Today marked the beginning of an unforgettable adventure as our Duke of Edinburgh Gold students set out on the first day of their final expedition. Departing from their campsite in the early morning, the groups were divided by location.
Two teams left Moorcroft canpsite this morning and went to Loch Euphort to climb Eaval, a 357m hill on the east side of North Uist. From this high point you get excellent views across North Uist and to Skye, Harris and South Uist.
Location 1- Eaval towers above the golden beaches
Location 2 – The Udal Peninsula
The girls group left Balranald this morning and went to the Udal peninsula. A low lying stretch of land extending into the Atlantic with huge beaches, sand dunes and extensive areas of machir.
Eaval groups
At the heart of this groups accomplishments was Eaval, the highest hill on North Uist. This majestic peak’s steep cone casts its commanding presence over the island’s low-lying landscape. Scaling its slopes, our students submitted to the thrill of conquering this natural wonder. From the summit, they were rewarded with breathtaking, unparalleled views of the land-and-waterscape that surrounded them, a sight to behold.
Summiting Eaval- Group 1
by Gabriel
On the Tuesday we got up around 8, had breakfast and packed our bags for the day ahead. We got on the minibus for a short trip to Drim Sidnish, just beside Loch Euphort, however before arriving we made a quick stop a few minutes from the start of the path for the day. We stopped at the ruins of a blackhouse. The roof was gone, but the chimneys and walls were still mostly intact.
After getting to the start of the route we saw our destination off in the distance: the summit of Eaval. We walked for around an hour before getting to the foot of the mountain. We were tired, but there was much more walking (bordering on climbing) to be done. The ‘walk’ up the summit was strenuous to say the least, but the views from even halfway up the hills were beautiful. Eventually we managed to get to the top, where the view was at its best. You could even see what my group believed was the Isle of Skye, where we had travelled from a few days ago.
“These views really are summit ”
” I can see Skye from here… that big blue thing?”
The journey back down the hill was tough, but we took a break at a small beach near the foot of the mountain, where we enjoyed the sun. We then walked back to the bus, where everyone was exhausted from the journey.
All in all, it took about 6 hours, and was well worth doing.
The Udal Peninsula – Group 2
By Muntaha
Our day started at 8 o’clock, we had breakfast then packed our day bag and got picked up by Willy who then drove us to our starting destination which was Udal peninsula. We then walked along the beach of Traigh Ear where we saw tourists from Switzerland who were flying their planes. We learned that the beach is one of the only beaches in Scotland where planes can land despite the fact that it isn’t an airport.
” Can’t park that there mate….” – ” Actually, I can”.
We kept walking along the beach where then we had lunch beside the cemetery with a beautiful view of the sea.
We followed a path which led to the dunes then the Neolithic medieval settlement pile of stones. We followed another path and ended up at our Traigh Ear where we recreated our map for the day using sand,seaweed,shells and rocks.
Recreating the map using natural objects.
We were picked up by Willy again who then drove us to our campsite,then we had delicious pasta together as a group. After dinner we had to say our goodbyes to Sharon, who works at the campsite. We will miss her! Nature Valley-Muntaha,Nyot,Alice,Kaela,Rohey,Iliana
Girls meet Sharon. They mean business…
Night falls
As the day drew to a close, our adventurous students settled into their nighttime routine, finding solace in the familiar rhythm of setting up their tents. Amidst the tranquility of their surroundings, they embraced a well-deserved rest, recharging their energies for the challenges that lie ahead. Tomorrow, they will reach the halfway point of their final expedition, poised to surpass their own expectations.
Join us, as we witness the Duke of Edinburgh Gold students adventure unfold. Stay tuned to follow their extraordinary journey, where every step brings them closer to triumph, self-discovery, and the unforgettable memories that await them.
Sounds brilliant, if tiring! Must be hot conditions, hope there’s a cool breeze off the sea. Thanks for keeping us updated.
You are very welcome. It is warm… all students are exhausted from today and tucked up in bed.
This looks amazing and such a challenge. Well Done to everyone! Keep pulling on inner strength and each other. Thanks for all the updates.