Scottish Gold

Alison Culshaw ready to set out from Dalwhinnie towards our base in the Ben Alder Forest, in the Cairngorms National Park

We finally came across a group on a track

Alison picking up speed on her bike

My tent - a luxury home for 3 nights

View from the tent - a group is camped in the photo with Ben Alder on the left hand side, Sgor Lutharn to the right

Groups A and B having lunch

A group decamping on the 2nd morning

The top of the NE ridge leading up to Ben Alder. Can you see the white spot in the photo below the left loch (Loch Pattack) - which is Culra Lodge? On the RHS is Loch Ericht.

A view from the summit of Ben Alder. Ben Nevis on the RHS and Glencoe and the Buachaille on the left. Also visible were the Cuillins! and snow on the Cairngorm hills!

A view from below the Bealach Breabag - of the southern end of Loch Ericht

Finally a group arrive at the Bealach Breabag - I've been waiting for hours !!

Sunset from my tent - awesome.. (as the sun goes down, so does the temp - this was my coldest night)

Morning... This is my stream next to the tent, and Beinn Bheoil behind

Early on the 4th morning I was off, and passed the glass like Loch Pattack - with the post dawn sunlit clouds perfectly reflected in the still waters - awesome..

At the end of the 4th day, I'd got to the end expecting the groups to be an hour behind me - stupid me!! So I got Alison's bike and went to find them.. I managed to do so, finding them struggling with the forest trails that seem to change as often as the weather! So I had some spare time to enjoy the beach here at Kinloch Laggan looking SW into Loch Laggan.. There's always time for a beach (unless you're climbing!!).

This week I was working for Alison Culshaw in the Cairngorm National Park, on a D of E Gold Qualifying Expedition, with 20 girls form Aberdeen. We met the day before Exped day 1 - and I did the kit check for everybody, making sure they had enough kit, warm clothing etc, but not too much stuff weighing down their pack, like too much choc for example - is there such a thing as too much choc (not in my world!). Just after this, I started packing, throwing all the rules aside and instead of 1 luxury item, I packed a car load - intending to live in the lap of luxury for 4 days.... What would you take if weight wasn't an issue (top 5 items? I took my top 10 items!)..

Alison had her bike so was zipping about like a fire fly for 4 days, I had 2 feet, and a belly full of chocolate that I kept finding in the tent! So no fire flies for me!!

At the end most of them were successful, and I finally got reunited with my sick car - which then limped it's way to a garage where it still is now..

Wet and Wild DofE for Meg's and Albyn

Alison talks to Group 2 on day 1 (Victoria, Rachel, Hannah, Sophie, Ailsa, Lucy, Harriet).

This last week I was working for Adventure Expeditions and Alison Culshaw in the Cairngorm National Park (Grampian Mountains). On Thursday we met the girls from Albyn School and St. Margaret's school for girls who were ready to start their Gold Assessed D of E Expedition. After preparation on the Thursday we got things started on the Friday. Above Alison has caught up with group 2 to see how they're getting on. The weather forecast for the 4 days was not good - rain (lots) and wind (lots), but the girls were ready for it all..

A balanced diet - of processed sugar for dessert!

The groups had some doubtful meal choices - but it's important to have some comforts from home to look forward to eating!! We ALL had luxury items in our rucksacs - but mine weren't marshmallows!

Camp site on night 1 for 2 groups.

Everybody got to camp 1 successfully and managed to find some flat ground that wasn't too boggy. The scenery was awesome, but a little windy and wet - day 2 was planned to be the high mountain day for most groups.

St Margaret's Girls choosing exactly where to put their tents for night 1! - Anjumol, Victoria, Isobel, Ashleigh, Charlotte and Emily.

This is where they decided to camp on night 1 - a beautiful spot.

With Ben Alder as the backdrop, you can't go wrong with this as a campspot.

The high ridge along Beinn Bheoil for the Meg's girls on day 2. It was windy and there was only fleeting visibility, but the girls used their training to stay relaxed, on schedule and confident - very impressive - a strong performance.

Meg's making good use of the bivvy shelter for lunch.

Group 2 proudly sitting at 1034m on Carn Dearg - the highest point they have ever reached. They did well to get here - a long hard hillside to climb - seemingly never ending - but a great reward at the summit - the highest point of their lives to date.

Off now to get to their campsite -they got there in under 2 hours from here - well done.

Group 1 - on day 3 wanting to get to camp before the heavy rain hits - Lauren, Lucy, Fiona, Rebecca and Rosie. They were easily in their tents before the heavy rain struck everybody.

The camp spot for group 2 on night 3. They were so comfortable nobody came out to meet me when I said hello! - It was pouring with rain!

Day 4 had some sunny spells. The heavy rain has passed - only showers were left.. (so yes, we did say the girls might get showers this week - but no we didn't tell them to take shampoo!!! - not that kind of showers!!!)

The Megs girls in fine form - only 6km to go.. They gave a really strong performance over the 4 days - everything perfect (except 1 wrong grid reference - we can forget that lol)..

Alison welcomes group 1 at the end of their 4 day expedition.

Everybody was very happy to finally get to the end !!! Group 3 - Fayne, Kim, Julie, Katie, Minty and Ellie.

Group 2 - Victoria, Rachel, Hannah, Sophie, Ailsa, Lucy and Harriet.

Massive congratulations to all the girls. They all worked so hard in such difficult conditions to complete their expedition. The weather was sometimes awful, and the conditions difficult nad everything was wet - but they all stayed strong and pulled it out of the bag. They always lookd after each other and stayed motivated - They have all deserved to pass with flying colours - WELL DONE... Congratulations from Alison and myself...

