The sun was shining this morning as we woke to our first full day in Castleton. A good night’s sleep was had by many but there were a few tired faces after the excitement of the night before. After our first room inspection, it was into the dining hall for a full cooked breakfast of hash browns, bacon, sausages, poached egg, toast and beans – no one will be going hungry with this choice on offer every morning! For the first activity of the morning, groups dispersed to different locations around the beautiful Castleton: abseilers descended from the 80ft bridge at Millers Day; children scrambled under, over, through and round rocks on Higger Tor; and others made the hike to the top of Mam Tor to be rewarded with fantastic views of Hope Valley. Unfortunately, the sun didn’t make it past lunchtime and was instead replaced by the rain. There were many damp jackets, trousers, hats and gloves but the weather did not dampen any spirits – the children carried on with enthusiasm and tackled many fears. It has been amazing to see so many of the children already completing activities that they never thought they would be able to do. After another filling dinner -with a very difficult choice between apple crumble and treacle sponge for pudding – it was into the lounge for a fun packed evening of games. General knowledge was tested; drawing skills in Pictionary were evaluated; and drama skills were displayed in charades. We are all looking forward to a good night’s sleep to replenish our energy.