From a young age I loved the hills and could only dream of exploring them. I didn't even see a mountain until I was 11 years old as I drove through snowdonia to our holiday destination of Anglesy. My parents have very limited knowledge of how to navigate the hills and so they felt so out of reach. I was luckily involved in girlguiding and as soon as I was 14 I couldn't wait to sign up for my Duke of Edinburgh award. The prospect of finally being taught the skills to adventure across the british countryside with old friends and new friends was so exciting. I eventually completed all 3 awards and learnt that I had wonderful map reading skills and a natural gps in my brain. I gained so much knowledge of hill navigation and outdoor survival in the years I spent training for my expeditions. I went on to supervise and train other d of e groups and the confidence I have gained through the programme allows me to take my friends and family to the remotest parts of our country with the knowledge that I have the skills to safely enjoy the adventure. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to discover our mountains. Without the Duke of Edinburgh award I would never have been brave enough to take a group of teenagers to hike the Inca Trail in Peru and I foresee many more amazing hiking adventures in the future.