Day 1 at St Briavels Castle
What a fantastic start to our Year 6 residential adventure!
After a smooth and cheerful journey, the excitement really kicked in as we pulled up outside the majestic St Briavels Castle. The children were buzzing with anticipation, and the sight of the castle certainly didn’t disappoint – it’s an impressive and magical place to explore!
We kicked things off with lunch in the old stables, which was a unique and atmospheric setting. Bellies full, we headed out for some team games under the shelter, where laughter echoed and teamwork shone through. It was brilliant to see everyone encouraging each other and having fun.
Next up was an image hunt around the castle grounds – both inside and out. The children were eagle-eyed and enthusiastic, discovering hidden details and learning more about the castle’s fascinating history as they went.
Afterwards, it was time to get sorted into rooms – a moment of great excitement! The buzz of choosing beds and unpacking was full of energy and smiles. Dinner was a hit with everyone, and it gave us all a chance to refuel before the evening fun began.
We rounded off the day with a lively game of hide and seek, which went down an absolute treat. Then came some indoor challenges and a calming round of sleeping lions to wind down before showers and bedtime.
Everyone settled in well, and we’re all looking forward to what Day 2 has in store. If today is anything to go by, it’s going to be an unforgettable week!
Stay tuned for more updates!
Day 2: Nature, Challenges & Campfire Magic
Day 2 at St Briavels has been packed with adventure, creativity, and unforgettable moments!
We started the day with a delicious cooked breakfast – a hearty way to fuel up for all the fun ahead. The morning kicked off with a brilliant A–Z scavenger hunt in nature, followed by a minibeast hunt. The children showed great care and curiosity as they discovered and gently handled centipedes, spiders, slugs, worms, and woodlice – true nature explorers!
One of the highlights was the “House for a Mouse” challenge. Using a small beaker warmed to 37°C (the temperature of a mouse’s body), teams had to build a cosy home to keep it warm. One group managed to keep theirs at an impressive 30.5°C, winning the challenge with their clever design and teamwork!
Lunch was a relaxed affair with sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and biscuits – plenty of choice and happy faces all round.
The afternoon brought out our competitive and creative sides. First up was archery, where everyone gave it their best shot. Special shout-out to Ellie and Oliver, who were named most improved – their determination really paid off!
Next came art in nature, with small teams creating stunning pieces using natural materials. We saw everything from a butterfly and a mandala to a fire and even a ladder climbing up a tree – such imaginative and thoughtful work.
Dinner was another hit, especially the waffle dessert topped with salted caramel sauce and whipped cream – a sweet treat that everyone enjoyed!
We ended the day around the campfire, singing songs, sharing stories, and of course, making s’mores. The laughter and joy were infectious. As a final magical moment, we stepped outside to stargaze in front of the castle. With no light pollution, the sky was breathtaking – and so were the children’s faces as they looked up in awe.
Despite some tech hiccups with uploading photos (castle Wi-Fi has its quirks!), we’ll keep trying to share the snapshots. But rest assured, the memories being made are priceless.
Here’s to another amazing day tomorrow!
Day 3: Exploring Nature, Building Teamwork, and Crowned Champions!
After a restful night, the children were ready for another exciting day of adventure, learning, and fun. The morning started with another hearty breakfast (still a big highlight!), giving everyone the energy needed for a packed day ahead.
We set off on a 3.73-mile guided walk around the local area, taking in some truly breathtaking scenery. One of the most memorable moments was reaching a viewpoint overlooking the valley, which was beautifully blanketed in mist—it looked just like cotton candy! The walk took us down a rocky old road and through atmospheric ancient woodland, where we followed a babbling brook. The children loved exploring this area and had a wonderful time splashing, climbing, and playing in the stream.
During the walk, we held a very competitive (and very fun!) Poo Stick Championship. After much cheering and close races, Fin was declared the winner and proudly crowned “King Poo” by his peers—definitely a moment to remember!
Throughout the walk, the children impressed all of the guiding staff with their fantastic attitudes, curiosity, and excellent listening skills. They were engaged, enthusiastic, and eager to learn about the natural world and local history.
Back at the castle, a much-needed packed lunch was enjoyed—especially the juicy oranges, which caused quite the excitement!
The afternoon brought even more teamwork and laughter with the Water Bearers Challenge, held in the castle moat. In mixed teams, the children took on a series of tasks while carrying both a jug of water and a shield—requiring careful coordination, communication, and plenty of problem-solving. They also learned about the historical (and often unpleasant!) reasons behind the design and function of a moat in medieval times.