Gold In Scotland

Di Gilbert

For the last 5 days I was working for Alison Culshaw (@GoldExpeditions), with Di Glibert (blog), on a Qualifying Gold DofE expedition near Ben Alder. We were with 6 well trained and prepared groups of girls from Aberdeen, who all set off in good weather and spirits last Friday.

Di moving her bike trailer across the bridge

Alison and Di made good use of their bike trailers for the trip while I made good use of my back! The weather proved to be chilly but almost perfectly dry (except for the above photo!) - and I got away without the need for goretex for the entire trip - but extensively used primaloft and fleece!

Cycling into Culra Lodge

Blue skies, a perfect wild camp?

Day 2 and 3 were also perfect days - dry and cold (although a little windy yesterday). The groups and I managed to collect a few of the local munros, with fantastic summit views.

Group 1 high on the hill

Lochan na h-Earba. The view from a wild camp 2 nights ago

Group 6 setting off on their day 3 yesterday

Thank you to Florence for this grass bracelet

All of the participants from all the 6 groups planned and executed terrific expeditions and arrived at the finishing point dry and in good spirits. Thank you to all the groups who made my assessment job easy, and managed to make me laugh at the same time.

The look of success - seconds after completing their Assessed Gold exped

Group 1 singing in front of Di Gilbert

Congratulations to everybody and good luck with your next challenge, whether it be getting into Cambridge to read Economics, reading medicine, or getting into Nandos in Aberdeen this week!

Gold For St. Margaret's And Albyn

Alison checking her bike at the beginning of the cycle on Friday with our 4 day exped bags

Working for Alison Culshaw and Gold-Expeditions.com

Read Alison's exped write up HERE. 

On Thursday Alison and I met up with the prepared teams of students from St. Margaret's School for Girls and Albyn School - from Aberdeen. Everybody had exactly the right stuff from the kit list - the most serious omission being batteries! Lots of their food looked better than mine - my menu for the 4 days seemed basic by comparison - but at least it was light (ish).

Day 1 for the groups took them all down the side of Loch Ericht from Dalwhinnie. One group (Anna, Katie, Zoe, Amelia, Sarah and Pippa) managed to walk the entire 24km from our start point in Dalwhinnie to the Ben Alder Lodge campsite. I managed to cycle part of this - strategically leaving my bike part way - to pick up on Sunday. Day 2 saw groups doing various routes. I was supervising Anna's group mentioned above as they tackled the munro west of Ben Alder cottage - Sgor Gaibhre (955m). They didn't quite tick it off unfortunately due to strong winds, poor visibility, bog, and apparently sore muscles from their 24km the previous day.

Day 3 took the groups through or around the Ben Alder hills, past Culra Lodge and past Loch Pattack. All the groups had a good day getting to their wild camps in good time. I was supervising Anna's group again, and it was my chance to witness how fast they can move. At one point I witnessed them running down a hill (proud owner of new binoculars), apart from Amelia with a hip injury, so she was merely jogging!

I got to Culra Lodge and made some tea. in the process of unpacking and repacking my bag - I managed to leave my Berghaus Ignite jacket in the Lodge. Luckily for me the Kinross High School staff (thank you Ewan) were based there, so later the next day, they rescued the jacket and got it to the road. I'm hoping they will be able to send it to me - otherwise it was an expensive mistake on my part!

Day 4 took the groups either over or around the hills blocking access to the A86, and thus the end of their expedition. I met the groups who chose to pass through the bealach giving them access to Lochan na h-Earba - both groups were moving at a great pace. The bog (with hidden holes) on the hill descent did see many people take various tumbles but all emerged unscathed at the other end smiling. However one particular hole caused me to disappear and lose my sunglasses casually perched on my head. So, I can tell you what square km they are in if you want to go look!

So, another successful Gold Assessed exped comes to an end with a batch of happy tired candidates (with assorted requisite blisters, sore hips, ankles and shoulders) - Ellie, Meggie, Grace, Victoria, Maddie, Rona, Sandy, Anna, Katie, Zoe, Amelia, Sarah, Pippa, Tom, Mayon, Luke, Malcolm, Dan and Christy. Congratulations to all.

Ben Alder Cottage and the funky bridge over the high stream

Our group crossing the bridge (is that a ghost on the RHS - or somebody jumping a stream!)

Looking down on the Ben Alder Lodge beach - a pretty good camp spot - but a little busy!

Anna, Katie, Zoe, Amelia, Sarah and Pippa walking past Culra Lodge on Day 3 (Sunday)

Culra Lodge - where I stopped to have a cup of tea - very English!

Looking back at Ben Alder

Some other groups had left their tents outside Culra. We avoided camping at Culra, because we had intel that it was a very busy place on the Fri and Sat nights in particular.

Alison walking along the Loch Pattack Shore

Ellie, Meggie, Grace, Victoria, Maddie, Rona and Sandy with only 3km to go before their day 3 is over - still in good spirits

The morning of day 4 (Monday) - this was my view over Lochan na h-Earba, at the base of Binnean Shuas

I spent some time on this beach trying to get photos to capture the great light of the early morning dawn

Tom, Mayon, Luke, Malcolm, Dan and Christy on their way down off their final hill of day 4 (Monday) - with only 3.5hours left to walk to the end.

Ellie, Meggie, Grace, Victoria, Maddie, Rona and Sandy head off the top of their final hill on Monday - all downhill now to the end

Sandy, Ellie, Maddie, Meggie, Grace, Victoria and Rona taking a momentary rest before powering to the end

Grace's classic rucksac that has seen her seccessfully through her practice Gold and her Qualifying Gold expeds