TEAM DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Let us take your team out for an inspirational experiential walking adventure in the Great Outdoors.

Walking in the countryside is a multi-sensory experience that clears your mind and allows escapism from the stresses of everyday life, which helps create a memorable day with long lasting results.

Walking allows time to think, reflect and discuss, away from office distractions; nature is a wonderful stimulus for thought, conversations and ideas.

Our walking events are unique, and are tailored just for you. No artificial tasks – what we offer is genuine and real – where problem solving, decision making, creative thinking, discussions and reflection will bring you together as a team to achieve your objectives, improve relationships, communication and trust – all whilst surrounded by wonderful landscapes.

We understand that dysfunctional teams often exhibit certain traits: a lack of trust, fear of conflict, commitment and accountability avoidance, and inattention to results. Our approach focuses on building stronger relationships, improving communication, and fostering trust within the team. By doing so, we aim to enhance engagement, teamwork, and contribute to the growth of your business. After all, people are the cornerstone of any successful organisation.

If the environment is right, the content will be remembered.

Environment. People learn and reflect better in the natural environment, with its sense of space and freedom.

Inclusivity.  Our walks are enjoyable, inclusive and achievable. It is about spending a day outdoors with your team, not how far you can walk in a day.

Share our Passion. We love the outdoors, and want to share our passion with you!

A Natural Connection. Research shows that we have an innate affinity with nature and a need to be connected with it. Walking in the countryside can have positive effects on our psychological well-being. From journey sticks to the geology of the rocks, we will explore the natural environment to enhance your experience.

Our Vision. To inspire, enable and empower people to develop personal and interpersonal skills through the delivery of navigation training excellence, which are authentic and relatable life skills. Also, to inspire, engage and educate people outdoors in the hills and mountains through the delivery of the very best enjoyable, sociable and inclusive adventures. “Quality Pays”

We will plant a tree in the Yorkshire Dales on your behalf. Working with the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, for every corporate booking, we will plant one deciduous tree in the Yorkshire Dales on your behalf, and send you a tree dedication certificate in your company’s name.

Trees planted so far: 203

We will always discuss your requirements and objectives with you before the event, and then tailor the day accordingly.

Suggested itinerary…

9:30am: Meet at a country cafe or hotel. Welcome over coffee and outline of the day. Objectives and expectations shared.

10am – 4:30pm: Full day out walking through beautiful countryside. The focus of the day will be about spending time with your work colleagues, engaging with the natural environment, taking time to think and reflect, enjoying the freedom of the hills.

4:30pm – 5pm: Return to the cafe or hotel for reflection and feedback over a well-deserved drink.

Throughout the day there will be various tasks and activities that will focus on communication, collaboration, understanding, relationships and trust – the Great Outdoors is the perfect place to facilitate this. There will be some navigation exercises during the day, as well as lots of discussions and activities designed to make you think and reflect. Other activities will focus on values, observation, self reflection and team work. We will be on hand to observe team interactions and facilitate your experiential learning.

We always incorporate ‘ecotherapy’, which may include journey sticks, sense walking, natural treasure hunts etc. All of this is designed to get you more engaged with the natural world. We think better when we are moving and in the natural environment. All of this whilst surrounded by beautiful landscapes!

We’ll be outdoors for around 7 hours and cover between 5 and 10 miles, depending on location, weather, group needs, desired outcomes etc. All walks include paths, tracks, lanes along riversides, through woodland and across farmland, hills, moorland and fells with rough ground in places and a number of ups and downs. We always match the walk to the group, so routes will be dynamic.

Lunch: we’ll eat our packed lunch ‘al fresco’ on a hillside with a view.

Clothing & Kit: we can provide waterproof outdoor clothing, rucksacks and walking boots if required, free of charge.

Locations: Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Peak District, North York Moors, North Pennines, Northumberland or Scotland.

MARK REID is the author of 17 walking guidebooks including ‘The Inn Way’ series, which have sold over 100,000 copies. He is a qualified Walking Group Leader, Hill & Moorland Leader and Mountain Leader, and has an unrivalled knowledge of the history and geography of the North of England. Mark has a BA (Hons) Geography degree from the University of Lancaster and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). Mark has walked over 29,000 miles of footpaths since 1997, and has taken over 17,000 people out walking in the countryside as well as over 200 companies on team building and away days – he’s been an Outdoor Professional for 27 years! Mark has appeared on ITV YORKSHIRE on the TV walks series ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ along with ITV weatherman Jon Mitchell, as well as ITV1’s The Dales.

