Our Highland challenge will take teams on a journey across Scotland, using only their own power, by bikes, boots, and paddles.  The adventure starts in Fort William, in the shadow of mighty Ben Nevis, where they’ll begin their adventure by sorting kit and buying provisions for the first few days.  After an overnight stay in Fort William the team commence the challenge by bike ride along the Caledonian Canal, part of the Great Glen Fault which a series of Lochs that include Loch Ness.  The fault and canal link the mountainous West coast to the East coast and the stunning Moray Firth. At Fort Augustus teams strike a route directly eastwards into the mountains where they’ll locate the very source of the River Spey before it becomes navigable.  Having reached Speyside and the Cairngorm National Park (CNP), they will undertake their environmental conservation project. On successful completion of their project teams will take on the remainder of the challenge with the River Spey descent, finishing their amazing journey paddling into the Spey Bay in the Moray Firth, a true coast to coast in every sense.

Our overall aim is to support students to develop essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork, empathy, problem solving and communication. This expedition challenges teams to travel under their own steam over this mountainous and demanding route, stopping en route to undertake their project. Under the guidance of two experienced leaders the team will manage their travel, pitch and strike camps, food supplies, and cooking.  They’ll need to work together to overcome issues they encounter … just like real life.