There’s a rhythm to our lives, and for me, one of those beats is the annual cycle camping trip. Every year I dust off the bikepacking bags, wrestle with last minute logistics and wonder, again, whether I’ll actually find a campsite willing to let us stay just one night. In the past, I’ve bluffed it …
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AAC(UK) Edale Scramble: Crowden, Grindsbrook & an Ethel Summit Detour
Saturday 17th May saw me leading another scramble for the UK section of the Austrian Alpine Club (AAC(UK)). A full group of members gathered in Edale for a classic Peak District adventure: a Grade 1 scramble up Crowden Clough, a wander across the Kinder plateau to pick up an Ethel and a descent via the …
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A Family Day Among Bitterns and Butterflies: Exploring Far Ings Nature Reserve
There’s something magical about arriving early at a nature reserve. When the world is still stirring and birdsong fills the hush before the crowds. That was exactly the kind of moment I shared recently with my son and girlfriend before joining the welcoming band of RSPB Chesterfield group members on a spring field trip to …
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Walking the Jurassic Coast: Exmouth to Ferrybridge on the South West Coast
Reflections on Duty, Care and Breaking Barriers Outdoors
“You might be the only person who asks if they’re OK and really listens.”That single line from Mountain Training’s new Leader Responsibilities e-learning course hit me harder than I expected. As someone who lives and breathes outdoor adventure, I’ve always focused on safety, planning, navigation, leadership. But this reminder about emotional trust. It’s not a side note. It’s …
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Stackpole and Beyond, Wanders and Wonder in Pembrokeshire
Easter often marks a time for new starts, although for us it’s also become a season of gentle returns. Two years ago, we explored a different stretch of the Pembrokeshire, tracing sea cliffs and coves further north. This year, we returned to Pembrokeshire southern coastline, a place I hadn’t visited in nearly two decades. The …
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Backstage at Climb 97
I remember that morning well. It was the tail end of 1997, and the excitement of heading to the National Indoor Arena (NIA) for Climb 97 was enough to get me out of bed in a flash. I was staying overnight at my friend’s place in Derbyshire, and we had planned an early start. After …
Walking the Peaks from Edale to Chesterfield
With some big walking trips on the horizon, we were keen to get a long hike under our belts. Something to get the legs moving and the feet re-acquainted with distance. I’d had a linear walk in mind for a while and there’s something especially satisfying about linking landscapes with public transport, letting the route …
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Taming the Moelwyns: A Winter Wild-Camp with Dad
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 …
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Eclipse and Towpaths. Finding Magic in the Everyday
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 …
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