We know that starting new outdoor adventures can feel daunting, but our brilliant Out There Award instructors are here to support you every step of the way.

 

Find out a bit more about them, their background and a photo - so you know who to look out for on the day.

 

Andy: London

Andy is a qualified Mountain Leader with a passion for the outdoors and over 30 years of trekking experience. 

He has led groups on expeditions in the UK and other countries including Ghana, Mongolia, Nepal, Namibia, Brazil and Iceland, where he has trekked and wild camped in a variety of environments including mountain, desert and jungle. 

Whilst on expedition he has taught a range of outdoor skills including navigation, campcraft and group leadership.

 

Jonathan: Manchester

Jonathan is a Mountain Leader with particular experience in guiding navigation courses. 

"I have a huge love for the Scottish Highlands in particular and going on multi-day hikes/camping trips there. In the Peak District I am part of the volunteer Ranger team for the National Park."

 

Mark: Cardiff and Swansea

Mark is a qualified Summer and Winter Mountain Leader and has a strong belief in using the outdoors as a vehicle for personal development. 

Mark has been exploring the outdoors since childhood and has amassed a wealth of experience leading and supporting teams of adults and young people in the mountains of the UK and overseas. 

He has been working in the outdoor industry since completing a Degree in Outdoor Studies in 2002. 

Having been lucky enough to lead and support teams of young people and adults in the outdoors throughout the UK and further afield, he has a particular passion for teaching others the skills they need to go off and have their own adventures!

 

Meg: Wakefield

Hi, I’m Meg and I’m a qualified Mountain Leader, leading hikes around the UK alongside my day job in engineering. 

I was raised in Devon and was introduced to Dartmoor from a young age, but I first fell in love with the mountains during a holiday to the Pyrenees when I was about 10 years old! In addition to my guided Mountain Leader hikes, I now love the thrill of high-altitude expeditions in various parts of the world, such as the Alps and Himalayas.

I got into hiking around 15 years ago and became a Mountain Leader 4 years ago, when I was encouraged to do so by other leaders, who said my friendly personality and Mental Health First Aider training, paired perfectly with leading expeditions. 

I particularly enjoy working with women-only groups to see the sense of fulfilment and enjoyment that the ladies experience at the end of each walk. They may not feel they can reach the summit of a mountain or read a map but seeing them reach their own personal summit is so rewarding for me. It doesn’t feel like a job – I love it! Watching ladies push themselves, the processes they go through, whilst pushing and supporting others in a comfortable setting is incredible. I’m so proud to be a part of it!"

 

Carla: London

Carla has over 20 years’ experience in education and the outdoors. She began her career as a secondary science teacher and qualified as a Summer Mountain Leader to support her work delivering the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award in schools. Inspired by the impact of outdoor learning, she went on to transition from the classroom to work as a freelance outdoor instructor.

Since 2021, Carla has been actively involved with several community groups, including Wanderers of Colour and Black Girls Hike and continues to support young people taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

In 2026, Carla qualified as a Winter Mountain Leader and is excited to use this qualification to help people experience and enjoy the outdoors throughout the year.

 

Gavin: Bristol (Ashton) and Plymouth

Gavin has devoted his life to exploring and working within cultures and remote locations around the world. From Australia and South East Asia to Nepal, Canada, and the Americas, his journey has been shaped by curiosity, respect for local communities, and a deep connection to wild places.

Along the way, Gavin has taught a wide range of outdoor skills to both adults and young people. His experience spans navigation, bushcraft, watersports, and rock climbing, always with a focus on safety, confidence, and learning through experience. He has a natural passion for passing on knowledge and helping others discover their own capabilities outdoors.

Beyond teaching and the world of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Gavin has committed significant time to volunteering and supporting those in need. He has worked closely with his local education authority to deliver outdoor programs for young and vulnerable people, using the outdoors as a powerful tool for growth, resilience, and connection to the world around them.

