Pupils and staff outside their hotel in Notre Dame De Bellecombe.

Thirty-one pupils and four staff returned home last week from Dunmurry High School's annual geography field trip to the French Alps.

This is the 20th year in the school's four decade history it has arranged a visit to this beautiful part of the world for its students.

Staying in the picturesque village of Notre Dame De Bellecombe high in the Haute Savoie region of France, the pupils enjoyed excellent weather and warm hospitality.

For many the highlight of the tour was the visit to Chamonix and a trip on the world's highest cable-car to the summit of the Aiguille Du Midi overlooking Mont Blanc, Western Europe's tallest mountain.

Mr. Beattie, Mrs. Redmond, Mr Logan and Mrs. Hans in Annecy	Thomas Espie, Nicola Crothers, Rebecca Crothers, Ellen McCalmont, Jamie Hawthorne and Dylan Fleming beside Lake Annecy	Mr. Beattie with Aaron Hamill on Lake Annecy

Others enjoyed seeing the Mer De Glace, a stunning glacier which moves at a rate of 4 metres a month. Travelling by funicular railway they witnessed this sea of ice winding its way through this spectacular mountain range down into the Chamonix valley.

Undoubtedly the highlight for both teachers and pupils was the 'summer luge', a dry toboggan run down one of the gentler slopes which is a Mecca for mountaineers throughout the world.

A trip to Annecy, known as the 'French Venice' was another memorable excursion. Here pupils enjoyed going out on pedalos and swimming in the distinctive bluey-green water of Europe's cleanest lake.

Visits to Flumet, Walibi Theme Park and the exclusive village of Megeve, where many famous people such as Roger Moore own properties, also proved popular with the pupils.

Mr Beattie, Head of Geography, who organised the trip, said: This is a very important year for Dunmurry High School and it has started in a very memorable and positive way. The visit to France was very successful and this was due in no small measure to the pupils.

At all times they gave a good account of themselves and were a credit to their parents and the school. Above all else they were excellent ambassadors for Northern Ireland and were praised for their manners and behaviour wherever they went."

Laura Neill and Louise Shortt sample snails and frogs' legs at a local restaurant.	Louise Shoat and Rebecca Cooper beside Lake Annecy	Graham Montgomery and Rebecca Crothers prepare for lift-off on the Playstation at the Walibi Theme Park

Ulster Star
19/09/2008