Braving the windy weather in the north of England this November, a group of Year 9 pupils travelled to Westminster’s school house near Alston, Cumbria where they stayed for four days. Making the most of their short stay, they explored the fells of the Lake District and visited historical sites such as Corbridge Roman Town and Hadrian’s Wall.

Walking along a section of Hadrian’s Wall, they stopped by the famous Roman auxiliary fort, Vindolanda where they witnessed current excavations and archaeological finds. One of the highlights of the trip was the Catbells, a popular hill walk that takes in panoramic views over Keswick – and the boys were impressively speedy! A visit to an old lead mine on Alston Moor gave the group a rare glimpse of the tough conditions that miners faced on a day-to-day basis, working in the darkness of the underground tunnels. On their final night, pupils returned home to the house to build their own pizzas: a favourite memory for many.

Thomas (Fifth Form, HH) said: “I really enjoyed the Nenthead trip. I found it an excellent way to get to know the rest of your house’s Fifth Form and have a good time away from school for a few days! My favourite part was climbing up Catbells on the Wednesday and I learnt a lot about that part of Britain that I didn’t know before.”