Extracts from our travel blog
From Stonehenge to Shooting Stars
Our exciting adventure began early on 2nd April at Salzburg Airport. After flights to Frankfurt and London Heathrow, we finally arrived in England. Our guide Jo Farrington was waiting for us, but before heading to Moorland Hall in Devon, we made a quick stop at the famous Stonehenge. Seeing the four-thousand-year-old stone circle up close was impressive, even if some of us thought it was a bit overrated.
When we arrived at Moorland Hall, we were amazed by the beautiful surroundings — two big houses, a huge garden with a football field, swimming pool, and even a small high ropes climbing park! The girls stayed in the main house, and the boys in the coach house. After settling into our rooms, we took a short hike in the surrounding moor. The night sky was clear and some of us were lucky enough to spot a shooting star! Following a local tradition, we stacked stones on top of a hill to make a “cairn”; a perfect way to start our adventure! Sara and Isabella
Exploring the Wild Dartmoor
The next day, we drove to Dartmoor National Park, a wild and stunning landscape full of granite rocks, ancient stone circles, and beautiful streams. We hiked up to a huge hill called a Tor, where the strong wind nearly blew us away! Climbing through narrow cracks and gaps in the rock was so much fun and gave us a chance to explore the natural beauty up close. On the way back, we learned about the history of the area, including old pathways once used by (often drunk) monks. That evening, we played Pictionary and even had a hilarious “Moo-off,” which brought lots of laughs and made us feel like a real team. Pauli and Andrej
The Amazing Eden Project
Our next stop was the Eden Project in Cornwall, an enormous botanical garden with giant biomes in huge domes. We explored the Mediterranean garden first, with olive trees, citrus plants and colourful flowers everywhere. Then, our guide Claire took us through the rainforest biome — our favourite part — where we saw palm trees, orchids, cocoa, coffee, and vanilla plants. It felt like being in a tropical jungle! After the guided tour, we had free time to explore on our own. We ended the day with a team challenge to build the tallest tower from wooden sticks and tape. The winning team’s tower was so tall it almost touched the ceiling! Sophia and Olivia
Seaside Adventures in Padstow
We loved spending a day by the sea in the charming fishing village of Padstow. Some of us went shopping in the little shops, while others tried crab fishing in the harbour — and caught an incredible 28 crabs! We took a ferry ride, enjoyed a beautiful walk along the sandy beach (getting a bit wet and sandy), and created art from driftwood, stones, and shells. One group even told a spooky story about a mermaid luring someone into the ocean. We finished the day with a delicious dinner of traditional fish and chips at a cosy restaurant, singing and laughing on the bus back to Moorland Hall. Edem and Paul Sch.
Mountain Biking, Hiking, and Horse Racing
Back in Dartmoor, we had a choice between mountain biking and hiking. The biking trail included a tough passage nicknamed ‘Mars Bar Hill’ — no one managed to reach the top without getting off, so no Mars bars were won!
The hikers were dropped off at a random spot in the moor and had to find their way back using only a map and compass, which was a great challenge. Later, we went to a horse race, where we were given pence coins to bet on the horses. Even though the betting wasn’t real, it was exciting to cheer for our favourite horses. We ended the day with a outside game of “Snakes and Ladders” where we had to run and answer quiz questions. Jonas and Thomas
Exploring Plymouth and the National Marine Aquarium
In Plymouth, we visited the UK’s largest marine aquarium. After learning about squids, we even dissected one — which was both fascinating and a little gross! We then explored the aquarium’s many tanks filled with turtles, sharks, stingrays, and jellyfish. Later, we walked through Plymouth city and learned about its history, including how it was the departure point for the Mayflower ship and how the city was rebuilt after heavy bombing in World War II. We finished the day making bracelets and keychains as souvenirs of our trip. Felix and Gregor
Leap of Faith and Evening Hike
Today, Jo had planned some climbing challenges. While one group had English lessons, the others tried activities like “Crate Stacking” and “Leap of Faith.” Isabella and Olivia built an impressive tower of 18 crates, nearly breaking the total record of 19!
Unfortunately, a few of us were sick with sore throats and coughs, so they couldn’t join the activities.
Later, we played volleyball together, which was great for team building. In the evening, we walked up to Brentor Church on a Dartmoor hill just before sunset. The view was stunning, and the church felt peaceful and a bit eerie. Noah and Mario
High Ropes and Archery
One of the most thrilling days was when we did the high ropes course, climbing up to seven meters in the trees secured with harnesses. Although many of us felt nervous at first, it was a great and rewarding experience in the end! The other group practiced archery, trying to improve their aim and we all felt a bit like Robin Hood with bow and arrows. After a delicious dinner with traditional Devon Cream Tea and scones, clotted cream, jam and black English tea, we had a fun Easter egg hunt in the garden. Florentina and Sissi
Kayaking, Tavistock and Campfires
On our last day, we visited Tavistock, a beautiful market town near Moorland Hall. We bought lovely chocolate and admired colourful stalls, enjoyed the old architecture, and also went for a short hike in the surrounding moor. After lunch, we tried kayaking on a nearby lake and had a fun raft-building competition. The guides got soaked during the race, which was hilarious! The day ended perfectly with a campfire where we roasted marshmallows and stick bread. Clara and Rubinia
Heading Home
All too soon, our trip came to an end. After breakfast, we travelled back to London Heathrow and flew home to Salzburg. We arrived late in the evening, tired but filled with wonderful memories and new friendships. This trip to Moorland Hall was truly unforgettable, and we hope to return someday! Isabella