For more information about Mark Reid, please click here

A team away day with a difference – authentic walking experience that is enjoyable, sociable and inclusive. Our most popular event!

Forget raft building or paint balling, do something completely different that is authentic, memorable and fun in the amazing ‘classroom’ of the outdoors! Your team will leave feeling refreshed, energised and positive with a sense of wellbeing.

Spend a day with your team, walking slowly with time to talk and soak up the magnificence of your surroundings. Your guide will bring the landscapes alive with knowledgable interpretation of what you are experiencing – the geography and geology, history and heritage.

The ‘team building’ is light touch with a focus on getting to know each other better – relationships, communication, values and trust – whilst walking through amazing scenery away from the distractions of the office. Uninterrupted time to chat, think, discuss and reflect whilst enjoying the freedom and fresh air of the countryside.

Whether we are hiking up a Lakeland fell or gently walking along a serene riverside in the Peak District, our walking experiences are enjoyable, inclusive and achievable. It is about spending a day outdoors with your team, not how far you can walk, and so our routes are always adaptive to take into account weather and ground conditions, terrain, individual and group needs as well as desired outcomes.

We incorporate ‘ecotherapy’ into these walks, which may include journey sticks (how we used to navigate before we had maps), sense walking, natural treasure hunts etc. All of this is designed to get everyone more engaged with the natural world. We think better when we are moving and in the natural environment.  

Experience the sense of space and light; enjoy a day of adventurous exploration; discover beautiful hills, sweeping valleys, hidden waterfalls and stunning views – and share a full day with your colleagues surrounded by inspirational landscapes.

An uplifting and inspiring team away day – reward and recognise your team with a fabulous day out walking in the countryside. 

Spend a day with your team, walking slowly with time to talk and soak up the magnificence of your surroundings. Your guide will bring the landscapes alive with detailed interpretation of what you are experiencing – the geography and geology, history and heritage.

Enjoy the freedom and fresh air of the countryside; immerse yourselves in nature; marvel at magnificent views; enjoy a day of adventurous exploration with a knowledgable guide; get to know your colleagues in a different environment surrounded by inspirational landscape… and at the end of the day your team will leave feeling refreshed and energised with a sense of wellbeing.

The ‘team building’ will be subtle, as the focus of the day is all about your team having a great day outdoors together; when we go walking in nature, good things happen! There will be a focus on getting to know each other better whilst walking through amazing scenery away from the distractions of the office.

Whether we are hiking up a Lakeland fell or walking along a gentle riverside in the Yorkshire Dales, our walking experiences are enjoyable, inclusive and achievable. It is about spending a day outdoors with your team, not how far you can walk, and so our routes are always adaptive and dynamic to take into account weather and ground conditions, terrain, individual and group needs as well as desired outcomes.

REVIEWS
“Thanks Mark, the guys really enjoyed the day. Many said it was the best event we’ve done, and we’ve done a few!! Met all my expectations and more.” UNIVAR Europe

Bring your team closer together on a walking experience with a focus on communication, relationships, values and trust.

We think best when we are walking in nature, in tune with the easy rhythm of our step and the ground beneath our feet as we walk together side-by-side through beautiful landscapes, with time to talk, listen, think and reflect away from the distractions of the workplace.

Research shows that we have an innate affinity with nature and a need to be connected with it. Walking in the countryside has been shown to have positive effects on our psychological well-being, creativity and positive thinking – we are designed to walk and talk!

We will put this to good effect as we spend the day focussed on values, trust, integrity, relationships and communication – fundamental elements of a high performing team. Enjoy quality time with your colleagues whilst enjoying the freedom and fresh air of the countryside.

Uninterrupted time to really get to know each other.

We understand that dysfunctional teams often exhibit certain traits: a lack of trust, fear of conflict, commitment and accountability avoidance, and inattention to results. Our approach focuses on building stronger relationships, improving communication, and fostering trust within the team. By doing so, we aim to enhance engagement, teamwork, and contribute to the growth of your business. After all, people are the cornerstone of any successful organisation.

REVIEWS
“The whole team both enjoyed the day and got real benefit from the walking and talking.” GXO

Head to the beautiful Yorkshire Dales for an empowering day of authentic learning, personal development and teamwork. 

