As the Secretary of the Dorset Expeditionary Society I have been privileged to be involved with many expeditions for young people to wild areas of the world. In the last couple of years we have sent trips to Alaska, Mont Blanc, Himalayas, Ecuador, Kenya, Nepal, Norway, Morocco, Corsica.. to name... Continue reading

We've heard from a few of the expedition team, not much to report yet as they are getting settled in Quito but here are two updates from their journey: "SOooooo, im sat in quito, its hot ! all is going okay despite the thunderstoms in the plane journeys. This morning... Continue reading

The Ecuador team left Heathrow on 19 July to fly to Miami and arrived in Quito at 8.30pm yesterday evening. They have a busy schedule ahead of them. On Thursday they will be cycling around Cotopaxi (the highest active volcano in the world)in the avenue of the volcanoes, then on... Continue reading

Photo (L-R): Pictured left to right; Tim Dunham, Lauren Trent, John Mortimore, Tom Ralph, Faith Askew, Chris Richards, Vicky Dobbs, Henry Ryle, Katy Fielding. DES Management Committee member Jamie Lawrence managed to escape from watching the Royal Wedding in April by taking a group of second year Outdoor Adventure Management... Continue reading

'I can't afford it'. Sound familiar? I hear this most days, shortly after the same person was saying, 'I'm so going to do that'. I've been reading a lot of articles recently about the credit crunch and how people are less keen to commit to trips, but overwhelmingly the response from our seasoned think-tank of explorers is actually, you can afford it. How? Well firstly look at what it is you want to do. Is there a specific place/mountain/wilderness you want to explore? Have you set your heart on achieving one objective or are you keen to just be adventurous... Continue reading

The Stephenson Award is given annually to an individual who is a member of the Young Explorers’ Trust for outstanding service to youth expeditioning. There are many ways by which such service may occur. It might be for a long period of involvement with the youth expedition scene, for a young member who has later developed active leadership skills or a young member who has made a particular contribution to an expedition in the field. The 2011 Stephenson Award winner is MARK SALMON, expedition Leader for Leading Edge Expeditions and a long standing member of the Dorset Expeditionary Society. Mark... Continue reading

Continue reading

High up in the Langtang we reach Therapati where apart from 3 teahouses and some grazing horses there is nothing. The views , however are superb and we watch the sun setting over some 6 thousand metre peaks. To get here the trek has been quite arduous and some in our group now pay the price with diarrhoea and vomiting. The teahouse has one outside crouch toilet but no running water and the water in the bucket quickly runs out as many pay visits during the night. With the bucket empty, there is no way of clearing up the mess... Continue reading

The Dorset Expeditionary Society is proud of the success of our Young Leaders. This report from Matt & Paris' self-led trip to Norway is an great example of what our Young Leaders are achieving. Oslo Report Our cycle tour to Norway in September 2010 was overall a massive success. Apprehensions... Continue reading

Dartmoor is even closer and I imagine that a huge percentage of DES members have been and have fond memories from numerous trips with either Budmouth or Wey Valley... Transport not so easy but definately do able if you have a mind to do it... Bus to exeter and then... Continue reading

Download Corsica Report.docx Continue reading

For the first time in a long while I didn't have any foreign travel planned for my two week Easter break! And did it make me decidedly grumpy... YES! However I did have new kit and what better than an opportunity to head out into the hills for a micro... Continue reading

24 hours, 3 summits, nearly 3000m of ascent - are you ready for it? 14 places available! The three peaks challenge 2011 is the original mountain endurance challenge of the UK: climb the highest peaks in Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon) in 24 hours. Join us... Continue reading

"Adventure is only a state of mind. Adventure is stretching yourself; mentally, physically or culturally. It is about doing what you do not normally do, pushing yourself hard and doing it to the best of your ability. And if that is true then adventure is all around us, at all... Continue reading

Adventures don't come any better than those we have planned for Summer 2012! We pride ourselves on providing the best quality expeditions you can find and at a price that is affordable (we are a non profit making organisation). We provide training grants and help you fundraise. Visit our website www.leadingedge.org.uk to see what we have to offer. Because we recruit a team of the very best candidates and then train them as a team, we are already looking at recruiting participants for Summer 2012 expeditions. If you would like to apply for the most amazing adventure for 4-5 weeks... Continue reading

Hi All - so the last entry for what's been a great adventure! Started out before daybreak and had one last contest with the wind for 3 or 4 hrs. Got to narbonne centre and had a huge coffee; I was thinking plage + med just around the corner! But... Continue reading

Hi All Day 7. Today started well - fun time getting throughToulouse ( a huge city centre and finding route out). Made 40miles against headwind of 30mph before track became mega rutted and not ok for uber thin road wheels! Made run for a D road, but the wind was... Continue reading

6th day of riding. Left Agen and rode for a cold couple of hours on canal du Garonne. Tarmac ok-my big plan to make Carcassonne 125miles do-able just! Sun up and with it le mistral! Unrelenting headwind for 11hrs! Grind to toulouse, exhausted at 78 miles, but hopeful wind will... Continue reading

Day 6 Bonsoir from agens. Wow what a day; left Bergerac with a big climb through monbasillac wine country. Shame as my favourite but no time for wine tasting a 1 legged hilly rte 25 kms to pharmacie left thigh injury. Bought magic bandage with comedy translation- big laugh -pushed... Continue reading

Day 5 left perigeux straight into 1.5 km climb got warm pdq! Took stunning D road route to Bergerac and stopped in a small town marche lunch fruit + almonds ~ french really know how to live well! Long climb and decent today legs been better but should reach flatter... Continue reading

Hi All Day 4: set off from beautiful b+b Made good speed + had le hot dog + coffee lunch in angouleme centre following steep climb. Real difficult navigation out of city then Long push to perigeux against wind and hills bike gears making long hill climbs real tough. Bit... Continue reading

Day 3 left poitier cold but clear blue sky. Rode through endless forest roads before finding what should have been long fast roads but for sidewinds. Went on like that all day. Left knee complained all morning but seemed ok by mid afternoon. Hoped to get to angouleme but ran... Continue reading

Ben Winstanley - cycling across France to raise funds for young people Continue reading

Hi all, day 2 really tough ~ got lost nr angers, cost me 25 miles then long push to poitiers. 11hour +108mile day not bad after yesterday. Big carbs 2nite as ran on gas last 20 miles + feeling fairly wiped out. More tomorrow Ben Continue reading

Hi from angers. Cracking start to the route made130 miles + only got lost once in st malo! Climbed over 4000ft on endless rolling hills great freewheeling few seconds but loong climbs out valley bottoms! drank 8ltrs water + still thirsty! Bike + legs in good shape tho starting to... Continue reading