When I first moved to the Lakes in January 2019, I was a pure climber, cycled occasionally and I’d enjoy walking. Living in such a beautiful area, full of opportunities for adventure, I’d have been a fool not to make the most of it. It’s the reason I moved! After about 4 months I’d taken up mountain walking, kayaking, road biking, mountain biking, wild swimming, fell running as well as continuing to climb as much as possible. There was so much to explore right from my doorstep in the heart of the Newlands Valley, with Borrowdale Valley just over the hill!
My new best friend, Andy, also an outdoor instructor at Newlands Adventure Centre, and I began our adventures together with a snowy walk around the Newlands Horseshoe on our first day off. We submitted 6 peaks and had spectacular views. 3 days later we completed the equally popular Coledale Horseshoe, ticking off another 6 peaks. I later learned that these ‘peaks’ all had names and were part of something called the Wainwright Challenge, something I’ll go into more detail later.
I’ll always remember being high up in the mountains, on various long walks, surrounded by the thick clouds that had rolling in, and poor visibility. Suddenly they would clear, briefly giving me a short view of some mysterious valley or unknown lake I had not seen before. This excitement of discovering new places quickly became addictive, and I realised I had to do more than just climb to find all the hidden gems, waiting to be uncovered by me.
As the spring came around, I took to the lakes, rivers and meres by canoe, kayak and paddleboard. Stepping foot on every island I reached, playing on all the rope swings and exploring each bay I came across. I made it my mission to paddle every lake in the National Park, a great way for me to get out there, discover unknown territory and practice my skills for leading groups.
I enjoyed cycling the rugged mountain bike trails, climbing the steep mountain passes on my road bike and even taking my MTB up Helvellyn, England’s 3rd largest mountain at 949m (in the snow!) A great adventure.
As for climbing, I was based just 10 minutes from the Borrowdale Valley, home to a vast number of classic single pitches, iconic hard boulders of the Bowderstone and mountain crag multi-pitches. I certainly had lots to go at! I also greatly developed my climbing skills in 2019, gaining lots of experience placing trad gear, rigging and multipathing, all of which would contribute to acquiring my qualifications.
It’s fair to say I made the most of the after-hours adventures and when I wasn’t working, always had something on the go. As for the work, it is fantastic. I run rock climbs, paddling sessions on Derwentwater, ghyll scrambles, high ropes, mountain walks, bike tours, indoor climbing lessons, run a kid’s climbing club and regularly route set. I’ve gained lots of valuable experience in the outdoor industry, developed my leadership skills, broadened my horizons and hit the ground running into a new, exciting life, based in the heart of the Lake District National Park.
