Mountain Bike guiding on Exmoor

It was good to be back out on Exmoor on the bike today guiding for Exmoor Adventures. The group of ladies travelled down from Surrey to be shown what Exmoor has to offer for mountain bikers.

I met the group at Lynch House in Bossingnton where we started our ride. The 14.5 mile route took in Dunkery Beacon via Webbers Post and Dunkery Path before returning along Dicky's Path and Horner.

The slightly overcast and breezy day made cycling conditions good while retaining good visibility and therefore treating the ladies to some great views across the moor and Porlock Bay.

Hen's take on a Team Challenge in Simonsbath, Exmoor

Today I was working for Exmoor Adventures, the first time this year. I travelled over to Simonsbath on Exmoor to meet Tom to set up a multi activity team challenge for 14 ladies on a hen party.

The ladies took part in Archery, Orienteering, Spiders Web, River Crossing Task and other problem solving tasks in order to gain points. The winning team were awarded a bottle of prosecco.

The ladies all enjoyed the tasks despite the mixed weather. 

Thanks to Louise from Simonsbath House Activity Centre for letting us use the Archery range.

Kayaking with Kilve Court NCS Students

Today I was back at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor working for Exmoor Adventures delivering sit on top kayaking to 2 groups of NCS students from Kilve Court. 

The day started overcast and drizzly with a consistent off shore breeze which made it tough going for the first group but they persevered and got the most out of their session. Ben was also working alongside me delivering Raft Building to another group. After lunch the groups swopped activities and were blessed with a drop in the wind and a break in the cloud allowing the sun to shine through.

Both groups learned some of the basics, forwards and backwards paddling, sweep strokes and stopping as well as playing lots of fun games to encourage team cohesion and trust.

A really good day with some good students and good assistant instructors from Kilve Court. 

Stag Party fun at Wimbleball Lake

Back at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor today to deliver Mountain Biking and Kayaking for a stag party group of nine booked through Exmoor Adventures. 

We thought we would start with the mountain biking before the strong afternoon sun came out. Our route took us around the pump track at South West lakes Trust before following the green trail down to the dam. Once we crossed the dam we headed out on a loop over and around Haddon Hill taking in some single track, open moorland tracks and a short road descent back to the dam before heading back to our base.

After a short stop for lunch I took the guys for a sit on top kayaking session on Wimbleball Lake, from the lake side near the activity centre we headed across the lake and up the central spur where we got some competitive games going along with lots of getting wet. 

The nine guys were all up for a good time and with their competitive edge they took on all the challenges without hesitation. 

A really good day on Exmoor with a great group. I'm sure the guys will enjoy their climbing session tomorrow with Dan French at Valley of the Rocks.

Another stunning Day at Valley of the Rocks

It's been a busy month with the majority of my work coming in the form of freelance instructing for Exmoor Adventures. 

Valley of the Rocks in Lynton was the venue again today for a climbing and abseiling session for a scout Group from Wimbledon. It was great to be working with two very polite groups of young people at a beautiful venue on a stunning blue sky day. We set up three bottom ropes of varying grades and a top rope that transferred over to an abseil for the scouts to try.

Working with other instructors is something I always enjoy and today I was working with Dave Huxtable who was today also freelancing for Exmoor Adventures but his main job is managing the Pinkery Centre on Exmoor. Its good to bounce ideas of good practise around and see how others set up at venues.

Kayaking and Raft Building with NCS Students

It's a busy month with lots of work helping out Dan French from Exmoor Adventures. It's really refreshing when local companies can work together to provide a service.

Today I was at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor working with a group of 12 NCS (National Citizen Service) students delivering a sit on top kayaking session and a raft building session. The 16 year old students are on a 3 week course designed to make them more rounded individuals with the emphasis being teamwork and confidence building.

The morning session we took the sit on top kayaks out on the lake looking at basic kayaking skills, a short journey and a few games for fun. A few capsizes and some great teamwork meant for a good session in the sun.

After lunch the students were split into two smaller teams of 6, given a set of rafting equipment and 45 minutes to plan and build their lake going contraption! As you can see from the photos one teams raft worked a treat whereas the other was a little worse for wear. The difining moment being the race winning team all entering the water to swim out to the sinking raft to help their fellow course members out and swim all the kit back into shore.

