Benmore Blog, day three (Chris Boyd)

Today we went with Morna to the gorge walk and I fell but I’m still living. We went down a chute. It was lots of fun. In the afternoon we went caving and I got stuck but eventually I got there. It was wet inside and dark but we got torches. Eventually we climbed out and went back to camp. Tonight we are doing raft building.

Benmore Blog, day three (Whisky)

Today we woke up and had breakfast. Today was going to be good. In the morning we went caving and in the afternoon we went kayaking. The caves were dark and damp and some parts were really narrow. We got lowered down by a rope and went off to explore! It was good fun.
In the afternoon (after we had lunch) we went kayaking. We had a boat each and it was really hard to balance because it was quite windy. Me and Bracken and Bramble fell into the freezing water. I t was really good fun and we had oars. Benmore is really good and the weather is brilliant!!
Whisky xxxx

Benmore Blog, day three (The Human Nessie)

Today, in the morning we had room inspection. We got 10 out of 10! For our fist activity we went caving. I had to be lowered down first into the dark, dark cave. Dun dun duuuun!! But it was okay because I had a torch on my helmet.
For our second activity we had kayaking. It was so fun. Once we knew how to turn and go straight etc. we got to play games. In one of them we all bunched our kayaks together and we stood up, one at a time, and walked along the kayaks. I, of course, fell in. Bramble, Whisky, Bracken and Paul Burn all capsized at one time or another, so we all got good and wet. At the end we all went for a swim. After we’ve finished this we are going rafting! We are all going to work in teams to make rafts! It’s going to be fun!
Bye,
The Human Nessie
xx

Benmore Blog, day three (Robin Red Breast)

Today we went abseiling! It was really cool. I was a bit scared at first but I did it and I had great fun! I wish I could do it again. After lunch we went for a forest walk and I planned to get soaking wet! I crawled through loads of wet tunnels and we found millions of tadpoles! I caught loads but I kept two in a cup and called them Fuji and Po (strange names!). We played hide and seek in the woods and we drank some water from a mini waterfall. The water was delicious! This evening I’m really happy because my family sent me some really nice cards and my little sister did some cool drawings! I miss my family loads but I’m having lots of fun!

Benmore Blog, day three (Rob Roy MacGregor)

Our first thing we had to do was our duties and chores for our bedroom. The first activity today day was climbing and abseiling which was really good. I wanted to do it again. After lunch we went for a forest walk. It was quite good. For our dinner we had spaghetti bolognaise. It was so delicious. Tomorrow we are doing canoeing. I am looking forward to it. We get cake after our first activities. It was delicious. My group got two bits of cake.

Benmore Blog, day three (Bracken)

Today we went in caves and went kayaking. The caves were really dark and damp and quite small. I liked the kayaking the best and I fell out twice. I am really enjoying myself and having lots of fun.
Love Bracken

Benmore Blog, day three (Berry)

Today we went caving. It was great fun. It was all wet but still good. After we went to the caves we went back to the house. We went kayaking but we were going to do canoeing but it was too windy. I went out at the very beginning of the activity but I was not too bothered because I don’t really like things like that. Tomorrow we are climbing and abseiling which is going to be great fun. Then we are going to do the gorge walk which is also going to be fun so we have a great day ahead of us.
Love Berry

Benmore Blog, day three (Fudge)

Today we went kayaking and caving. I really enjoyed the kayaking because I love water and like having fun. I didn’t really enjoy the caves because I don’t like enclosed spaces! I had lots of fun today and am looking forward to tomorrow.
Love Fudge

Benmore Blog, day three (Ally McCoist)

Today we went gorge walking and it was fun. We had to hug a tree that looked like an elephant and at the end we slid down a waterfall and got soaking wet. In the afternoon we went caving and got lowered down and we had lights on top of our helmets to see.

Benmore Blog, day three (Stardust)

Today we had breakfast then went and did caving. It was dark, scary and you had to be lowered down. Had lunch. Did kayaking. Had a swim and then had tea and cakes. Free time then tea and now we’re going to build rafts.

Benmore Blog, day three (Adder)

This morning we had climbing and abseiling. It was really fun. It was about 50 feet high. I had to climb up last with Miss Rome. The abseil was smaller than I remembered. But maybe I’m just taller. In the afternoon we went for a walk in the forest. We played hide and seek and caught tadpoles in cups. It was fun. Highlander found a tadpole and called it ‘Jimbo’. It was larger than the others and had little stumps of legs. I enjoyed today.

