AFS MOUNTAINEERING
Guided Mountain Days & Big Adventures
I put on a number of planned guided trips throughout the year which are open to anyone:
Day Walks - Mountain Challenge Days - Munro Bagging (single days through to wilderness treks) - Special Events (Dark Skies Festivals & Educational Days Out)
These are also social in that you can meet people with similar interests, start new friendships and explore more.
Have a look below at what takes your interest!
Some events such as outdoor to climbing tend to be publicised on our Facebook page at short notice (as climbing is so weather dependent). So do follow our page.
Guided Mountain Days & Big Adventures
Challenge yourself. See Britain as you've never seen it before.
Whatever the weather is doing, heading up to the highest mountains in Britain can be exhilarating, rewarding, mindful and profound experiences. Escaping the normal hustle and bustle of normal life for a day or more.
Whether it's a first venture into the higher mountains, your first wilderness camping excursion, to come and bag some Munros or Wainwrights, or meet new people, we have numerous open events each year that cover everything from single hill day walks, a weekend of separate walks in an area through to multi-day wilderness wildcamping treks. We love the natural world and the rewarding experiences it can bring. We also put on and support special events - including supporting the Dark Skies Festival, mindfulness night walks and educational days looking at mountain flora and fauna
Some events we announce at really short notice on the AFS Mountaineering Facebook Page when we get a weather window so do "like" the page to get updates!
But I have a number of planned events that are open (not private bespoke events) and these are shown below. If you have a bespoke request for a guide, please see the Adventures for You page. These events are there for you to come along and experience something new.
I deal with the route planning and guiding, leaving you to enjoy the day, take photographs, have a new adventure and chat to folk!
I grade the walks and trips with a grading system of 1-5 (where 1 is a straight forward beginners day on good tracks and 5 are long and strenuous mountain days).
Level 1 - Short Easy Hill Walks
These are either quite short routes and/or follow good paths and tracks on approach, ascent and descent. There may be short steeper sections but on a path. Moderate level of fitness is required.
Level 2 - Longer Easy Hill Walks
Approach on tracks or good paths. May include grassy ascents and descents. Decent level of fitness with a moderate level of stamina required for the day.
Level 3 - Moderate Mountain Day
Approaches and terrain not necessarily on paths. Some steep ascents or descents. May include occasional boulderfields or scree and some ridge walking. You will want to have undertaken some previous walks in the mountains (e.g. Ben Nevis Tourist Track, Snowdon Llanberis track, Scafell Pike from Wasdale)
Level 4 - Challengin & Long Mountain Day(s)
Long approaches which may be over rough terrain. Several steep ascents or descents. Some rough terrain (boulderfields, scree, bogs or deep heather). Possible and occasional easy ungraded rock-scrambling which will be highlighted in the event description. You will need to be a fairly regular hill walker in different weather conditions and have a good level of fitness and stamina. Taster wilderness trips fall into this category.
Level 5 - Challenging & Long Wilderness Mountain Day(s)
These will be similar to a red Level 4 event except that we will be wilderness backpacking for several successive days (therefore carrying our camping kit and food for several days). The additional weight and bulk can add to the difficulty on even quite easy terrain. You will need to be a regular hill walker in different weather conditions and have a good level of fitness and stamina.
The upcoming published events are shown below. Please click on each to find out more about a particular event and book. Any questions please just get in touch. To find out about courses please see the main Skills Courses page in the top menu.
You can jump to a season if you're looking for holiday ideas or simply search the site (top right hand corner of the top menu)
Autumn 2020
(October - December)
Autumn can be a magical time of year, a feast of colours - with the trees as well we the golden sunsets. It is a time of harvest and mists, sunshine and storms. We have a number of evening and sunset walks to enjoy what the season has and we're working with Adventures for the Soul to introduce mindfulness elements into the evening. So no matter how stressful 2020 has been so far, and is likely to continue to be - take some time out to be at one with nature and find some peace.
Geminids Dark Skies December 2019
Dark Skies & Mindfulness
In collaboration with Adventures for the Soul
Level 1 walk - Short easy hill walk
Adventures for the Soul and AFS Mountaineering put on a range of night walks on the North York Moors. These are very much based around mindfulness and at times Yoga. For a full range of dates, please see the Adventures for the Soul website or click here.
For more information and to book:
Keswick from Skiddaw, 31st December 2019
New Year's Eve on a Mountain!
