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DofE Open Gold Qualifying Expedition - Walking

Your DofE Gold Expedition in the Lake District, Peak District or Yorkshire Dales will be delivered by supportive and encouraging leaders who're focused on your success.

The Qualifying DofE Gold expedition is the highest achievement of the DofE Award. Your 4-day expedition will be supported by professional leaders and assessors. You and your team will journey through some of the UK's most beautiful national parks.

5 days
4 nights
£355 inc.vat per expedition.
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Lake District 2026

Easter

  • 7th April - 11th April (Tues-Sat) Book Now
  • 13th April - 17th April (Mon-Fri) /// NOW FULLY BOOKED /// Book Now

Summer Break

  • 27th July - 31st July (Mon-Fri) Book Now
  • 17th August - 21st August (Mon-Fri) Book Now

Peak District 2026

Easter

  • 30th March - 3rd April (Mon-Fri) /// NOW FULLY BOOKED /// Book Now

May Half Term

  • 26th May - 30th May (Tues-Sat) Book Now

Yorkshire Dales 2026

May Half Term

  • 26th May - 30th May (Tues-Sat) /// NOW FULLY BOOKED /// Book Now

Summer Break

  • 10th August - 14th August (Mon-Fri) Book Now

Day by Day

To view the full itinerary, expand this panel.

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Day 1: Arrival Day

The programme will commence at 13:00.  

Topics covered:

  • Get to know your team
  • Full kit checks
  • Distribution of group equipment
  • Route planning
  • Core navigation skills
  • Emergency scenarios

Day 2/3/4/5: Qualifying Expedition 

Complete your planned route. The DofE gold qualifying expedition will involve being observed using remote supervision and will be assessed by one of our DofE accredited assessors. 

Following the expedition, the assessor will fully debrief you and your team. They will produce a full report which will be sent to you to upload to your eDofE account as evidence of completing the Gold Expedition.  

The programme will finish at approx. 16:00.

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Locations

Open exped mapYour DofE Qualifying expedition will take place in either the Lake District, Peak 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.

NOTE: Your Qualifying Expeditions should take place in different location to where you completed your Practice Expedition. i.e. Practice Expedition in the Peak District and a Qualifying Expedition in the Lake District.

What's Included?

  • Indoor Training Facilities & Sleeping Arrangements
    Your expedition will be based from a hostel or bunkhouse. All activities will be based outside in the grounds, including sleeping (in tents).
  • Food 
    Participants will need to bring enough food for the whole expedition. Food will be prepared on their individual camping stoves provided by us. We have teamed up with basecampfoods.com who have a large selection of meals to choose from and also offer free postage.
    Basecamp Food are kindly offering a 10% discount to all participants.
  • Camping fees
    Camping will be on a campsite in many cases we have arranged for our camping area to be away from other members of the public. All camping fees are covered in the cost of the expedition.
  • Use of the best group equipment available
    Tents
    Stove & Gas inc. Pans and fuel
    First aid kit (1 per team)
    Maps
    GSM Tracking device (1 per team)
    Water Purification tablets
    Coloured Rucksack covers (1 per person)
  • Comprehensive training
    Covering all aspects of the DofE syllabus and delivered by our highly experienced and qualified staff.
  • Supervision by Highly Qualified staff
    Our highly experienced instructor team will be supervising yo throughout the expedition. All of our staff are a minimum of Summer Mountain Leader qualified.
  • DofE Accredited Assessors
    For the qualifying expedition only - they will help you feel relaxed and encourage you towards completing your Duke of Edinburgh expedition.
  • GSM Tracking devices
    In addition to our usual comprehensive supervision and safety management systems we also track each team with GSM trackers.

What Do You Need To Arrange?

  • Your own transport to and from the expedition venue.
  • Your personal clothing and some camping equipment.
  • Your personal expedition food. Details of what food to prepare and bring along will be provided in your Programme Welcome Pack sent to you following your booking.

Downloads

To help you with your planning and preparations, please download our guidance documents.

If you have any other questions, do get in touch.

DofE Expedition Guidance for Participants and Parents DofE Expedition Kit Guide DofE Expedition Menu Planning Eating on a DofE Expedition
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