Benmore Blog, day three (Loch Ness)

Today we did gorge walking and caving. First we did gorge walking. We drove to a churchyard and walked into a burn. We walked up the burn and climbed up a really steep rock. It was cold! Then at the top we sat in front of a pool. We made a human dam and stopped the water coming out of the pool. It built up and then we slid down the rock into a pool then out into another pool. It was cold, wet and great fun. Then we went caving. It was soooo cool. We got lowered into a cave. It was 25 feet down. Then we climbed.

Benmore Blog, day three (William Wallace)

Today our activities were climbing (abseil in the morning) and forest walking (in the afternoon). In the morning the climbing was fun and so was the abseil. Whilst I was abseiling I slipped and slammed into a slab of rock. The forest walk was fun because we got to crawl through pipes with loads of water flowing through and I got soaked. At the end we got to taste water from the river then I had a shower under a waterfall. It was spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread. Our evening activity is raft building.

Benmore Blog, day three (Nettle)

This morning we did climbing and abseiling but we had to practise first by going down a plastic thing and on the climbing wall. It was great fun! When we got outside I abseiled 50 feet off a huge cliff. It was so scary because my rope kept on getting tangled up with Highlander’s rope in the middle. I thought I was going to slip. Then after lunch we went on a forest walk. We played hide and seek and saw loads of tadpoles. I made a little house for my tadpole. I am looking forward to tonight because we get to build rafts. Hopefully we well get to sail them!
Better go!
xxx

Benmore Blog, day three (Paul Burn)

Today was the most amazing.

Benmore Blog, day three (Haggis)

Today I woke up at 7 am. Then we went gorge walking. I went up the keyhole! It was fun. But my boots filled with water. Then we had lunch. Then we went caving. We got lowered down into the cave. It was fun. At the end we climbed out and had to wash our waterproofs. Then tea and cake. Then free time! Me and Loch Ness stole Highlander’s shoe when she was up a tree! Then her ball. She got back her shoe and the ball. After Loch Ness fired me from her group (I had to join Highlander). The tea was spaghetti bolognaise. The weather is nice.

Benmore Blog, day three (Turnip)

It was really fun today because we went gorge walking and got really wet! We had to hold onto some ropes when we were climbing up the rocks, and it was great. We made our way up to a waterfall ad started to make a human dam. Once we had built up enough water we let go of each other and slid down the rocks. We got extremely wet. We then went caving in the afternoon and it was really scary. We got lifted 25 feet underground into the darkness and had to wait at the bottom. We had to climb through lots of holes and small cracks. It was really dark but great fun!

Benmore Blog, day three (Tinkerbell)

We went climbing and abseiling. The climbing was really fun and the abseiling was scary at first but it felt great. Later on we went on a forest walk in the afternoon! We collected tadpoles from the river and put them in cups! Highlander found a newt called Jimbo! My tadpoles were called Popo, Bobo, Topp, Sunny, Taddy and Bimbo! We drank water from the waterfall and crawled though tunnels!
Tinkerbell xox!

Benmore Blog, day three (Highland Cow)

I am having a great time!
We did climbing and abseiling today (we abseiled at 50 feet). We also did a forest trail thing. We swam in a FREEZING cold lake at NIGHT!! We went through a wood and burn on the forest trail. Benmore is GREAT!!

Benmore Blog, day three (Thistle)

The abseiling was amazing! It was scary. The rock was so steep and we kept slipping. It was about a 50 foot drop and I looked down halfway up and that made me a bit wary! But it was still cool! The forest walk was great too. We got to drink from this mini waterfall and it was really nice! We found loads of tadpoles and gave them names (except we couldn’t tell who was who!). Highlander found a kind of newt and named it Jimbo. And the others were just things so they were all “Jimbo and Co.” It’s really fun and we had spag bol for tea. It was yummy!
xox Thistle xox

Benmore Blog, day three (Highlander)

Hi! This morning we went climbing and abseiling. We did it on a 50 foot wall of rock which was very steep. I’ve got tons of photos! In the afternoon we went on a forest walk. There were lots of streams and waterfalls and some people got wet. In one stream we found tons of tadpoles and I found a newt. I named him Jimbo; but then he swam away. After that we played hide-and-seek and that was awesome! See you soon,
Love Highlander
xx