21:00 Thursday 31st December - 02:00 Friday 1st January
Level 2 walk - Longer easy hill walk
Normal life has completely disappeared in 2020. Doing things we took for granted is a thing of the past. So do something different for New Year! Come out and celebrate the start of (hopefully) a better 2021 from the summit of Skiddaw near Keswick in the Lake District! This mountain stands at 3,050ft but we start high up making the ascent far easier! There will be two guides as well as something sparkly to drink when the clocks strike! This is suitable for family groups. For more information and to book, please click here
Winter 2021
(January - March)
During Winter 2021 (January - March) I will mainly be around Aviemore, Glencoe and Fort William running winter skills courses. However it is likely that I'll put on some guided day walks around some of the Munros in the area. This will be entirely weather dependent and will be announced on our Facebook page. I'm also involved with the North York Moors National Park Dark Skies Festival! The planned events are below:
Views from Lovely Seat over the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, 2nd January 2017
Great Shunner Fell, Yorkshire Dales
Saturday 2nd January 2021
Level 2 walk - Longer easy hill walk
Great Shunner Fell lies at the head of the famous Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales. It is a magnificent hill which gives commanding views down the dale and around the whole area on a clear day. There is a good path up to the summit which gently climbs up to the summit from Hardraw near Hawes. From here we have the option to head off piste down to Buttertubs pass and up the neighbouring summit of Lovely Seat which gives even more impressive views down to the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks despite its slightly shorter stature.
For more information and to book:
Ingleborough Summit, January 2017
Leisurely Yorkshire Three Peaks over 2 days
Saturday 16th - Sunday 17th January 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
We're going to take in these three magnificent hills over two separate days due to the lack of daylight. We may even get some spectacular sunrises/sunsets (weather dependent). The big day (Ingleborough and Whernside) we'll begin and end from Ribblehead. On the second day we'll tackle Pen-y-Ghent and start from Horton-in-Ribblesdale. Heading out to the hills in winter can be hard work but incredibly rewarding. It can be a truly wild experience!
For more information and to book:
Orion from the North York Moors, February 2020
Dark Skies & Mindfulness
In collaboration with Adventures for the Soul
Fri 12, Sat 13 & Sun 14th Feb - The Dark Skies Festival
Level 1 walk - Short easy hill walk
Adventures for the Soul and AFS Mountaineering put on a range of night walks on the North York Moors. On previous events we've seen the entire Milky Way with the naked eye as well as learnt about the stars and planets. We've combined this with mindfulness to get into the zone to be awed by the universe! For a full range of dates, please see the Adventures for the Soul website or click here.
For more information and to book:
East ridge of Carn Mor Mheadonaich in the Nevis range, January 2019
Ben Nevis in Winter
Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th February 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
Attempting Ben Nevis in winter is a major but rewarding challenge. It is one of the few places in Britain that can keep snow all year round and one of the first to get snow in Autumn. Winds can blow at hurricane strength at the top and white out blizzards are common. There is no guarantee that we will make it to the summit. But we will have an incredible winter day in the mountains regardless of how far we get!
For more information and to book:
Beinn a'Ghlo in January 2017
Beinn a'Ghlo & the Blair Atholl Munros
Tuesday 9th - Thursday 11th March 2021
Level 4 walk - Challenging and Long Mountain Days
Beinn a'Ghlo is a huge mound boasting 3 Munros. Beinn Dearg and Carn a' Chlamain are two remote Munros that are accessible, but requires long days out in winter. These impressive mountains are big days out but hugely rewarding experiences.
For more information and to book:
Coire an-t Schnecda, Cairn Gorm, March 2018
The Cairngorms in Winter
Saturday 13th - Sunday 14th March 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
The Cairngorms from Aviemore are magnificent. A skiers, winter climber and winter skills haven. It's a photographer's paradise. There is so much on offer it's a great place just to get out and get as high as possible (Munros are always good!). This weekend will be guided walks around the Cairngorms.
For more information and to book:
Glenshee, March 2006
The Glenshee Munros
Tuesday 16th - Thursday 18th March 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
The Glenshee Munros are arguably straight forward. The large eastern plateau offers 6 Munros in a day in summer whereas to the west lies the Cairnwell three. Behind these are some slightly remoter and more challenging hills though compared to their more northern cousins on the higher main Cairngorms Plateau, they are relatively straight forward. These can be great late winter days out. The ski centre detritus litters these hills in summer making three of them at least rather grim and sad places. Once past the ski areas they offer fabulous days walking.
For more information and to book:
Approach to Sgorr Ruadh, March 2010
The North Glen Carron Munros
Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th March 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
I'm often asked which is my favourite Munro. The truth is I don't have one. The weather, season, company etc can all have an effect on your enjoyment of any particular Munro. However, one of my favourite circuits is Beinn Liath Mor and Sgorr Ruadh from Glen Carron. The Munros themselves are spectacularly diverse both in vegetation and rock type with their own challenges which by themselves gives a truly rewarding and full day out. On the second day we'll take in the rockier and alpine Maol Chean-dearg
For more information and to book:
Spring 2021
(April - June)
During Spring 2021 (April - June) I will mainly be around the Highlands of Scotland on the Munros! Early spring can be positively alpine. Warm in the glens, sunny clear blue skies and crisp snow-capped mountains. The planned events are below:
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South Glen Shiel Ridge, Easter 2006
Easter in Glen Shiel
Friday 2nd - Monday 5th April 2021
Level 4 walks - Challenging & long mountain days
The popular Glen Shiel trip is back again having had to be cancelled in 2020!
