Mountaineering

Throughout their time at The Academy, pupils are offered opportunities to take part in activities such as rock climbing, hillwalking and winter mountaineering.

Both local crags and remote mountain rock faces provide wonderful opportunities for pupils learn the art of rockclimbing. When pupils are keen, and staff are content that they have mastered the essential skills, pupils can progress to ‘leading’ their own climbs.

Older pupils can participate in winter mountaineering trips. During winter skills weekends pupils learn how to use ice axe and crampons. A number of day walks are undertaken and this normally culminates in an overnight expedition. This may involve digging a snow hole and then spending a night in this slightly chilly abode.

There is a biennial overseas mountaineering expedition. The last expedition was to Greenland in July 2009. For some students expeditions of this type are just the start of their adventures. A number go on to complete gap year expeditions to areas such as the European Alps, South America and Arctic Norway.