4.8
Adventure Skills Workshop in The Peak District
- United Kingdom
- 2 nights
Master the art of adventure over an inspiring weekend with ex-Commando, outdoor photographer and expedition leader, Ian Finch
What's Included?
- Small Like-minded GroupsSolo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 7 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people
From…excluding flights
Highlights
Learn how to navigate, read weather patterns and plan and prepare your equipment for your next journey into the wilds
Hike through quieter parts of the Hope Valley, navigate with your team up onto the surrounding hillsides and learn the basics of outdoor photography as you go
Return home rejuvenated, motivated, and more prepared for your next big adventure
Deemed one of 'the UK’s best creative retreats' by The Guardian
Itinerary
Day 1
Into the peaks
BunkhouseMixed dormShow Day 1 detailHide detail
Arrive in the Peak District and head to your overnight spot for the weekend, an adventure bunkhouse nestled deep in the Hope Valley. Meet Ian and your fellow crew for a natter and beer before bedding down for the night. As dinner is not included tonight, make sure you grab something in Hope or Castleton before arriving.
Day 2
Skills at the ready
Hiking7mi · 1312ft up · 1148ft downBunkhouseMixed dormBreakfast and lunch includedShow Day 2 detailHide detail
Kickstart the day with a quick chat over breakfast so Ian can learn a bit about what you might like to get out of the weekend - no questions or adventures are too small, the weekend is your chance to quiz away to your heart's content. You’ll then head out into the hills and start learning by doing, the bunkhouse is at the foot of The Great Ridge so perfect wilderness territory.
Ian will have a range of kit to chat through as well as sharing advice about planning your own adventures using the right maps and apps to get you into the great outdoors - anything from a weekend walk near to home or a longer overseas multi-day trip. You’ll head back to the bunkhouse late afternoon for a photography session at sunset (if the time of year permits) before heading into Castleton to one of the local pubs for a well-earned pint and dinner.
Day 3
Putting it all into practice
Hiking6mi · 984ft up · 984ft downBreakfast and lunch includedShow Day 3 detailHide detail
Another day exploring and learning - likely to include a gentle stomp to the top of Mam Tor for 360° views across to the Edale Valley and Kinder Scout. You’ll spend today putting into practice some of the skills learned previously and have a go at navigating as a group, understanding contours and how to foresee obstacles and challenges as you go - as well as the key skill of timing and pacing a hike. The weekend will draw to a close late afternoon and you can head home armed with all the skills needed to plan your own adventures in the future. It’s likely you’ll end up guiding your mates before you know it!
Getting There
- Nearest airport
- Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA)
- Pick up
- Bunkhouse in the Hope Valley
20:00 on Day 1 - Drop off
- Bunkhouse in the Hope Valley
16:00 on Day 3
What is and isn't Included?
What's included
Expert expedition guide and photographer
2 nights in a bunkhouse
2 breakfasts and 2 lunches
All gear needed for navigation lessons
What's not included
Where You'll Stay
Private room upgrades are not available on this trip due to the nature of the accommodation.
Bunkhouse
What You'll Eat
The breakfast provided will be hearty and vegetarian - think oats, fruit and all the other good stuff to fuel you for the day ahead. There are tea and coffee making facilities at the bunkhouse. Packed lunches will be provided from a local cafe, you'l…
Optional Extras
Upgrades
There are no single rooms available at the bunkhouse so no upgrades are possible.
To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.
All extras must be paid before your trip starts.
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What to Pack
Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.
FAQs
Who is Ian Finch?
Former Royal Marine Commando Ian Finch is an adventure and outdoor photographer and expedition guide whose been travelling to remote environments for over 10 years. Ian's desire to record, capture or lead expeditions in unfamiliar corners of the globe is driven by a passion to learn about heritage and traditions from the native cultures that call it home.
His latest expedition, a 1,300-mile journey to retrace the footsteps of the Cherokee removals was featured in Sidetracked Magazine with a 20-page written story and photo essay. Also, his 2000-mile canoe descent of the Yukon River was included in the top 10 adventures by the Guardian in 2016. Ian has also led or participated in expeditions to Alaska, Mongolia, Greenland, Indonesia, Tibet, Canada, Iceland, Nepal, China, the US and Northern Norway. His raw passion for life is driven by creative discovery and capturing authentic bookmarks in time from expeditions, landscapes and people.
He combines his love for photography, writing and filmmaking with wild landscapes and the great outdoors. When not overseas, Ian lives in London. Have a read of our quick-fire interview with Ian and find out a bit more about what makes him tick.
What can I expect from the weekend?
Ian’s goal is to send you home more inspired and prepared to take on big (or small) adventures in the wild. Over the course of the weekend you and your small group of fellow adventurers will soak up Ian’s amazing stories and experiences, and chew the fat on all things adventure. Each weekend will be unique and tailored to you and your group, so any burning questions, any gaps in your knowledge, this is your opportunity to talk through them with Ian, either in the wilds or over a beer.
Some of the things covered over the weekend include;
- How to choose the right backpack for you, and where to get it from
- What you need to include in your adventure first aid kit
- How to make sure you’re choosing the right footwear
- Picking the right jacket, waterproofs and layering up for the weather
- Finding a suitable tent or shelter system
- How to choose the most suitable sleeping bag for your adventure
- How to select, plan and prepare food, and the equipment to cook it
- Water safety and sterilisation tips
- How to navigate, whether using a map or GPS
- How to read and monitor the weather during your journey
- Tips on how to photograph the outdoors and storytelling your adventure
And of course, anything that is specific to you and your adventure journey. It will be a fun and motivating weekend, with the rare opportunity to chat 1-1 with someone who has led expeditions in remote corners all over the world.
Can I leave my excess luggage somewhere?
You will leave your main bags and kit at the bunkhouse as you head out each day with just a day pack and your waterproofs.
Can I book on my own?
Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
Who is running the trip?
Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.
What is the official travel advice?
Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers review the practical information available on the UK Government’s FCDO website, where you can find up-to-date advice by searching for your destination(s).
If you are based in the United States, you can also check the latest travel advisories from the U.S. Department of State.
For customers joining from other international locations, we recommend checking the official travel advice issued by your country of residence, as guidance may vary.
What vaccinations do I need?
We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.
How are the trips priced?
We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates daily, so prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.
If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.
Why are your adventures only for adults?
All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.
Who else will be on my trip?
You're always in good company on one of our adventures.
Our trips typically consist of a mix of solo travelers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.
Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves, and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.
It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.
Don't just take our word for it:
- 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
- 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
- 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends
See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.
What's the carbon footprint for this trip?
We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre program, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.
What's the number?
It works out on average at 31kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.
The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.
But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:
- Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
- A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
- 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.
What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.
Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.
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