ABOUT
...knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom...
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I have worked professionally as a guide, instructor, coach, and expedition leader, for over 12 years. I specialise in overseas expeditions, mountaineering instruction in both summer and winter, paddlesport guiding, courses and coaching, corporate and charitable events, and qualification-specific training. I am predominantly based in the beautiful Snowdonia National Park, where I have unequivocal local knowledge and take great pride in knowing the Welsh language and its history within the area; North Wales boasts some of the most diverse and impressive landscapes for mountaineering and paddlesports in all of the UK, and arguably the world, hence why I run the majority of my UK-based activities and courses here. 
My second home is the Scottish Highlands. I mainly reside here during the colder months, delivering skills in the winter, however I have a number of activities and courses that take place in Scotland throughout the year.
I have guided expeditions and taught skills in mountaineering and paddlesports all over the world. I have found my passions in life, and dedicated myself to my career and professional development, qualifying to an extremely high level in many disciplines, and travelling to many incredible places. 
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I love to teach, and to look after people, and I possess great talents for leading others. I gain the utmost satisfaction from seeing people realise life-long ambitions; learn; analyse; reflect; and achieve greatness. My enthusiasm is contagious, and whether I am working or playing, I'll never be too far from the sea, rivers, mountains or crags.
I tend to move with the seasons, spreading my time between many parts of the UK and further afield; A typical year will see me in Scotland for the winter season, home for a short period in the spring, up to the Isle of Skye for May/June before heading to the Alps for the summer, finishing off the year being somewhere overseas for autumn before back home for November/December. Each destination offers a plethora of opportunities and experiences. As well as for myself, I have worked for a vast array of renowned organisations, including national outdoor centres, local education authorities, military training facilities, public and private schools, and travel and expedition companies. I have worked with an innumerable amount of people, of all ages and abilities, from beginner to advanced, and have an aptitude for building relations and bringing out the best in people; I relish every opportunity to work with someone new. 
I pride myself in delivering the very best service to everyone I meet. I understand that it is You, my fantastic customers, and friends, who keep me going. You are my main priority. Providing you with an unparalleled service is what drives me.
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Many years ago, on the return of my first of many, very successful expeditions, I was greeted with a very poetic summary of myself by a member of the team. Describing me akin to a character from a book by Matthew Kneale, this passage has stuck with me, and supposedly sums me up nicely - I tend to have to agree:
"...never one for the slow or the round and about, being nothing less than a fountain of enthusiasm. To know him, indeed, was to be constantly delighted by his warm and excitable nature, his exuberance, his sudden and unexpected bursts of laughter. There were some, it is true, who considered him rather too changeable for their liking, yet I saw this never as a fault, but rather as a quality of charm, resembling the weather on a delightful spring day, when the wind may suddenly and unexpectedly alter its direction, transforming rain into sunshine. The truth was that without his extraordinary kindness the whole expedition would have been impossible..."
"...never one for the slow or the round and about, being nothing less than a fountain of enthusiasm. To know him, indeed, was to be constantly delighted by his warm and excitable nature, his exuberance, his sudden and unexpected bursts of laughter. There were some, it is true, who considered him rather too changeable for their liking, yet I saw this never as a fault, but rather as a quality of charm, resembling the weather on a delightful spring day, when the wind may suddenly and unexpectedly alter its direction, transforming rain into sunshine. The truth was that without his extraordinary kindness the whole expedition would have been impossible..."
qualifications
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I hold the following qualifications, all of which require years of dedication and practice to achieve, and many of which are internationally-recognised:
Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (WMCI) Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (MCI) International Mountain Leader (IML) Summer Mountain Leader (SML) Winter Mountain Leader (WML) Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) Foundation Coach (Trainee) Advanced White Water Kayak Leader Advanced Canoe Leader Sea Kayak Leader Open Water Canoe Coach White Water Canoe Coach White Water Kayak Coach Avalanche Processes and Mindset (AvRec2) Wilderness Medical Training Advanced Medicine & Far From Help (WMT) Industrial Ropes Access Trade Association (IRATA) Level 1 |
affiliates
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I am an approved Mountain Training England (MTE) Course Tutor of the Hill and Mountain Skills Scheme, and a Duke of Edinburgh Accredited Expedition Assessor, awarded by the Expedition Assessor Accreditation Scheme (EAAS).
I am a full member of the following professional associations: Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI), British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) and British Canoeing (BC). To retain membership of these associations I am required to work within the guidelines of the National-Governing Bodies, undertake continual professional development, and, in some instances, complete a new qualification every three years. I am also a full member of the following organisations: Mountain Training (MT), Mountain Training Association (MTA), Canoe Wales (CW), British Mountaineering Council (BMC), Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) and the Alpine Club (AC). |
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How I started...
My first experiences of the outdoors were whilst growing up - camping and canoeing trips with the family, and days out exploring the hills around Conwy (Northern Snowdonia, North Wales). This quickly extended to trips as a Scout, and onto the completion of my Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
During my final years of secondary school I participated in a student-led expedition to Madagascar, of which was truly life-changing for me. During this trip my eyes were opened to the possibility of becoming an expedition leader, and a way of turning my hobbies and passions into a career; Inspired by the expedition and my leader, I forewent a scholarship at University, and dedicated myself to this new goal. I never looked back.
After working at a camp for school activity holidays, I gained my first 'real' trainee placement at an outdoor education centre (OEC): Blue Peris Mountain Centre, based in the heart of Snowdonia. As with any career, time was spent 'climbing the ladder'. My list of qualifications grew and CV of places-visited expanded - my experience ever-increasing.
I began freelancing, taking opportunities to work for an increasingly-reputable and varied list of establishments, soon coming full-circle and leading my first of many expeditions, fittingly for the same company I had travelled to Madagascar with. Soon after, at the age of 24, I had guided my first team onto the summit of Kilimanjaro, one of the '7 Summits'; A significant step in my career, realising my strong capabilities for operating as a leader at high altitude.
Over the years since, I have been fortunate enough to work on over 20 expeditions, to some of the World's highest peaks, along with countless days spent instructing and coaching all over the world, within the various disciplines I love. My appetite for the outdoors; for expeditions, mountaineering and paddlesports, is insatiable, and long may it last.
During my final years of secondary school I participated in a student-led expedition to Madagascar, of which was truly life-changing for me. During this trip my eyes were opened to the possibility of becoming an expedition leader, and a way of turning my hobbies and passions into a career; Inspired by the expedition and my leader, I forewent a scholarship at University, and dedicated myself to this new goal. I never looked back.
After working at a camp for school activity holidays, I gained my first 'real' trainee placement at an outdoor education centre (OEC): Blue Peris Mountain Centre, based in the heart of Snowdonia. As with any career, time was spent 'climbing the ladder'. My list of qualifications grew and CV of places-visited expanded - my experience ever-increasing.
I began freelancing, taking opportunities to work for an increasingly-reputable and varied list of establishments, soon coming full-circle and leading my first of many expeditions, fittingly for the same company I had travelled to Madagascar with. Soon after, at the age of 24, I had guided my first team onto the summit of Kilimanjaro, one of the '7 Summits'; A significant step in my career, realising my strong capabilities for operating as a leader at high altitude.
Over the years since, I have been fortunate enough to work on over 20 expeditions, to some of the World's highest peaks, along with countless days spent instructing and coaching all over the world, within the various disciplines I love. My appetite for the outdoors; for expeditions, mountaineering and paddlesports, is insatiable, and long may it last.
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