Exploring and learning while out on outdoor adventures.
I hopped off the train at Edale, knowing I had just enough daylight left to tackle the tricky part of tonight’s plan. My rucksack felt reassuringly light: just a bivvy bag, a sleeping bag, a mat, a toothbrush and a flask of hot tea along with a few sandwiches. It was going to be a …
Continue reading “A Night on Kinder: A 5-to-9 Microadventure”
21–22 February 1998: It’s a trip I’ll never forget. My first true foray into winter wild camping. I was nineteen, fresh from the routines of university life, feeling equal parts eager and apprehensive. My father, always keen to explore Snowdonia’s quieter corners, chose the Moelwyn range. A region steeped in industrial heritage and overshadowed by …
Continue reading “Taming the Moelwyns: A Winter Wild-Camp with Dad”
Sometimes, the best days begin with a simple intention and unfold into something quietly magical. Yesterday was one of those days. The plan was straightforward: start with a peaceful morning yoga session and see where the day might take us. What followed was a beautiful mix of cosmic spectacle and local heritage with a partial …
Continue reading “Eclipse and Towpaths. Finding Magic in the Everyday”
Our Weekend Adventure at the NEC in Birmingham. A Friendly Warning and an Early Start I should probably begin with a friendly heads-up: brew yourself a good cup of tea or coffee before you dive in, as this turned into quite a long tale! Like all memorable adventures, my weekend at the National Outdoor Expo …
Reflections from a fireside chat given by him at the National Outdoor Expo I’ve been fascinated by Ray Mears for as long as I can remember. His early BBC documentaries weren’t just TV shows to me; they were portals into a way of life that felt both ancient and deeply relevant. As a schoolboy bivvying …
A panel discussion at the BMC Stand at the National Outdoor Expo 2025 On a packed Sunday afternoon at the National Outdoor Expo, a group of us gathered at the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) stand for a panel discussion on one of the most hotly debated topics in the outdoor world, and one that is …
Continue reading “Wild Camping, Freedom and Access Panel at the National Outdoor Expo”
When I signed up for my first trip with Warwick University Mountaineering Club (WUMC) in the autumn of ’97, I pictured a weekend of peaceful cragging, fresh air and a chance to make new friends. What I got instead was a chaotic convoy, boisterous hut games and a Land Rover painted like an ambulance. Back …
Continue reading “First WUMC Trip: A Fresher’s Baptism of Fire”
There are certain places that become spiritual homes over time, where friendships deepen, passions thrive and mishaps turn into cherished memories. For me, Derbyshire is one such place. A quaint little cottage called Sunnyside, perched on the hillside above Matlock, often lay at the heart of these adventures. In the autumn of 1997, newly freed …
Continue reading “Sunnyside Jaunts: Climbing, Curry and Cups of Tea in Derbyshire”
For many people, summer is all about finding escapes, trips that soothe the soul and create lasting stories. In August 1997, my old school friend and I (plus his enthusiastic golden retriever) set our sights on Jura, a rugged Scottish island known for its wild landscapes, sparse population, and the famous Paps of Jura. What …
Continue reading “Journey to Jura: A Dog, a Bothy, and a Lasting Memory”
Friday: The Journey to Plas y Brenin The week began in a blur of last-minute tasks. I had been working at East Cambridgeshire District Council in Ely, desperately trying to get all the loose ends sorted before it was time to get a lift across the country to Snowdonia with my father. The rush of …
Continue reading “Mountain Leader Training – A Week in the Hills (1997)”