Good navigation skills are your passport to freedom on the hills, with the ability to plan and follow your own walks in the countryside and across the uplands. But there much more to it…

• Decision making and human factors
• Strategies, planning, dealing with change and problem solving
• Learning new skills then applying them practically in real situations
• Personal development and teamwork
• Communication, relationships, understanding and collaboration

Our 1, 2 or 3 day courses will give you and your team the skills you need to stride out with confidence and navigate across the dales, hills and moors, then put them into practice as a team. From route planning and weather forecasts to detailed map work and navigation strategies, these courses provide the key foundations and building blocks for good navigation and hill skills, giving you the confidence and knowledge to plan and follow your own walks in the countryside.

Learning Navigation Skills and applying them as a team walking across the hills encompasses all of the key positive traits of a high functioning team – building trust, effective communication, clarity of purpose, commitment, accountability and results. It’s incredibly empowering! 

We understand that dysfunctional teams often exhibit certain traits: a lack of trust, fear of conflict, commitment and accountability avoidance, and inattention to results. Our approach focuses on building stronger relationships, improving communication, and fostering trust within the team. By doing so, we aim to enhance engagement, teamwork, and contribute to the growth of your business.

Gain a nationally recognised award
The 2-day National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) Bronze Award and 3-day NNAS Silver Award are nationally recognised awards that include skills assessment. The NNAS awards are a personal performance, non-competitive, incentive scheme, ranging from basic navigation skills at Bronze level through to more advanced skills at Silver level. The NNAS Awards are credit-rated by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership (SCQF). The SCQF have rated the Bronze Award at level 4 and Silver Award at level 5 with each award worth 2 points. Certificate upon successful completion. 

1-day Navigation Skills course – more details
Ideal for teams of up to 12 people.

2-day NNAS Bronze course – more details
Ideal for teams of up to 8 people.

3-day NNAS Silver course – more details
Ideal for teams of up to 8 people.

REVIEWS
“Fantastic course, the best training I have ever been on. It has opened the door to the entire wilderness for me to enjoy, which I didn’t have the skills or confidence to venture into before, a bit of an epiphany.” Natural England

Walk on the wild side – leadership development experiences that are completely different! 

Head to the hills for our fantastic guided Wild Camping or Backpacking trips in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District or Scotland. Spend 2 or 3 days hiking through rugged valleys and across spectacular hills and mountains, then sleep overnight with either a wild camp in a remote mountainous location or a valley camp in a quiet farm campsite, far from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.

You’ll need to carry everything for your 2 or 3 day expedition in your rucksack. During the expedition, you will need to…

• Work as a team to navigate through wild and remote terrain.
• Make sound judgements and decisions, taking the many variable factors into consideration such as group needs, weather, terrain and time available.
• Deal with changing plans through creativity, positive thinking and problem solving.
• Learn hill and mountain skills, and then apply them in a real life situation in a remote and potentially challenging environment.
• Set up camp, purify water, cook food, keep warm and dry.
• Embrace personal development, leadership and teamwork.
• Focus on communication, relationships, understanding and collaboration. Explore values and integrity, and lead by example.
• Motivate, inspire and empower others, especially in situations that may take you out of your comfort zone.

This is a true outdoor experience that is perfect for small management teams as part of their personal and leadership development.

We understand that dysfunctional teams often exhibit certain traits: a lack of trust, fear of conflict, commitment and accountability avoidance, and inattention to results. Our approach focuses on building stronger relationships, improving communication, exploring values and fostering trust within the team  – fundamental elements of effective leadership and a high performing team. By doing so, we aim to enhance engagement, teamwork, and contribute to the growth of your business. A Wild Camping or Backpacking Expedition encompasses all of the key positive traits highlighted above – building trust, effective communication, clarity of purpose, commitment, accountability and results. It’s incredibly empowering! 

Wild Camping – more details
Wild camp high amongst the mountains, with no facilities. We’ll find a sheltered spot beside an upland stream or small lake, collect stream water for drinking and dig a hole for the loo! We will carry everything we need on our backs. Ideal for teams of up to 10 people.

Backpacking – more details 
Camp in a basic farm campsite in a remote valley, with toilet and washing facilities. We will carry everything we need on our backs, but we may head to a nearby country pub for an evening meal. Ideal for teams of up to 12 people.

We provide your camping kit – choice of lightweight backpacking tent (1 or 2 person), lightweight insulated sleep-mat, expedition rucksack, dry-bag, JetBoil stove & gas (please provide your own sleeping bag & food).

