The whole school apart from the very youngest class (who were having their own adventure in the lower forest) made the walk - 55 kids aged between six and eleven plus "helpers"made for a bright crocodile heading up towards the summit!
The day was quite windy so although everybody made it up to the hillfort immediately below the summit, we brought up only the older ones to the very top in small groups.
The rural Primary school these children attend has a clear view to Bennachie and they see the hill every day - I think the head teacher and the school staff deserve huge credit for taking them to climb it; in these risk-averse times it would be simple to just not do such a walk. Already accustomed to their "daily mile" at school, the children took the whole thing in their stride and there wasn't a single comlaint or grumble to be heard. It was a genuinely fun day and a real pleasure to be helping out.
I climbed Bennachie again as an evening walk in glorious weather a few days later - this is the view from Oxen Craig across to the Mither Tap. Don't get me wrong, I love solitude in the hills, but somehow Bennachie seemed less complete without the chatter and laughter of 55 small hillwalkers.....
Looks a great day out and well done to the school as you say. It's funny that our parents generation thought nothing of sending us out around seven or eight years of age with friends all day alone to play around the area and only worried about us if we didn't appear for dinner. Later on I used to be miles away from my house at weekends and as long as I arrived back for food at teatime nobody worried. Changed days.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true Bob, risk taking is seen in a negative light now; it used to be the default!
DeleteKind regards
Great stuff, Ian. Nothing like a good healthy dose of Vitamin N (Nature) for our children and grandchildren. We are greatly enthused by the work of the Children and Nature Network... http://www.childrenandnature.org Warm wishes to you.
ReplyDeleteVitamin N, a priceless supplement Duncan. and available without presciption :o)
DeleteWarm wishes to you both, hope to see you soon!