Benmore Blog, day three (Tartan Terror)

Another great day! First we went gorge walking. There was a rock called the keyhole which gushed out water from the river. We had to climb through it! I was soaked!
When we got to the top of the river there was a natural water slide. We lined up REALLY close together and water built up behind us. Then we let go and scooted down into a pool!
Then we went caving! It was cool because we got lowered in through a hole! People kept whacking into me when they came down. When we were halfway through Ally McCoist started singing a song from a Pot Noodle advert for some reason. Later tonight we’re doing raft building! Weeeee!!!

Benmore Blog, day three (Neap)

Today we had beans and sausages for breakfast and got ready for gorge walking. Gorge walking was great. We climbed up waterfalls and made human dams which we built up and then went sliding into a really deep pool. We came back soaking and had lunch. Then we went caving. It was very fun. We had to wear our wet walking boots but I had my own ones from home luckily! The caving was great. You get lowered down a huge hole and it was pitch black but we had torches. Ally McCoist kept singing about Tartan Terror flavoured noodles.

Benmore Blog, day three (Miss Kerr)

We had a fantastic day yesterday. I managed to gorge walk without getting wet feet – quite an achievement I feel!! Caving in the afternoon was a great but being lowered into the cave was a little scary. We all made it out in one piece though.

Benmore Blog, day three (Miss Rome)

Yesterday we had superb weather (again!). My group had wall climbing followed by abseiling in the morning. They all managed to make it up and down in one piece (including me) so well done everybody.

Benmore Blog, day three (Mr Devereux)

We had another great day yesterday and I managed to stay dry doing all my activities (unlike the children!). If you have been reading these posts, you’ll have seen that the keywords are ‘soaked’, ‘wet’, ‘soooo’ and ‘cool’. Yes everyone is very wet and very happy. I am very dry and very happy. However I’m doing the gorge walk tomorrow so the dry bit may have to change. I had a race through the grounds with the class today and came sixth. Not good. Hmm. I think I need to get into a bit more training…

Hello from Miss Small!

Hi everyone, it sounds like you are all having an AMAZING time at Benmore. I am very jealous! I will keep my fingers crossed for sunshine and lots more exciting activities for you all.

Look forward to hearing more about your fun week :)
Have fun, Miss Small xx

Benmore Blog, day two (Tartan Terror)

Today was cool too! We went rock climbing and abseiling but I got scared so I just walked down. Then we went on a really nice forest walk. There were loads of mini waterfalls and there was a big one to camouflage ourselves. Then we came back for tea! After that we went swimming in an ARCTIC cold pond! Brrr! Write again tomorrow. Bye!

Benmore Blag, day two (The Human Nessie)

Today, in the morning, we all woke up at 6.30!! We all got dressed, tidied our dorm and sent messages to the other dorms.
After breakfast we had to do our chores. I had to sweep a corridor and some steps. After that (deep breath) we had to have our dorms inspected. We got 9 out of 10!!
For our morning activity we did the ROPES!! It was amazing!! First we did a practice course where we had to work as a team, or fall down. Then we did the proper one. We got strapped to harnesses then all got jobs. Some people had to hold ropes, one person had to do the course and I had to do videoing. When it was my turn on the ropes course I was really nervous but I did it fine. We went up a ladder, then along a horizontal pole, then up a metal ladder, and then along another pole. In the middle we had to do a dance then JUMP OFF!! We then did another course but it was harder then…we climbed up a 50 FEET high pole…then jumped off to grab hold of a trapeze…then let go and float down. Although floating down sounds comfy, you get a MAJOR wedgie. In the afternoon we went for a walk through the forest and in the evening we went for a swim in the river. It was FREEZING and really deep. It was amazing.
See you,
The Human Nessie
xx

Benmore Blog, day two (Bramble)

In the morning we woke up at 6.30. Bracken was being really loud in the night. We hardly got any sleep. We went and played table tennis then had breakfast. Bacon and toast. Yum. Then we met with Pete and got harnesses and helmets. We then went to the ropes coarse. At the start we played games on the low down version where we didn’t need harnesses then we went onto the big course. It was awesome. It was quite hard to balance and we did little dances on the top. The other course we had to do we walked along wires and clung on to ropes. The funnest part was we had to climb to the top of the pole in partners and jump! We grabbed onto a trapeze and swung for ages. I was with Whisky. Then we went back and had lunch. It was bread and rolls. We went on a long forest walk and Pete showed different plants and what we could eat and couldn’t. We drank from a stream and ate wood sorrow. It tasted like cooking apples. I spotted a grass snake on the path and picked it up. It was so cute!!! We went back and had chicken curry for tea. We played hide and seek tig for ages. Then we went back out to a pool in a stream and jumped in. I couldn’t stand! It was FREEZING.