Another really good day with a great group of people in a stunning location. The weather is also spoiling us too!!

It's great being an Outdoor Activity Instructor!

The last few days have been brilliant as an outdoor instructor. Continuing on from Friday I have been working for Exmoor Adventures delivering climbing at the Valley of the Rocks, Lynmouth as part of the new Somersault Festival and Coasteering. Here's my last three days.

Saturday

From 11.00 - 13.30 I delivered a climbing session at Valley of the rocks for 6 clients from the festival. The sun was shining and the wind minimal so it was a bit of a hot one. Todays group had some climbing experience so the first part of the session went swiftly allowing the clients to get plenty of climbing in and have a wander around to take in the stunning valley and coastal views.

After a very quick de-rig of all the ropes I headed over to Hele Bay near Ilfracombe to assist Dan (Exmoor Adventures) with a Coasteering session for 14 Stags! We got in on a dropping neap tide and due to the current weather the water was pan flat and clear! After some swim sections, some scrambling and a few small jumps we headed out to the point between Hele Bay and Ilfracombe to take on the larger jumps. The biggest of the day being about 7 meters. The session went really well and just as we got out of the water a heavy shower passed through.

My day finished by heading over to the festival site to collect my free staff entry and camping wrist band before settling into the crowd (3 rows from the front) to see Jack Johnson's set. Pretty Good day!

Sunday

The only work for today was to head back over to 'Valley of the Rocks' to deliver another climbing session for some festival goers. The session again ran from 11.00 - 13.30.

6 clients arrived on the festival transport today for the climbing session. 2 couples and a father and son. The session went really well with all enjoying climbing on warm rock in dry summer conditions and agin with stunning weather and great views along the north Devon coastline and across to South Wales. The highlight of the day being Fergus' comment about the session being a lifetime memory to cherish, spending quality time with his son doing something active outside and away from all the modern technology.

Another Great way to finish a day! Back to the festival site to meet up with Dan and the other instructors for a chilled afternoon catching some great bands over a couple of drinks culminating with local boy Ben Howard headlining the main stage! Another great set!

'The View West from the top of Castle Rock'

Monday

Just 4 guys today for the climbing session, 4 no shows so the festival must have got the better of them!

The session today was another mirror image of the last three days, the only difference being a slightly smaller group. The 4 guys today were really keen to learn the basics and get climbing. We also had a couple who had come down to the festival from Scotland who left the session buzzing and planning on getting more tuition and buying some kit to get out more back at home. The weather was once again amazing and brought the beautiful setting alive. 

Its been a really good 4 days working with some great groups who were all really keen to learn new skills and be outside. The added bonus being able to see some great live music in the evenings after the work was done. Looking forward to working at the festival again next year!

I'll leave you with a view back up the valley from the top of castle rock.

Lovely Day at Valley of the Rocks.

Today I have been working for Exmoor Adventures delivering Climbing sessions at Valley of the Rocks near Lynmouth, Devon.

The participants were all from the Somersault Festival. There are a range of activities on offer for festival goers. The plus side being a free ticket for activity staff so I will be going along tomorrow and Sunday eve to catch Jack Johnson and Ben Howards sets.

The 7 participants who came along today had a little climbing experience which made teaching tying in and belaying pretty quick. They then got to use the rest of the 2.5 hour session climbing as many routes and variations of routes as they liked. 

The sun shone for the whole session but it was very humid, the odd cool breeze that blew through was very welcome.

I am also delivering similar sessions for the next three days all for the same festival but different clients.   

Mountain Biking on the Quantock Hills

For the last two days I have once again been working for Exmoor Adventures. This time delivering Mountain Biking on the Quantock Hills on behalf of Outposts. 

Each Day consisted of two sessions (AM and PM) with 24 girls from St Catherine's School, Surrey on each session. The weather was fantastic and the girls got stuck into the activity, some had even only learned to ride a bike recently. 

We started each session at Crowcombe Park Gate and headed out on a short loop taking in some of the northern commons with views over the Bristol Channel to Wales. After a quick water top up at the base van we rode back to Outposts accommodation at Quantock Lodge via the ridge way and Great Wood.