DofE Open Gold Back-to-Back Expedition

Overview

Our DofE Open Gold Back-to-Back Expeditions will feel welcoming and friendly. Our supportive instructor team will make sure you have a safe, fun and rewarding expedition experience.

Exploring adventurous terrain you will be given comprehensive training in all aspects of the Gold DofE Expedition framework helping you build confidence, competence, resilience, navigation skills and teamwork, before embarking on your 4 day/ 3 night qualifying expedition.

Your Suitability

Back-to-Back expeditions are very demanding, requiring you to walk long distances over multiple days. The Back-to-Back option is only suitable for participants with good levels of expedition fitness and prior DofE experience.

If you do not match this criteria, consider one of our individual Gold Practice or Gold Qualifying programmes.

Lake District 2027

Easter

29th March - 4th April (Saturday-Saturday) Book Now

Summer Break

27th July - 30th July (Saturday-Saturday) Book Now

Yorkshire Dales 2027

May Half Term

29th May - 4th June (Saturday-Saturday) Book Now

Itinerary - Day by Day

7-days includes:

1-day / 1 night Expedition training
2-days / 2 nights Practice Expedition
4-days/3-nights Qualifying Expedition

To view the full itinerary, expand this panel.

Day 1: Arrival day

Our Expedition training framework covers all relevant core elements required for the Gold DofE Award, to include:

Getting to know your team
Reviewing / checks of kit and equipment
Route planning
Putting up tents
Group cooking task (using stoves)

The programme will commence at 13:00

Day 2/3: Practice Expedition

The Practice Expedition provides an opportunity to apply all that has been learnt in real Expedition conditions and under the close guidance from our instructors. Once ready, teams will navigate independently to their campsite, being remotely supervised. Additional training might also be given by the instructor along the way if needed, which might include:

Emergency scenarios - what to do and how to manage
Navigation skills and techniques, putting them into practice
Expedition skills in the outdoors
Teamwork - how to work effectively in a group

When the teams arrive at camp it’s time to put the tents up and start cooking – all with supervision and support from our instructors to ensure ongoing learning and safety.

At the end of the Practice Expedition, there will be time to restock on food supplies from your spares bag, repack rucksacks and have time for reflection and feedback from your instructor before route planning for your Qualifying expedition.

Days 4/5/6/7: Qualifying Expedition

Ongoing assessment and remote supervision by our qualified DofE assessors
End of Expedition debrief and reporting
Delivery of your expedition aim

Our staff will use remote supervision, as well as meeting up in person with our DofE accredited assessors. Instructors will also camp with or near by the teams overnight.

There will be a full debrief by the assessing instructors at the end of day 7. This provides an opportunity for participants to reflect, identify proud moments, achievements, learnings and ask questions.

A full report is produced for each student, which is to be uploaded to their eDofE account as evidence of the Gold Expedition Award completion.

The programme will finish at approx. 16:00.

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Locations

Your DofE Back-to-Back Expedition will take place in either the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales, the most incredible National Parks in the UK. You'll travel amongst stunning mountains and lakes.

The location of our expeditions are chosen for their suitability to fulfil the requirements of the Award as well as ease of access by car and public transport.

What's Included?

Tents
Stoves/Pans & Gas
Group 1st Aid Kit
Maps & Map Cases
Tracking Device
Coloured Rucksack Covers
Water Purification
All Camping Fees

Our Services

Indoor training facility. Offering a great area for training and preparations, regardless of the weather.
Comprehensive training. Covering all aspects of the DofE syllabus.
Supervision by highly qualified staff. Ensuring your safety throughout the expedition.
DofE Accredited Assessors. For the Qualifying Expedition only - helping you feel relaxed and encourage you towards completing your expedition.
Personalised Report. Highlighting areas of improvement, recommendations and achievements during the expedition process.

You Will Need to Arrange

Our DofE Open Gold back-to-Back Expedition covers almost everything, however, we do require some input and organisation from yourself.

Transport
Our expedition locations are chosen for their ease of access via public transport. Personal vehicles can be left in a location close to the finish point of your expedition.
Personal clothing and equipment.
You will need to supply your own clothing, rucksack, boots and sleeping equipment. A full kit list will be sent at the time of booking. Extra clothing/food can be brought along in a 'spares bag', This will either be stored in a vehicle or at our stores, and you will have access to this in the evening of Day 3, allowing you to repack your main pack.
Food
Participants will need to bring enough food for the whole expedition. However, there will be an opportunity to restock between to the practice and qualifying expedition. We have teamed up with basecampfoods.com who have a large selection of meals to choose from. Basecamp Food are kindly offering a 10% discount to all participants.