Mountain Biking on the Quantocks

Today Nick and I headed to the Quantock Hills for some mountain biking. We started from Lydeard Hill car park and covered about ten miles. Our route took in some of the technical trails of cockercombe, the Chimney in Ramscombe and a climb up to Dowsborough Hill Fort before returning via Wilmott's Pool and Triscombe Stone.

Gold D of E Practice Expedition

For the last three days I have been out on Dartmoor working for Plymouth College . We had four groups out completing their practice expedition for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
It was great to be out wild camping again especially when the weather was so great.
My group spent their first night camping near Ditsworthy warren and the second camping near King's Tor, they finished their expedition near Scoriton.
I enjoyed some trail running on the moor to check point the groups at various locations, by making the effort to run you can get to areas where the students do nit expect to see you. This means you can better see their progress and give appropriate feedback before their final expedition.
 

Climbing at Sheepstor

Today Gwilym and I took the Plymouth College senior games group climbing to Sheepstor on Dartmoor.
I took 4 students for some top-roping with the help of Rosie while Gwilym spent the session teaching two students to lead climb. The sun was shining but the wind was biting at this exposed venue.

Biking at Newnham Park

Today Gwilym, Sarah and I went to Newnham Park to ride the trails on the estate. David Cobbald is very keen for Plymouth College to use the private mountain biking trails on his estate with their students.
The estate would be a fantastic teaching venue due to the sole use of the trails. We are also looking into a school adventure race and a school cross country mountain biking event.
Having ridden some of these high quality trails it is easy to see why they have hosted world cup events in the past.

Plymouth College - Kayaking and Climbing at the Dewerstone

Out and about with Plymouth College again today.

The day started with four lessons in the school pool teaching kayaking to year 7 and 8 as part of their core PE. As this was the second session for them I introduced paddles and we looked at various skills as well as playing variety of games that improved these skills.

This afternoon we again made use of the fantastic weather and headed outside for the senior games climbing session. Jay and I chose to take the students to the Dewerstone, a granite outcrop in the Plym valley on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. We set up four top ropes on various grades from VD to HVS for the students to try.

Plymouth College - Geography Field Trip, Day 1

 Pen y ole wen from Cwm Idwal

 The Nant Francon Valley

 Paul Gannon talking to the students

Studying Cwm Idwal

 Inlet Valve at Electric Mountain

Yesterday Anya and I drove 9 year 10 Geography students from Plymouth College up to North Wales for a Geography field trip. We booked Ben's Bunkhouse just outside Llanberis for our accommodation and classroom space. The aim of the trip is to give the students a practical view of the effects of glaciation.

We spent this morning on a guided walk around Cwm Idwal with Paul Gannon. Paul is the Author of Snowdonia - Rock Trails, a geographical and geological guide to the mountains for hill walkers. 

The afternoon was spent on a guided tour of Electric Mountain, a hydro electric power station carved into the mountain side at the site of the disused Dinorwig Slate Quarry.