LAST week, year six pupils started their journey to Middleton-in-Teesdale for a field studies course.

Pupils from the school have been seven times before, and each year group has thoroughly enjoyed it.

The week consists of many walks, and is a big test of some people's stamina. The head of the centre is Mrs Gillings, and she is great fun to be with.

Our week began with a gruelling walk up what Mrs Gillings called a small hill. To us it seemed like a mountain.

Kirkcarrion, the hill we climbed, is famous for the large burial site on the peak.

Icy wind, rain and mud made our trek almost impossible. Despite this, we were eager to hear Mrs Gillings tell the story of Prince Caryn and the archaeologists.

The story goes that four hundred years ago a prince asked to be buried on a high hill.

This wish was carried out and the prince lay undisturbed for two hundred years.

But a team of 12 archaeologists disturbed the grave and met the ultimate penalty - death.

Not a peaceful death. Horrific things happened to them that no one can explain.

Now the ghost of the prince is said to haunt his grave.

On the Tuesday, the team walked from High Force back to Middleton. The weather made walking seem dreadful, but the falls could make up for a thunderstorm.

They seemed like two great runners falling into a great dish of foam. The river was unusually full, so the water came down in great torrents.

Wednesday was spent studying the town and graveyard, so by Thursday everyone was ready for another long walk.

This turned out to be a six- mile walk to Coldberry lead mine, stopping at a disused lead kiln on the way. We think it was an exciting day in the life of a lead miner.

To sum up, we had a cracking good time at Middleton-in-Teesdale Field Studies Centre.