Twenty students from a Winchester school have taken to the hills of sunny Morocco as part of their geography studies.

Upper sixth formers of Peter Symonds College joined teachers Al Palmer, Kim Adams and Sally Holt to visit the medieval Medina in Marrakech.

The children learned to haggle in the souks, explore the world heritage listed square Jamaa El Fnaa and enjoyed a number of native delicacies.

Former Mountbatten pupil, Rosie Martin, 17, said: “The trip was a great experience! I felt I was able to understand the geography and culture whilst still being an interested tourist.

I would definitely do the day walk again – even if it rained! Experiencing the thunder and lightning show and the double rainbow made battling through the rain well worth it.”

They then travelled south to Imlil, a small village in the Grand Atlas Mountains, to stay in the renowned Berber style hotel, the Kasbah du Toubkal, before scaling the lower slopes of Africa's second highest mountain, Mount Toubkal. At 4167m it is four times the height of Snowdon.

Matt Cooper, also 17, formerly of Henry Beaufort, said: “The call to prayer was amazing and unique and the landscape and views in the Atlas Mountains were incredible.”

Organiser Ms Adams said: "The feedback from students has been incredibly positive. Their first hand experiences should make a real difference when it comes to interpreting and answering both human and physical geography questions in their final A2 exams next summer.”