Benmore Blog, day two (Thistle)

Today we went gorge-walking, caving and swimming. We got soaked on the gorge-walk. We had to swim under a rock. It was freezing!! And the cave was teeny! It was v. narrow but really high. We got lowered down on a rope into this small space. At the end, we went through this crammed place where you could barely move! For our evening activity we went swimming in a pool called “Tarzan Pool”. It was freezing! But it was still v. fun!
Thistle xox

Benmore Blog, day two (Fudge)

Today I did for activities the rope course and forest walking. In the forest I saw a grass snake. It was really slimy but very cute. At the end of the day we went swimming in the river. It was AMAZING! I am looking forward to tomorrow!
Love Fudge

Benmore Blog, day two (Robin Red Breast )

Today we had our dorm inspection and we got 9/10! My group went on a gorge walk and it was hard but soooooooo fun! At the end of it we built a human damn and the pressure was so hard it pushed us down like a slide! I got soaked but it was REALLY cool! Then we went caving which was very scary but awesome. There was a tiny tunnel you could wriggle through but I didn’t do it. And we went swimming in a FREEZING pool! Another long, cool day at Benmore.

Benmore Blog, day two (Highland cow)

I am having a great time!!! We did climbing and abseiling today (we abseiled at 50ft). We also did a forest trail thing. We swam in a FREEZING cold lake at NIGHT! We went through a wood and burn on the forest trail. Benmore is GREAT!!

Benmore Blog, day two (Adder)

Today was our hardest and first whole day at Benmore. We went gorge walking in the morning and caving in the afternoon. I went under Africa, through the key hole and down the slides. In caving we went through 2 caves. The 2nd cave was called Diddy Pit. It was really FUN!!!!

Benmore Blog, day two (Paul Burn)

Today we did the ropes course. It was great. We walked and walked and walked and saw a grass snake and I held it!!!! Then we had a swim in the river.

Benmore Blog, day two (William Wallace)

Today for our morning activity we went gorge walking and I got sore feet because of the cold water but it was really fun. At the end of the gorge walk we got to slide down a rock into a deep pool of water. In the afternoon we went caving and it was amazing. We got to climb through tiny holes and get lowered into a big hole. Then we went into St Thomas’s passage which was really narrow and cold. Fortunately we didn’t get stuck. Later our night activity was swimming in a river and it was FREEZING but I had a shower after that. Tea was curry and rice. Tomorrow we will be dry because we are abseiling and climbing in the morning and going on a forest walk in the afternoon.

Benmore Blog, day two (Whisky)

Today we got up and had breakfast but we also had to do chores! We got dresses and went outside to play tig for 20 minutes. Then we put on our boots and went climbing up a really steep mountain. We drank water out of the stream and we found a grass snake. Eventually we went back to the house and had some lunch. Then we went to the ropes course. It was so fun and we had to climb right to the top and jump off! For dinner we had curry. After dinner we had a surprise! The teachers said we were going to a swimming pool. We were so excited but when we got there it was cold, but when we went in the water it was freezing. I couldn’t breath!!!!!! Me and Bracken were freezing. But luckily we had a warm shower.

Benmore Blog, day two (Haggis)

First we climbed up the climbing/abseiling. I climbed up the wall but didn’t abseil down. Then we had lunch of soup and rolls. Then we went on a forest walk. We ate wood sorrel leaves. They tasted like lemons. It was fun. We got to stand under a waterfall. It was like it was raining really heavily! Then we had tea and cake. After tea we went swimming in the river, It was perishing.

Benmore Blog, day two (Stardust)

Got up, did chores and had a great breakfast. Then we went to the ropes course. Had lunch then went on a forest walk. When we got back we had tea and cake. After tea we went swimming.