Coming up with great ideas for geography school trips that will excite and interest students can be hard, but they may well be taken with the idea of doing the Three Peaks Challenge.
This undertaking involves making your way over the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales in 24 hours and, as well as taxing your students physically, this would also put them through their paces mentally as they get to know the local countryside and how it has evolved over the years.
There are several routes you and your group can choose to go down as you climb over Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike.
Snowdon, for example, has a number of tracks for you to select from, all of which vary in terms of difficulty. The majority of people take either the Pyg Track or the Miners Track, beginning at the Pen-y-Pass.
Pyg Track starts as a tarmac path and you will find it is quite rocky as you go. Keep an eye out for the large upright stone that can be found 30 minutes from the top of the route, where it joins with the Miners Track.
The Miners Track, meanwhile, is quite a smooth walk and will take you past the three lakes of Glaslyn, Llyn Llydaw and Llyn Teyrn.
Similarly, Scafell Pike is also home to a variety of paths to choose from, although most walkers tend to start their hike at Wasdale Head, to the north of Wast Water. If you opt for this pathway, you will travel over a river and past Brown Tongue before you reach the top of the mountain.
You can also leave from Seathwaite, which will take you through Styhead Gill and then up to the summit of the peak.
In contrast, Ben Nevis - the highest of the three mountains at 4,409 feet - only has one main path. This starts close to sea level, so you will find that the vertical ascent is much greater than the others.
When instructing students on what to take, remind them to pack a first aid kit, a map and compass, waterproofs, emergency shelter, a survival blanket, sunglasses, a head torch, a mobile phone and a pair of spare socks. This way, they will be prepared for all eventualities.
Such a challenge will help students to practice their fieldwork skills and hopefully give them a new perspective on the world, as well as developing a deep contextual understanding of their physical environment.
----------------------
