During an unexpectedly sunny and warm March, a group of MPW London students set out on a training expedition across the South Downs in preparation for the real thing in September 2025. Our student Yuto picks up the story…

In March 2025, we went on a three-day, two-night Duke of Edinburgh training expedition in the South Downs, beginning near Hove and finishing in Hassocks. The purpose was to prepare ourselves for the assessed expedition in September, and it gave us the chance to practise route planning, navigation, and teamwork. We walked across rolling hills and fields, enjoyed surprisingly mild weather for March, and got used to carrying our full kit over long distances.

One of the biggest challenges was a navigation error on the second day, which meant we accidentally added nearly two kilometres to our hike — but we managed to stay calm, re-check the map, and find our way back on to the route. Evenings were spent setting up camp, cooking together, and winding down under clear skies. Overall, the trip was a great experience that helped build our confidence and gave us a real taste of what to expect in the assessment.

We’re already looking forward to putting our skills to the test again in September!