WHILE their friends may have spent the summer break lying on a beach or round a swimming pool 10 intrepid teenagers have been taking on the challenge of a lifetime.

The members of Ramsbottom Explorer Scout Unit opted to tackle a 100-mile hike through Switzerland, relying on the hospitality and kindness of strangers to see them through.

The group of eight boys and two girls, aged between 16 and 18, carried tents, clothing and cooking equipment on backpacks and had only a little cash to spend each day on food.

The group, which was split into three teams, was undertaking The Explorer Belt, a Scouting award which promotes adventure and self-reliance in an international context.

Planning for the trip started a year ago with the Explorers having to raise the £8,000 needed to pay for it themselves. Baking cakes, running craft stalls, helping Santa and organising a Race Night were just some of the events they organised.

After flying to Switzerland from Manchester, the group, comprising Connor Beckwith, Nathan Rowe, Hannah Williams, Eleanor Heib, James Weston, Charlie Kemp, Freddie Nicol, Matthew Woodcock, Sean Rooney and Archie Nichol, set off on their trek from Aarburg to walk 100 miles, mainly following the route of the country’s largest lake, Lake Neuchâtel.

But there were no cosy nights in hotels for the adventurers.

Instead they had to pitch their tents or, more often, rely on the hospitality of the people they met along the way.

Often they would earn a meal or a place to sleep by doing work on farms or for local people.

Canon Slade High School student Nathan, aged 17, said: “We met some real characters in Switzerland, from wood carvers to a lieutenant colonel and amazingly, by chance, we met an ex-chief scout of Switzerland.

“The people we met astounded us with their kindness and willingness to help us on our journey.”

During the 10-day trek, the Explorers, part of Bury and Ramsbottom District Scouts, had to complete a main project and were set 10 mini tasks, all designed to encourage them to find out more about the country, its culture and people and they will present their findings and discuss their experiences at a presentation evening at Greenmount Church on September 21.

Nathan said: “Despite some tough times, mainly for our feet, and the blistering heat, the experience was well worth it.

“To explore another culture and to meet new people in the process was not only fascinating, but helped me develop as a person.

"I would recommend doing it to any Explorer because it is what scouting is all about ­— being resourceful and creating memories to last a lifetime.”

The teenagers’ exploits have earned praise from district explorer leader Daniel Sellers.

“They were fantastic and gained the most hospitality out of all the recent Explorer Belts we have run,” he said.

“We are looking forward to hearing all about it at the presentation night.”