During two weekends intrepid groups of students met the challenges that the heat, the climbs and the distances threw at them high in the Serra do Gerês, as they completed their Duke of Edinburgh International Bronze Award journey, and in Miranda do Douro for the Silver Award.
 
Whether in the mountains of Gerês or along the clifftops looking down at the international Douro, under sunny skies, the students enjoyed a quite spectacular view of northern Portugal in full spring flower. Our Silver Award students volunteered to work with donkeys, and all successfully endured the challenges of arduous journeys on successive days; many life lessons learned, with some cooking skills on display too. These two weekends demonstrated the value and opportunities that the Duke of Edinburgh Award offers. Well done to the students, and a huge thank you to the teachers who accompanied them.