Mark Reid is a highly experienced Mountain Leader with 83 Wild Camping nights experience in remote mountain locations throughout Britain. You’ll be in safe hands.

NetWalking – where networking meets hillwalking. Climb upwards to business success!

The inspirational way to develop your business. Spend a day walking in beautiful countryside with your business colleagues, contacts and customers – and really build and develop your relationships with them!

Walk slowly, with quality time to talk to everyone and really get to know people in a relaxed environment, surrounded by beautiful landscapes.

Why not invite your customers, clients and business contacts on a day’s NetWalking and develop your business relationships in a memorable and fun way? It really does work!

REVIEWS
“Many thanks once again for taking us out. The feedback was unreservedly positive as always and all our contacts said how much they enjoyed the day.” Campbell, Crossley & Davis

Think differently….

“It is our habit to think outdoors” Friedrich Nietzsche

Stretch your mind as well as your legs on our Philosophy Walk. Walking slowly through beautiful landscapes allows your mind to wander freely, with time to think, question and consider. A Philosophy Walk takes that most fundamental movement – walking – and pairs it with the chance to stimulate reflection and thought for a memorable day. Work through problems, generate ideas, think about your business.

Mark Reid will be joined by Graeme Tiffany on our Philosophy Walks. Graeme is a Mountain Leader, Community Philosopher & Outdoor Educator.

Philosophy Walks – more details

REVIEWS
“We all had a great time, with lots of good conversations, these certainly would not have happened in a meeting room!” ARM Holdings

Looking to organise a Corporate Charity Challenge Walk? Daunted by the organisation (and liability) that comes with it? We can help!

We have devised, organised and delivered dozens of challenge walks over the years, including…

• Yorkshire Three Peaks – more details
• Yorkshire Square Walk – more details
• Wharfedale Three Peaks – more details
• Edale Skyline – more details
• White Peak Challenge – more details
• Lovely Great Hike – more details
• Mallerstang Yomp – more details
• Five Crosses Challenge – more details
• Howgill Fells 2000s – more details

Let us organise your charity challenge walk – we’ve loads of experience! We can even devise a bespoke challenge walk just for you!

REVIEWS
“Thank you so much again for such an amazing day. The walk itself and your organisation was so pitch perfect. Was so proud of the team effort we all pulled off. Very much hope to repeat the experience sometime soon.” Nacoa Charity (White Peak Challenge Walk)

Aysgarth Falls Hotel, Yorkshire Dales click
CB Inn, Langthwaite, Yorkshire Dales click
Devonshire Arms, Beeley, Peak District click
Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire Dales click
Devonshire Arms, Pilsley, Peak District click
Devonshire Fell, Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales click
Eltermere Inn, Lake District click
Golden Lion, Osmotherley, North York Moors click
Horseshoe, Levisham, North York Moors click
Izaak Walton Hotel, Peak District click
Lister Arms, Malham, Yorkshire Dales click
Red Lion Inn, Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales click
Strands Inn, Nether Wasdale, Lake District click
Swinton Park Castle Hotel, North Yorkshire click
Tweedies Bar & Lodge, Grasmere, Lake District click
Woolpack Inn, Boot, Lake District click
Yorkshire Bridge Inn, Peak District click

• No experience required. Full training and guidance will be given.
• All participants will be guided or shadowed at all times by Mountain Leaders. All guides are fully qualified, insured and outdoor first aid trained Mountain Leaders (documents, certificates and Risk Assessments available upon request).
• All walks are tailored specifically for each group according to your needs, aspirations, experience and fitness levels. However, a reasonable level of fitness is required as the natural environment can be demanding at times.
• The walks will include a mixture of terrain and landscapes with the potential for uneven ground, rough and rocky terrain, stiles, stream crossings and wet/boggy ground, fields, moorland, hills and possibly mountains, tracks and lanes, as well as a number of ascents and descents; we may experience adverse weather conditions.
• So far, we have taken over 17,000 people out walking, and have a wealth of experience dealing with corporate clients as well as all ages and abilities.
• Please book accommodation, food or travel directly with the service provider.
• Part of the attraction of valley, hill and mountain walking is the challenge of tackling different terrains, landscapes and weather conditions. Every effort is made to minimize potential hazards; however, the very nature of hill and mountain walking involves a certain level of unavoidable risk of accident and/or injury. By taking part in this activity, you are aware of and accept these risks.