Walking from Princetown to Buckfast Abbey during one of the warmest Mays on record, students navigated the beautiful Dartmoor landscape while overcoming the physical demands of the expedition. A handful of unexpected route choices kept staff alert, but every group demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills and determination throughout the journey.

Students approached the expedition in different ways, with some teams turning the walk into a friendly competition and others taking the opportunity to challenge themselves personally while enjoying the stunning Devon countryside.

Despite the heat and long distances covered, all groups completed the expedition successfully on Saturday. Apart from a few sore muscles and some well-earned blisters, spirits remained high throughout.

Reflecting on the experience, Otis said:

"It was definitely harder than I expected, especially in the heat, but our team worked really well together. The practice expedition beforehand helped us a lot because we knew what the days would be like and what we needed to do to stay motivated. We learned that keeping morale high is just as important as the walking itself, and everyone made an effort to encourage each other when things got tough. Finishing the expedition felt like a huge achievement and showed how much we'd improved as a team."

Staff were delighted with the maturity, teamwork and determination shown by all students. We are certainly glad not to see any more feet until next year's expedition, and students will no doubt be relieved to avoid any further close encounters with Dartmoor's cows!

Congratulations to everyone who took part. It was a fantastic achievement and a memorable experience for all involved.