We then had an indoors activity - Egg Drop Challenge. The children worked in new groups, encouraging fresh friendships and collaboration, to design protective casings for their eggs. Each creation was judged on style, descent, and smash factor—with some brilliant designs and very creative thinking on display. The winning team, with an impressive 25 out of 30 points, was none other than Team Sir Bartholomew John James the 19th Junior! Their egg almost survived the drop with style and flair—an engineering triumph!
To round off a brilliant day, we gathered together for a cosy storytelling session with hot chocolate—a perfect end to the evening. The children took turns sharing their own stories, and we were genuinely impressed by the suspenseful storytelling techniques they used. Their imagination, creativity, and confidence really shone through. Both myself and our brilliant leader Gemma also shared stories, making it a truly special shared experience.
It’s been another full and rewarding day—packed with fresh air, creativity, laughter, and moments of real teamwork. We’re so proud of how the children are embracing every opportunity!
Day 4: Flourishing Fencing, Flickering Fires, and Fabulous Feasting
What an incredible fourth day we’ve had! The excitement is still running high here at the castle as we come to the end of another action-packed day.
We began the morning with fencing, learning how to stand tall, move quickly, and think strategically. Everyone took turns challenging their partners — with plenty of cheering, laughter, and dramatic sword flourishes worthy of the castle courtyard!
Next, we turned our hands to some traditional skills with fire lighting. Working in small teams, we explored how to create sparks using a flint and steel, learning the importance of patience, teamwork, and technique. Once everyone had mastered the basics, we split into two groups to collect firewood from the castle grounds and carefully built our own little fires. The sense of achievement when the flames finally caught was brilliant to see — lots of proud smiles all round!
Afterwards, we delved into the world of medieval runes. The children discovered how these mysterious symbols were once used for writing, decoration, and secret communication. They had great fun code breaking with the runes, deciphering hidden messages and even creating a few secret codes of their own!
The afternoon was filled with creativity (and delicious smells!). During bread making, pupils kneaded, shaped, and baked their own rustic rolls — the scent of warm bread drifting through the old castle kitchens was irresistible! Candle making and tile painting brought out everyone’s artistic side, and we can’t wait to see these handmade souvenirs come home.
Later, we visited the castle shop, where everyone carefully chose a few medieval treasures to remember their stay — daggers, necklaces, bows and arrows, to name just a few! There were plenty of smiles as the children proudly showed off their chosen souvenirs.
As night fell, we gathered for our grand medieval banquet — the perfect finale to our castle adventure. The great hall was decorated with flickering candles and colourful banners, and everyone dressed the part. We ate our feast the medieval way — with our hands and no cutlery in sight! There was laughter, good food, and a real sense of celebration.
Entertainment came from our lively jester, who had everyone in stitches with her jokes, tricks, and impressive juggling skills. Then, to bring the evening to a magical close, our storyteller told a wonderful tale about the old castle waking up — its walls whispering, its windows blinking, and its great gates slowly creaking open as it came to life once more. The children listened in complete awe, spellbound until the very last word.
As the night drew to a close, tired but happy faces filled the great hall — full of food, fun, and fantastic memories. Everyone is now ready for a well-earned rest before we pack up and head home tomorrow.
Day 5 – A Fond Farewell to the Castle!
Our last morning began with a musical wake-up call! The boys’ rooms were treated to Jailhouse Rock—a special request that got toes tapping early—and we celebrated two very special birthdays with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday for Millie and Marianne.
Breakfast was a hit, especially the hash browns, which were enjoyed with great enthusiasm. With bags packed and spirits high, we headed off for our final activity: a fascinating castle tour. We explored the rich history of the site, including some spooky tales about the oubliette in the East Tower (don’t worry—we stayed in the West Tower!). The children learned about medieval battles, and Marmaduke even got to try on some authentic-looking battle gear!
Next up was “Attack the Castle” time! Despite some tired legs, everyone had fun launching projectiles with the trebuchets—our final chance to defend or destroy the fortress!
Lunch was filled with chatter and birthday cheer, as we sang once more for our birthday girls before boarding the coach. The journey home was quieter than the ride out, but full of happy reflections and stories about their favourite moments.
Throughout the trip, the children truly demonstrated our REACH values—showing Resilience, Empathy, Aspiration, Confidence, and High Expectations in everything they did. We couldn’t be prouder of how they embraced every challenge, supported one another, and represented their school so beautifully.
The staff at the castle were full of praise for our group, commenting on their politeness, enthusiasm, thoughtful questions, and willingness to get involved. It was wonderful to hear how impressed they were by the children’s behaviour, interactions, and knowledge.
A heartfelt thank you from myself and Mrs Pickering for the lovely gifts—we truly appreciate your kindness and generosity. It means so much to us. We are proud (and admittedly a little tired!) but so grateful to have shared this special experience with such a fantastic group.
We hope everyone has a wonderful half term, and we look forward to seeing the children raring to go in November!