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ACF du Devon
4 septembre 2026
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Devon take on Northern Ireland Adventure

Devon Army Cadets complete a week-long Northern Ireland expedition of mountaineering, mountain biking and cultural visits, including the Giant's Causeway, as part of Red Star Cadre training."

A Week Long Adventure for Our Red Star Cadets

Twenty-three senior cadets from Devon Army Cadet Force (ACF), accompanied by nine adult volunteers, have returned from a week-long expedition to Northern Ireland combining adventurous training, leadership development and cultural exploration.

Formation aventureuse

The group travelled from Pellew House to Northern Ireland to begin the week-long programme. The following two days were dedicated to adventurous training, with cadets split into two groups.

One group took on mountain biking at Castlewellan, completing the Green, Blue and Red trails, while the other undertook a mountaineering expedition to the summit of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest peak. The classic ridge walk from Meelmore Lodge to the 853-metre summit and down into Newcastle covers roughly 12 kilometres and takes between six and seven and a half hours, following the Trassey Track from Meelmore Lodge up to Hare’s Gap and on to Slieve Donard, before descending via the Brandy Pad and the Glen River path into Donard Park. The two groups swapped activities the following day, giving every cadet the chance to take part in both.

Culture and history

The programme then moved into its cultural phase. Cadets visited Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, before travelling to Belfast to visit the Titanic Experience and SS Nomadic and learn about one of the most significant chapters in British maritime history. The trip concluded with a visit to the world-famous Giant’s Causeway before the group began the journey home.

Together, the week combined adventurous training, navigation, leadership development and a taste of Northern Ireland’s culture and history.

“This trip formed part of our Red Star Cadre training, giving senior cadets the chance to develop their leadership and management skills by exposing them to new and different situations. It gives them the opportunity to expand their experience and take it to the next level. The trip was a real success and planning is already underway for next year’s trip, which will be to Norway.” said Capt Matt Sanders, County Adjutant, Devon ACF

Col Steve Frost, Commandant of Devon said “Opportunities such as this are a fundamental part of what makes the Army Cadets such a valuable experience for young people. This expedition has challenged our senior cadets both physically and mentally, while giving them the opportunity to develop their leadership, teamwork and confidence in a completely different environment.”

Remerciements

Devon ACF would like to thank Wessex RFCA, le Ulysses Trust et

ACCT UK for their funding support in making this trip possible, and the Army Cadets Northern Ireland 2nd Battalion for the use of their training centre throughout the visit.