Last week a group of pupils ventured to Innerleithen for a week of technical and physically challenging riding. The trails there are some of the longest and best in the country and they tested the pupils’ riding skills to the limit.
Throughout the week the riding progressed and the intensity of the trails increased. This gave pupils the chance to put all their skills into practice as they rode down the ever-steeping terrain. For some, this is their seventh year biking with school, and the level of riding they demonstrated was outstanding.
The first four days were spent at the Golfie where we rode numerous trails and climbed over 12,000ft in only 60 miles – but we had too much fun to keep track. We were thankful to have the great accommodation at Cleikum Mill Lodge to come back to each day. They had great facilities for groups like ours with bike cleaning and storage, which allowed pupils to clean and look after their bikes and kit. The good kitchen space also gave them plenty of room to whip up some great evening meals for our group also.
The final day brought the rain through the morning, but this didn’t dampen spirits or enthusiasm. The uplift service at Adrenaline Uplift gave the legs a break, along with some easy trails to go at, with the odd steeper offering as well. This was a fantastic way to end the week and the development and increase in confidence in the group was clear to see.
For many this will be there last major trip with the Outdoor Education department at school before they move on. It has been a privilege to work with these fantastic individuals over the last five or seven years.
