Young adventurers at Gordonstoun have completed a ‘Race Across the World’ style challenge, covering more than a 100km in just 19 hours.
The seven senior students successfully completed the epic expedition, which involved running, cycling, canoeing and swimming through some of the country’s remotest and toughest terrain.
The ‘Plus Est En Vous Challenge Journey’ involved four girls and three boys battling against the elements through mountain, river, forest and coastal environments over two days.
It began with an early morning start, when the team raised the Gordonstoun flag at the summit of Cairn Gorm – Scotland’s sixth highest mountain – in high winds, cold temperatures and thick mist.
During the trek, the students even managed to overcome a major mechanical issue with one of their bikes while tackling the 112km course. They eventually completed the course in just 19 hours, crossing the finishing line with the school flag at Gordonstoun House, near the Moray coast.
Gordonstoun’s unique co-curriculum offers students the opportunity to get out of the classroom and take part in numerous outside adventures and challenges.
In 1965, the then 16-year-old Prince Charles completed just over 45km trekking through forests and mountains in winter weather during his time as a student at Gordonstoun, as part of his Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE).
The school recently partnered with a new charity to support the reopening of a mountain adventure centre in the Cairngorms called Rothiemurchus Lodge.
The students initially based themselves at the adventure centre before heading to the start of their journey at Cairn Gorm, equipped with rucksacks, including waterproof clothes, warm hat and gloves, a sleeping bag, head torch, midge net and First Aid kit.
Ibrahim Park, Gordonstoun Outdoor and Learning Adventure Coordinator, who organised the challenge, said:
““I have done several versions of this journey and others like it personally over the last 25 years. Summit to seas, coast to coast, source to sea. I suggested a ‘homecoming journey’ could be possible with students. About ten years ago we did something very similar from Balmoral Castle to Gordonstoun.
“A significant mechanical issue with one of the bikes added a great deal of jeopardy during the second day of the journey, as it was critically important that two of the students made it back to school by lunchtime for inoculations required for their forthcoming service project to Kenya.
“After repairs were made, the students blasted down the tracks and trails towards Gordonstoun to try and ensure the whole group could complete the journey.
“The group ran the last 2km through the North Gate and onto the roof of Gordonstoun House with minutes to spare and just enough time to raise the flag before the two students whisked themselves off to the Healthcare Centre.
“Throughout the entirety of the trip the students displayed remarkable camaraderie, resilience, determination and compassion towards each other, all with big smiles and a hugely positive spirit. The journey really did encompass Gordonstoun’s ‘Plus Est En Vous’ motto.”
Once the students completed the early morning mountain run, they faced a 22km mountain bike ride through the Ryvoan Pass and down towards the River Spey. They then canoed down towards Grantown before disembarking and running to the start of the Dava Way.
A quick change saw them back on bikes for a 46km ride before arriving at their camp in Culbin Forest late in the evening.
The following morning it was another early start with a 6km forest run before a 500m swim over the Findhorn estuary. For the final 20km, the students jumped back on their mountain bikes before running the final 2km to the finishing line at Gordonstoun. From start to finish, the entire expedition took around 31 hours.
Year 12 student Marie Hichert, 17, said:
“The cycling really took it out of me, especially on the second day when my body was in some serious pain. However, knowing that my friends and I are going through this together really helped me going.
“We all motivated each other and stayed considerate if someone was feeling tired. No matter how testing the journey got, there was always more I could have put into the challenge.
“The challenge sounded like another one of those things that Gordonstoun offers that I will remember for the rest of my life. Now I can for sure say I made a lifelong memory.”
Megan Stewart, 17, added:
“I love doing outdoor sports, and the intense challenge of the journey appealed to me as an exciting opportunity and adventure. I found mountain biking the toughest, as it was what I had the least amount of experience with, as it was not just a physical effort, but the conditions often meant it required a lot of skill and concentration.
“There were a couple moments in the journey, especially when biking, when I thought I wouldn’t be able to complete the challenge. However, every person in the team supported me in a different way at different times.
“With the teams’ positivity, even the hardest challenges became possible. I don’t think I could have completed it without their encouragement and support.”
