About Us What Makes Real Adventure Different?

Overview of who/what Real Adventure is and who it's for.

What makes RA different?
What are your values?

Fun
Energetic
Caring about the experience kids take away with them
Sustainability
Healthy

At Real Adventure we provide expert innovative learning that combines adventure and education in a positive and creative environment.

Real Adventure has two main aims that comprise our misson statement.

Regardless of age, gender, race and beliefs of those who spend time with Real Adventure, there will be transference of positive personal and social interactions from the adventurous activities undertaken, through direct experiential learning. We hope that individuals will grow in confidence, become a more effective team member, have a greater understanding of, and appreciation for the environment and take away this experiential education and build upon it in the future.

We believe that part of the spirit of adventure is passing on knowledge, not just providing experiences. Our extensive range of skills and experience gives each individual the opportunity to learn from us to broaden their experience, increase their skills and have a lot of fun in the process. We hope to capture and inspire people’s imagination and drive for adventure then develop them into keen, enthusiastic and safe practitioners of the activities.

Learn enough to play safe, have your own adventures whilst consolidating what you have learnt, then come back for more as we continue to learn from each other.

Real Adventure is a unique outdoor company based in the Lake District. We provide a wide variety of high quality adventure courses tailored for individual clients at no extra charge.

Safety is our main priority followed closely by quality of instruction and appreciation of the natural environment. One of the exciting parts of sharing the great outdoors with others is that often little is said whilst much is understood. The team at Real Adventure is chosen with two vital criteria… do they love what they do? Do they get a buzz from sharing it? Meet the team on the staff page and if you like you can read about our environmental policy. If you would like more detail about our risk management procedures then you can view and download our risk management summary.

Dan Robinson Director and Owner of Real Adventure

I have spent my life here in the Lake District, a fantastic environment for adventure in the great outdoors. From the early age of 12, I found excitement, challenge and fun through climbing, caving and canoeing – I knew then that I had found my passion. This discovery has finally led me to start my current business providing opportunities for people to experience their own Real Adventures …

To date I hold a variety of high level qualifications for use in the outdoor environment. In my “play time” I have climbed all over the UK as well in Colorado and Yosemite and much of Europe and Australia.

This business, that I started in 1999, feels like part of a fantastic journey I have accidentally stumbled upon … I love it.

Jen Robinson Manages the Director!

Jen has been working in the outdoor and environmental education and conservation sectors since graduating from John Moores University. Alongside her enjoyment of spending time in the mountains, Jen’s passion lies in enthusing young people and staff about wild places, nature and the environment and encouraging everybody, including the business to think and act in an environmentally responsible and ethical way. So if you fancy something a little more environmentally focussed on your Real Adventure just let us know.

Jen is also behind the scenes keeping the boss on track to ensure all your courses run smoothly.

Michiel Vangulik Chef

Makes the most amazing chocolate moose! Michiel creates high quality home cooked food prepared fresh on-site. As an experienced secondary school teacher Michiel brings education to the dinner table. All young people are encouraged to try at least one mouthful which has resulted in some very surprised and well fed youngsters.

Nigel Edwards Instructor

Nigel’s career started in the late 1980’s in North Devon, where he worked as a climbing, canoeing and surfing instructor. Tempted by the Himalayan mountains he headed to Nepal to run rafting and trekking expeditions in the Anapurna, Everest and Kanchenjunga regions.

He has lived and worked in the Lake District since the early 90’s and is a specialist in many outdoor adventure activities.

Nigel’s vast experience and knowledge echoes trust in people and folk just seam to be happy to push themselves to the max when they have a day out with him.

Steve Herd Instructor

Steve lives and breathes the outdoors whether it be land or water. He holds high level qualifications in a wide range of disciplines.

He has spent and spends most of his spare time playing out in the mountains and has travelled extensively from Patagonia to the Himalayas.

All this is apparent in his passion for teaching.

Kat McLennan Instructor

Dawn Elliot Instructor

Dawn likes Bikes and Hills and can sometimes be found underground on her day’s off work.

When she is out with a group Dawn is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate instructor who can quickly relate to her group and get the best out of everyone.

Mike Margeson Instructor

Mike has climbed and adventured himself and with groups all over the world including Africa, Iceland, Norway, North America and most parts of the European Alps. His love and passion for adventure whether climbing, caving or sailing is echoed by a career of over 25 years as a full time mountaineering and outdoor education instructor.

Mike is committed to all aspects of the outdoors, as his contribution as Team Leader of a Lake District Mountain Rescue Team for many years demonstrates.

Mike’s passion for the outdoors is infinite, no matter where he is or who he is with Mike is always having a great time.

Sam Melville Instructor

Sam discovered the outdoors at a young age, starting climbing at the age of 10. Growing upp in the Peak District and learning on ‘god’s own rock’ the mighty grit stone. Since then he has managed to climb all throughout the UK, Europe, parts of China and over to Yosemite in California. He has in recent years discovered the dark art of winter climbing and after living at the base of Ben Nevis for 2 years has grown into a keen winter mountaineer.

Sam also has managed to turn his hand to paddlesport with his main passion in this being white water kayaking. He has managed to tick off a lot of river in the UK and also in the Southern French Alps.

Sally Ozanne Instructor

Sally has been working in the outdoors since graduating from university in 2000 with a BA in Outdoor Studies. Her breadth of experience spans not only the industry but the globe, with paddling and overland expeditions in SE Asia, Nepal, India, Patagonia and Bolivia.

As well as her hardcore paddling credentials (Sally is a level four kayak coach and holds the BCU 5 star award), Sally is a keen mountaineer, devoting her winter months to the uncompromising Scottish hills and enjoying the best of the sumer back with us in the Lakes.

Add to this her open, approachable manner and encouraging, inclusive style and we think you’ll agree, you couldn’t ask for more from a leader.

Pete Fry Instructor

Pete is one of our most experienced staff on our team, he has been working in the Lake District delivering adventurous education since the 80’s. Pete’s huge knowledge and experience of working with people in the outdoors enables him to push each individual to get the most out of their time with him. He is an inspiration to all those who have the pleasure of spending time in the outdoors with him.

Nick Russell Instructor

Nick has been climbing since his early teens and working as an outdoor instructor since 1990. Although still an active climber Nick now travels more than he climb's.

Nicks main area's of interest at work is with young people and introducing those from disadvantaged back grounds to the outdoors.