I work as qualified Mountain Leader and UK Athletics Running Leader living in the Peak district with my partner Louise.
I have been passionate about walking and running in the hills and mountains of the UK since an early age. It was hard keeping up with my Dad on his runs around The Roaches in the Peak District when I was young, Now I can beat him.
I worked as a Peak District park Ranger for three years. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I am a member of the Mountain Training association (MTA) and were assessed for my Mountain Leader qualification by the chairman of Llanberis mountain rescue team. I served my apprenticeship with him for years. I even summited 3000 metre peaks with him in Switzerland.
I am also an Derbyshire county council outdoor instructor working at Whitehall, the oldest outdoor education centre in the country.
Over the last fourteen years i have travelled and seen many beautiful places throughout the world. But I am a firm believer that the Peak District can match any national park for splendour on the right day. That said i did used to work as a park ranger for the Peak District National Park so i may be slightly bias!
What inspires me most of all is meeting new people, learning local folk tales and spotting flowers and fauna the mountains. My passion for this was stirred when I walked and camped the Pennine Way over eighteen days alone. I loved it. Since then I have travelled around the world completing long distance treks such as:
• The Tour of Mont Blanc (France, Italy and Swizterland)
• Routeburn Track (New Zealand)
• Abel Tasman Coastal Path (New Zealand)
• Tour of the Bernese Oberland (Swizterland)
• Jungle trekking in Vietnam
• Trekking in China and USA.
• Tour of the Bernese Overland (Switzerland)
As the Expedition Leader and Chairman of our local Duke of Edinburgh centre I am very enthusiastic about introducing and inspiring young adults to the mountains just as I was.