19 Day Adventure 18-22
Reserve your place with a deposit of just £50 today.
If you're a 18-22 year old and looking for the ultimate adventure, the Pinnacle is for you. This 19-day expedition will push you outside of your comfort zone and beyond your limits.
The Pinnacle - The Ultimate Challenge
This is our most challenging programme. But big challenges, mean even bigger rewards.
You need previous experience of exploring the outdoors and camping. You may have already been on an Outward Bound Adventure and now want the adventure of a lifetime, where you journey into the remotest corners of the UK and conquer the tallest mountains on the British Isles.
The Pinnacle is a rolling camp from start to finish spending 19 days (18 nights) not just away from home, but away from the centre too, deep in the wild. You'll learn the art of navigation, camp craft and mountaineering as well as more technical skills like canoeing and rock climbing. You'll also be introduced to one of Outward Bound's most famous traditions: 'the solo'. By day nineteen you'll return to the centre with a team that's as solid as a rock, and with memories to last a lifetime.
Every programme is unique - But here's a taste of what to expect
Day 1
Your adventure will start with a bang and kick off with infamous Outward Bound jog and dip. This is exactly what it says it is – you will jump or run into the lake or sea.
After you’ve dried off, you’ll spend your first day getting to know your group and your instructor who will let you know what you can expect over the next 19 days.
It’s time to pack up your rucksack and get ready to embark on your adventure. You will journey out and spend your first night under the stars. Soak up the anticipation of what’s ahead and get to know your fellow adventurers.
Day 2- 3
After waking up under canvas you will begin your expedition and start exploring the wild. You’ll be immersed into nature straightaway.
Your journey will begin over land and water where you’ll engage in challenging activities such as canoeing across wild lakes and lochs, and hiking over mountains. This is where you will start building the resilience you need for the adventure ahead and form new friendships.
At the end of your first few days, you will start to see what you are truly capable of and begin to have a deeper appreciation for the natural environment.
Days 4 - 6
The next few days will be like no other as you go deeper into the wild. You will take on invigorating outdoor experiences that push you and help to grow your independence skills, such as meeting canoes at the source of a river and paddling out to the sea, and then hiking back into the mountains on a continuous journey. Each day will end at a new campsite in the wild.
You and your teammates will have each other’s backs as you complete these challenges together. You are now also discovering what the UK wilderness really have to offer by discovering wild places on foot and water that aren’t easy to get to any other way.
Days 7 - 8
Now you’ve had a week in the wild, it’s time to look inwards and make time for personal reflection. We do this at Outward Bound by completing a ‘solo’.
A solo is an exercise that enables you to have time for yourself. To be on your own in nature. To do nothing other than being with your thoughts and taking the time to reflect and think about what you have achieved so far and what you want to achieve in the future. The solo can be a transformative part of an Outward Bound course, its effects empowering.
Days 9 - 11
As your journey continues, there’s no better time to embrace brand new challenges. You’ll push yourself that bit further and see what you can really do in the wild.
You will take on many peaks enroute, including some of the UK’s most famous mountains. Your instructor will use the next few days to set you new challenges, giving you the opportunity to practise your independence skills. And remember, this is Outward Bound so the next few days will continue to be packed with challenging outdoor activities.
You are now learning how to handle yourself out in the wild as you gain a new sense of independence. There’s no doubt you’ll spend the next few days making memories that will last a lifetime.
Days 12 - 14
Is it time to push yourself outside your comfort zone and try something new? Grab every opportunity over the next few days. You could strap yourself into a harness and helmet and tackle rock climbing up a spectacular peak. Or you might return to the water and take a leap of faith with cliff jumping and wild swimming.
All the adventures and activities you have taken part in until now has prepared you for the next part of your expedition. Now is the time for you and your fellow adventurers to plan and prepare your own route and how you will complete your adventure.
Days 15 - 17
This is the final part of your expedition and this will challenge you the most! You will use your new skills to plan a self-led journey into the wild with just your friends for support. Your sense of personal responsibility will be tested as will your resilience skills but you’ll feel more confident and independent than ever before.
You’ll discover your problem-solving skills along the way and build trust with your friends – you will all understand the true value of how important it is to work together as team.
Days 18 - 19
You will journey back towards centre – the place where it all started but you will return a stronger and more confident person. You will have the chance to spend time with your friends and work together one last time to take on another adventurous challenge.
You will also have time to celebrate your success! See how far you have come and have a moment or two to reflect on the amazing things you have achieved.
Before you leave, get your well-earned certificate. You will feel you have achieved something monumental over the last 19 days – and believe or not, you will want to do it all over again!
The price, what's included and kit list
Book your 2024 adventure by 31 December and pay a low deposit of £50*.
*A further payment of £100 will be required by the end of December 2023 to secure your place. See our T&Cs for more info.
What's included
- One instructor from start to finish
- Full programme, crammed full of activities
- All the kit to keep you safe, dry and warm
- Accommodation and bedding
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- A certificate of achievement, a fabric badge and a pin badge
What you'll need
- A sense of adventure
- Clothes and footwear for each day
- £10 deposit for any kit you borrow
- A camera (for the memories)
- Money for souvenirs and a post-expedition ice cream (recommended)
- Your eDofE number (if you're using this for parts of your DofE)
- Small sports bag or holdall
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The Ultimate
Aberdovey Ultimate Expedition 2019
This is my second ultimate expedition as I enjoyed my first at Ullswater last year. I wanted to have a different experience in a new location and meet new people. In both expeditions I met some very interesting people from multiple countries with very different backgrounds, who I am still in contact with today and I appreciated how close everyone became over the course of the expeditions. I have really challenged myself in both expeditions and overcome various fears of mine, which really helped with my self esteem. One of the bonuses of the ultimate is how much fitter I was by the end of them and how it encouraged me to keep fit afterwards. I would definitely recommend the ultimate if you want to extend yourself, psychologically and physically.
Ultimate Expedition
I really enjoyed my ultimate expedition. We went sea kayaking, did plenty of walking, climbed Munroes and rode a couple of trains. It was an amazing experience and I loved our instructor Louise. It was a bit rough at first but smoothened out pretty quickly. It’s not for everyone the ultimate, you’ve got to be tough, willing and committed. But if you adhere to these ideals you’ll have a smashing time.
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