28/08/2025
Be prepared is the Scout motto, but nothing could prepare the members of Les Pughs’ Own Explorer unit as they set off for their end of year summer camp. All packed up and ensconced in the minibus they let ‘wagons roll’ as they started the journey to the Gradbach Scout Camp Site in the Peak district. Looking forward to the week-long activity-based camp only to come to a juddering halt, less than 3 meters into the journey. Clambering out of the bus they were greeted with James, scratching his head, trying to work out how, the white van fully loaded with the weeks’ equipment, had become stuck by the back wheel on the gate post. After some pondering and partially emptying the van, it was moved clear by using some pioneering poles and many hands, once reloaded it was off just 55 mins later. On arrival at site as always it was all hands to set the camp up. The grass area in between 2 small wooded areas was just large enough for the tents. Each year the participants get a gift which hopefully encourages them to get active in the great outdoors, this year the gift was a hammock and tarp, just as well as the tents were for storage and everyone was to use hammocks too sleep in for the week, so it was off to the woodland to set them up. Most were finished as the night drew in, only a few needed adjustments the following morning after sagging overnight. Each morning at 7am it was cooks up to sort the breakfast followed shortly after by everyone else. All meals on camp were prepared, cooked and cleared away by the explorers, they tackled cooked breakfast, curry, chicken stir fry and 3 bean chili, Dan and Fin expertly producing finely chopped fare. On site activities saw them building various bridges out of rope and poles across a small river, only getting wet when dismantling them. Learning how to light fires without matches and then putting them out using fire extinguishers, completing a low ropes course whilst transporting cups of water, placing a cup of water, without spilling, it on to of a 4 mtr pole, brute force won the day but Joel and Sam’s ingenious canter leaver devices were successful. Everyone made a leather pouch and produced a clay tile depicting life on camp. A full days climbing was scheduled but on the day with rain and 40mph winds blasting across the ragged cliff edges of The Roaches, the team from Aclimbatize, that days instructors, managed to get them abseiling off the top this proved precarious with many a slipped footing, clambering up and over large boulders and squeezing through narrow gaps as they waited for the weather to settle. Eventually they were relocated to Windyridge where the rain stopped but the wind kept coming, here they were able to climb several routes, again very precarious with the wind battering them as they clung to the rocks. Not that Taliesen took any notice scrambling up like the proverbial goat. The camp site was close to Luds church a rock chasm that Sophie and Bella hunted out whilst exploring suddenly realizing that they should be on site doing some craft. North Filed Farm was the venue for the following days activity. This was a 2 hr. pony trek, setting off initially lead by the team of instructors along the country lanes, once happy that all could control their mounts they were left to control their own. Negotiating streams, low woodland paths and open fields battling against yet more wind and rain not, Josh’s favorite, but a first for the unit. On returning to camp, it was seen that a marquee had decided to take flight into the adjacent field, with Toby and Owen to the fore it was recovered and re-pitched slightly smaller than originally but still serviceable.
Having coped with the outdoors it was time for some shelter so off to the Giants Hole cave system, a nice walk in entrance was soon changed to an abseil down into the dark cavern, followed by crawling, more squeezing and clambering as they passed stalagmites and stalactites and waterfall features. The way out was up a steel rope ladder following a flowing waterfall, luckily not too full though some dampness was experienced. With the afternoon coming up clear and hot it was time to cool off so a bit of gill walking was undertaken, scrambling up the course of a small river, slipping and sliding over small water falls, getting ducked under in swirling pools Cai and Micha emerging smiling. While waiting for them to finish Boo and Laura repaired a small section of a collapsed dry-stone wall. Cycle day, the day the explorers are let loose on the local community, a chance to rid themselves of the leaders. Getting kitted out at the Ashbourne cycle hut on the Tissington trail, an old railway line now used as a gravel walk and cycle route, 22 miles of level track or 44 if you took the High Peak trail as well, with Iwan leading the way they set off. Ioan being a late arrival had missed out on the ‘Jake Gate’ incident, so not to be out done decided to come off his bike within the 1st 100m, Tom was quite happy to spend 3hrs in the local minor injuries’ clinic. To round off the camp the last evening meal was held at The Winkingman pub, the most popular dish being Bad Boy Burger you’d think they hadn’t been fed all week. Nathan having polished off his own burger then helped others to finish theirs. Final day is always a struggle as they had to dismantle camp and take down their hammock shelter constructed at the start where they managed to get 12 hammocks some on top of another under the one sheltered area, a triumph of string and knots. Here’s to next year.