 

Alex: Bristol (Blaise Castle)

Alex has a wealth of experience in the outdoors, shaped by growing up in rural Dartmoor. Alex acquired his love of the outdoors through days spent on the moorland with the Scouts. As a teenager, he completed several Ten Tors events, leading his team to complete the highest level.  He volunteered as Scout Leader for many years, during which time he qualified as a Mountain Leader, and lead him into working in the outdoors full time.

Along this journey, Alex has developed extensive experience teaching outdoor skills to both young people and adults. His expertise includes navigation, expedition skills, campcraft, and bushcraft, always delivered with a strong emphasis on safety, enjoyment, and creating positive, supportive learning environments.

Through working in forestry and growing up on Dartmoor, Alex has a wealth of knowledge about wildlife, nature, and conservation. He is always able to offer deeper insights into the landscape, and is well known for being an excellent source of fun facts along the way.

 

Ali: Banchory, Dundee and across Scotland

Ali works at the Ramblers and runs the Out There Award programme. 

He is passionate about improving access to the outdoors for young people. Ali is a qualified Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor and enjoys passing on skills so that everyone can enjoy nature safely and confidently. 

He's based in Edinburgh but loves exploring every corner of Britain's wild places. In July 2026 he is traveling on a Churchill Fellowship research project to Canada and the USA to look at how organisations there are supporting young people to get into the outdoors. 

 

Craig: Edinburgh

I am a keen hill walker first and foremost. 

I've been an instructor for over twenty years and this has given me lots of time in the outdoors with very diverse groups of people. 

My journey began at school and then, using public transport, getting out on my own to the hills during my teens. I used the library to borrow maps and mountaineering books. 

Every day with every group brings new adventures, which makes me feel very lucky to do this as a job.

 

Stuart: Glasgow

Stuart runs Outlook Adventures Scotland an outdoor education provider that designs and delivers adventure-based programmes for groups such as schools and youth organisations. 

They offer tailored experiences (from single-day activities to longer residential trips) aimed at building skills, confidence, and personal development in a safe, supervised environment. 

Stuart has many years working with young people in the outdoors and aims to support individuals with to build confidence, determination and initiative to aim high.

 

Rosie: Inverness

My name is Rosie. 

For the last 16 years I have worked with young people, helping them build confidence and practical skills through hands on learning and outdoors experiences. 

I teach navigation, encouraging folk to explore, problem-solve and develop independence. 

I am passionate about the outdoors and love sharing that enthusiasm with others.

 

Harry: Aberdeen

Harry’s walking journey started many years ago with parents, friends and family. We would meet up, walk, chat, caper and enjoy mince and tatties together on a wee spluttering petrol stove. Always it seemed beside a rumbling burn. Deeside near Aberdeen was always the venue. We speak of those days and the bond that walking gives us. 

I continued to wander across Scotland and for the last twenty odd years volunteered with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme expeditions. 

It is a wonderful thing to share the pleasure of walking and exploring, passing on the knowledge to the young and not so young so they too can enjoy the wonderful outdoors that Scotland provides. Best done in the company of friends and those soon to become friends.

 

Steve: Birmingham area

Steve runs Gateway Adventures based near Birmingham. 

Steve set up Gateway Adventure in 2007 and at the outset consciously took the decision not to aggressively market ourselves, instead growing naturally predominantly through “word of mouth”, relying on positive client experiences and referrals. 

This philosophy has seen the majority of our customers recommending our services to work colleagues, family and friends, with many clients having been with us since our formation.

 

AJ: Manchester

Agus “AJ” Guardiola (they/them) is a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and Winter Mountain Leader who has recently transitioned into working full-time in the outdoors. 

They are passionate about sharing their love of climbing and wild places through inclusive, supportive experiences. 

Agus delivers a range of activities, from mountain skills and navigation to scrambling and adventurous climbing, primarily across North Wales, the Peak District, and the Lake District. 

Their approach focuses on creating welcoming environments where people of all backgrounds and experience levels can build confidence and develop their skills. 

They are also a co-founder of ClimbOut, an LGBTQ+ climbing festival dedicated to broadening access and representation in the outdoors. 

Agus is passionate about supporting and empowering people on their outdoor journey, wherever they’re starting from, and helping them feel that they truly belong in these spaces.