmanith, who is facilitating the pupils to obtain the first-tier award. “I took countless teams on expedition, up to Braemar and around Dunkeld and it was the most amazing experience. Once we were very unexpectedly snowed in and had to retreat to a bothy. (Left: Uschi on Pentlands recce before ESS DoE excursion).

Pentlands recce before expedition with pupils.

Pupils learned about the importance of teamwork and leadership plus route planning, navigation, equipment and packing, campcraft and cooking, safety and first aid.

DoE expedition walks are typically at least six hours long, and limited to a group size of up to seven teenagers with two adults. A whole-class walk is intended to put the skills learned in the DoE Main Lesson into practice.

Great navigation skills and map reading took the DoE cohort up Allermuir Hill on Saturday. At nearly 400m high, Allermuir is the highest of the Southern Pentlands.

“There is nothing better to clear your mind than a good hike and experiencing nature around you, using a map to see where you are and what else there is to explore. I sincerely hope I can pass on this curiosity and the will to explore to our groups!”

Mrs Rosmanith and the pupils were joined at the weekend by Kindergarten parent and fellow DoE Expedition Leader, Rachel Morgan Bruce. Thank you, Rachel, for volunteering to join the expedition.

Congratulations, and well done to our seven pupils from Class 10 who have taken up the challenge to embark on the first-tier of Duke of Edinburgh, initiating their efforts towards the Bronze Award during their three-week DoE Main Lesson: Josh Clutterbuck, Freya Parkes, Neno Allen, Jamie Khor, Sylvia McPherson, Emmeline Anderson, Ruby Robertson (as above, from left to right).

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These Boots Are Made For Walking…The Pentlands

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