WHITE water rafting was just one of the many activities enjoyed by guides from the Steeple Ashton and Paxcroft Mead Units during an action-packed 10 days in Switzerland.

A group of 15 young leaders and guides from Steeple Ashton and Paxcroft Mead Units returned from the Bernese Oberland region last Friday (Aug 7), after raising funds for their travel passes throughout the year.

They used their passes to travel on mountain railways, funicular trains, cable cars, gondola airways, buses and boats around the region, as they took part in a range of planned activities, including a visit to the International Guide Centre in Adelboden.

Other activities included white water rafting, using high wire ropes, swimming in Lake Brienz and racing down a mountain on Trotti Bikes, which are scooter-like bikes without a seat.

Christine Glover, assistant guide leader, said: “We returned home last Friday after an action-packed 10 days, where we visited our International Guide Centre in Adelboden for a Pinning Ceremony.

“We also watched the parade in Interlaken on Swiss National Day, used high wire topes, Trotti Biked down the mountain to Grindelwald, swam in Lake Brienz and, for the first time, undertook White Water Rafting down the Simme, which was the highlight of the trip.

“We went down the river in four rafts with some British Scouts. We lost one leader and three guides overboard but they were soon safely rescued thanks to our pre-rafting safety drill.

“The group stayed in a small hotel which caters for groups like ours, the Waldhotel in Unspunnen, which is a short walk from Interlaken.”

The guides organised a number of fundraising activities in aid of the Bernese Oberland passes ahead of the trip, including bag packing in Sainsbury’s, cake and burger sales in the Girlguiding Hall and much more.

Mrs Glover added: “Steeple Ashton have been taking their guides to Switzerland for 25 years with the same Leaders.  However, two new Leaders from both units came with us to learn how to take Guides overseas and we are confident that this tradition will continue in their capable hands.”