AN AVID adventurer decided to swap the green fields of Oxfordshire for the mountains of South America after taking on a once-in-a-lifetime trek.

Lorraine Wing, an Oxfordshire Girl Guides district commissioner, spent a week in Peru last month completing a gruelling journey to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Back home she oversees the running of nine local groups in Oxford and West Oxfordshire, and organising trips and hikes for members.

Miss Wing, who first joined the Brownies at seven and has since been a Guide and adult leader, signed up for the trip in January 2013 and been fundraising for more than two years.

She was joined by 28 other travellers, mostly Girl Guide volunteers, who flew out to the Peruvian capital Lima and travelled through the mountains to the citadel, before returning to the UK nine days later.

The 34-year-old, who also works as a tour guide at Blenheim Palace, said: “I have always enjoyed being part of a group and I love travelling. As soon as I saw the advert for this trip I signed up straight away. We had an amazing time, I really loved the hiking and also helping other guys in the team out. The main problem was the altitude. It did affect people in different ways as everyone has different strengths.

“My favourite part was camping out surrounded by the mountains. It was made much easier because there was such a great group and everyone worked so hard.”

During their visit, the group also stayed for a day in the city of Cusco, the former capital of the Inca empire.

Miss Wing said: “There was a local protest in Cusco which was blocking the roads so we had to leave earlier than planned. It was chaos and a bit more adventure than we thought.”

Money was fundraised for the trip over two years by holding a sponsored space-hop, hosting bingo nights and setting up jumble sales.

More than £2,800 has been raised so far, and money left over will help more girls from less privileged backgrounds to join the Guides and take part in its activities.

The Bletchingdon resident said: “This money means we will be able to give people the opportunity to get involved. We look at what background people come from and then this money goes to our national level to be given out as grants.

“Girl Guiding has made me into the person I am today. I just wanted to take part in this trip so that we can give everyone the opportunity to experience this amazing charity.”

Girl Guiding, which includes Rainbows, Brownies and Guide groups, has nearly 600,000 members, and more than 100,000 volunteers, across the UK.