Ilam Hall 2023

Report - Ilam Hall Residential 19th – 23rd June 2023

On Monday morning 107 incredibly excited children were waved off from school on their three coaches as they left for their week’s residential to Ilam Hall Youth Hostel in the Derbyshire Peak District. Despite busy traffic on the motorways and a slightly longer than usual journey the children all arrived in high spirits.

After the long coach journey, the children were much in need of burning off some bottled-up energy – and there could be no better way than to climb either Thorpe Cloud or Bunster Hill! Coming from Essex, they never truly anticipated the steepness of the gradients involved, but all were determined to succeed. Collapsing at the top they drank in the amazing views of the countryside around and an almost complete lack of human civilisation.

That evening, back at Ilam Hall, the children tucked into a well-deserved hostel meal. It was then time to unpack their luggage and prepare for a room inspection – quite an ‘interesting’ experience for some children! Later that evening they had plenty of time to explore the facilities and the picturesque play areas outside!

Tuesday was a day of two halves. By now the weather had taken a turn for the worse, but at West Leigh we never allow wet weather to put us off! Half the day was spent visiting Chatsworth House followed by an exploration of the gardens. Special highlights for the children were finding their way in (and then out!) of the maze and then having a soaking under the water fountain! The other half of the day was a cycle along the Tissington Trail (now a nature trail but originally the London to Manchester Railway Line) – the only activity all week involving level ground and no steep gradients. Who would have thought that cycling in the rain and getting covered in mud could be so much fun?

Wednesday was a day of better weather and after a cooked breakfast the children left on their coaches to Castleton and the Hope Valley. The morning was spent exploring the famous Blue John Caverns, the only place in the world where the gemstone ‘Blue John’ is found, and the afternoon involved a hike up Mam Tor (and into the clouds!) with a further walk along the mountain ridge overlooking the start of the famous Pennine Way.

By Thursday the sun was shining again. The week was quickly approaching its end, but the prospect of a day at Alton Towers ensured that energy levels remained at 100%. Seven hours at the country’s most popular theme park meant that the children had plenty of opportunities to head for their favourite rides - Oblivion, Smiler, Galactica, Rita, Thirteen, The Wicker Man … these were all popular destinations and were discussed many times over and in great detail throughout the whole evening!

And finally came Friday. By now it was taking more than a knock on the door to wake the children! Cases needed to be packed, beds unmade and rooms emptied before our final hike of the trip. It had been a fantastic week - exciting activities, new challenges, amazing scenery, sheep, sheep and even more sheep - but most important was that the children were such good company and impeccably behaved - a credit to West Leigh and a credit to their parents.