Open DofE Expeditions for Individuals


The expedition section of the DofE consists of 4 parts. Training, Practice expedition, Assessed expedition and then a Presentation. All parts need signing off at all levels (with the exception of Bronze which does not require a practice expedition). Open DofE expeditions are expeditions where individuals who don’t know each other can band together to form a group to do their expedition together.

Most people who attend our open DofE expeditions fall into one of two camps.

1) They do a full programme with us as they can’t do it at their school or they have left school.

2) They do just the assessed expedition with us as they couldn’t make the dates that their school set for their expedition. This usually happens due to holiday, illness or injury.

However, as our programme is entirely modular some people just do the training and practice then go on to do their assessed with someone else. Alternatively, they just do the practice expedition before re-joining their school group for the assessed.

We are aware that the physical challenge will be different for different individuals. For each expedition we have given an indication of how far you can expect to need to walk, to get to your campsite, on the longest day of the expedition. If you have any concerns about doing this please speak to us about whether it can be made suitable for you– we pride ourselves on making our expeditions work for everyone involved wherever possible.

We also run bespoke training courses – for groups from two upwards – at a time to suit you. Please get in touch if you would like further information on this or to set a date.

Emergency procedure exercise

FREE places on Gold programme

9 Day Gold Expedition Programme 2026

A number of FREE places for individuals living in households with a relatively low income.

2026

2026 Open Gold DofE Training and Expeditions

Emergency procedure exercise

April Gold Training and Practice Expedition

6 – 10 April 2026
The Yorkshire Dales

a DofE group reading a map

April Gold Practice Expedition

7 – 10 April 2026
The Yorkshire Dales

Wild Camp in Cumbria

May Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

25-29 May 2026
The Lake District

Planning a route

July Gold Training and Practice Expedition

28th July – 1st August 2026
The Yorkshire Dales

a DofE group reading a map

July Gold Practice Expedition

29th July – 1st August 2026
The Yorkshire Dales

Morning on a campsite

August Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

17th – 21st August 2026
The Lake District

DofE group in the Yorkshire Dales Oct 2021

October Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

26th – 30th October 2026
The Yorkshire Dales

2026 Open Silver DofE Expeditions

Simons Seat - Yorkshire

Silver Practice or Assessed Expedition

10th – 12th August 2026
Edale, Derbyshire.

2026 Open Bronze DofE Expeditions

DofE group at a river

Bronze Practice or Assessed Expedition

26th – 27th September 2026
Ilkley, Yorkshire

2027

2027 Open Gold DofE Training and Expeditions

Emergency procedure exercise

April Gold Training and Practice Expedition

5 – 9 April 2027
The Yorkshire Dales

a DofE group reading a map

April Gold Practice Expedition

6 – 9 April 2027
The Yorkshire Dales

Wild Camp in Cumbria

May Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

31 May – 4 June 2027
The Lake District

Planning a route

July Gold Training and Practice Expedition

26 – 30 July 2027
The Yorkshire Dales

a DofE group reading a map

July Gold Practice Expedition

27 – 30 July 2027
The Yorkshire Dales

Morning on a campsite

August Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

16 – 20 August 2027
The Lake District

DofE group in the Yorkshire Dales Oct 2021

October Gold Practice or Assessed Expedition

25 – 29 October 2027
The Yorkshire Dales

DofE group on stepping stones

Open Expedition Testimonials

Flo had a tough but amazing week. She said that Dave was fantastic and hugely supportive which was so great to hear! Thanks again to you and your team!

Elodie absolutely loved it and was full of praise for the staff from Lupine. A big thank you to you and the team for looking after her so well and giving her an unforgettable experience.

Hey Lupine!
Julia and Sascha here, two students who just got back from their Gold assessed exped in the Yorkshire Dales last night. We just wanted to communicate just how AMAZING this expedition was, and genuinely how amazing our mountain leaders were. Our group had Rob, and the other had Steven (stephen?), and they genuinely made our experience what it was. Rob was so so supportive and helpful and kind, gave us so many trips and tricks and genuinely made it the best expedition we had ever been on. Of course the routes were incredible, and the landscape was amazing, so thanks to all of you at Lupine for that!
We hope this can be communicated to the two of them that the 10 of us are genuinely so grateful, and speaking on the behalf of everyone else had some of the best days of our lives.
Thank you for the experience!
Sascha and Julia 🙂