Glen Shiel is famous for it's battles with the Jacobite rising. It's also famous for being the Road to the Isles, absolutely stunning and having no fewer than 22 Munros on offer including the magnificent South Glen Shiel Ridge with 7 Munros baggable in a day.
The Glen Lyon & Schiehallion Munros
Wednesday 7th - Thursday 8th April 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Days
The circuit of the four Glen Lyon Munros is a very satisfying day out - Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg and Creag Mhor. There is a good track to begin with and a mountain path around aided by old fence posts that are useful in poor visibility. These four Munros on the north side of Glen Lyon lie on a mostly broad and undulating ridge. Schiehallion is a historic Munro used for some very early scientific experiments and the first to introduce contours onto a map!
En route up Stob Binnein, October 2019
The Crianlarich Munros
Tuesday 13th - Thursday 15th April 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
The Crianlarichs are epic. They are the first mountains over 1100m in Britain when travelling up from southern Scotland, England or Wales. There are 7 of them which we'll attempt over 3 days. This is a whole mountain range! And it's stunning. They can be done in a single huge day but we'll be ticking them off over 3 days.
Ben Nevis, April 2004
Ben Nevis in Spring
Tuesday 20th, Wednesday 21st or Thursday 22nd April 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Come and climb Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain! I'll be in the area for the Scottish Bank Holiday. Only £59pp with discounts available, come and stand on the top of Britain! We will be aiming to take less busy routes up The Ben if and wherever possible.
Cairngorms, August 2020
Cairngorms 4000s Wilderness Trek
Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th April 2021
Level 4 walks - Challenging & long mountain days
There are 5 Munros over 4,000ft in the Cairngorms (the only other 4,000+ft mountains in Britain are over with Ben Nevis). The Cairngorms are huge rounded lumps with deep glens. We'll take in all 5 of these giant Munros (plus a few other Munros en route) over two days with a wildcamp half way round. Experience the wilderness like never before! If you're new to wildcamping this could be perfect for you.
Beinn Dearg approach, May 2020
The Alpine Beinn Dearg Range (Ullapool)
Tuesday 27th - Wednesday 28th April 2021
Level 4 walks - Challenging & long mountain days
These hills mark a boundary between what most in Britain consider is a normal landscape and something that is completely far out. Heading further north from Ullapool opens up a landscape which seemingly shouldn't exist in tidy Britain. It is wild. Hills rise almost out of nowhere and stand isolated. These hills are accessible but remote requiring long days. However, for the views they offer they are extremely rewarding!
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Fisherfields, May 2008
Fisherfield Wilderness Munro Trek
Saturday 1st - Monday 3rd May 2021
Level 5 walks - Challenging & long wilderness mountain days
Perhaps the last wilderness left in Britain and arguably the remotest Munros. These can be done individually over several extremely long days. Or you can head into this magnificent area and wildcamp. This enables you to explore this stunning area - home to some of the best views in Britain. Perhaps given the effort it takes to get there!
Views up Llanberis Pass from Llanberis, May 2018
Snowdon
Saturday 22nd or Sunday 23rd May 2021
Level 2 walk - Longer easier hill walks
Snowdonia boasts and amazing array of landscapes and geology in a relatively small area. Rising out of the sea it can be seen from the relatively flat island of Anglesea as a dark brooding barrier to the mainland.
Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and has a number of different approaches to the summit. We'll have an enjoyable day and choose one which suits the group and the weather!
Liathach from Beinn Eighe, May 2019
The Torridon Giants
Saturday 29th - Monday 31st May 2021
Level 4 walk - Challenging and long mountain days
The three Torridon Giants of Beinn Alligin, Liathach and Beinn Eighe are magnificent and ancient. Torridonian sandstone is amongst the oldest rock groups in Britain. These gnarly old mountains each boast 2 Munros and a host of secondary tops and pinnacles. They are rewarding and scrambly (especially Liathach) though many of the difficulties can be avoided. A head for heights is needed!
Summer 2021
(July - September)
Ben Nevis, August 2018
Ben Nevis
Saturday 31st July, Sunday 1st or Monday 2nd August 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Come and climb Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain! I'll be in the area for the Scottish Bank Holiday. Only £59pp with discounts available, come and stand on the top of Britain! We will be aiming to take less busy routes up The Ben if and wherever possible.
Top of Buachaille Etive Mor, August 2019
Glencoe Munros
Saturday 28th - Monday 30th August 2021
Level 4 walk - Challenging & long mountain days
The mighty Glencoe stops tourists with awe and wonder at it's beauty. Buachaille Etive Mor from Rannoch Moor is regularly voted the most picturesque Munro and is a perfect pyramid. We'll do a number of day trips to bag the biggest Munros in the area.
We'll have the big days on the Saturday and Sunday, and have a shorter day Monday to allow everyone to get home.
Views up Wasdale, May 2018
Scafell Pike
Saturday 17th July or Sunday 18th July 2021
Level 3 walk - Moderate Mountain Day
Scafell Pike is the highest mountain in England and is found on the west coast of the Lake District National Park.
ABOUT
ALEX FRADLEY
SML
I’ve been out and about in the mountains for over 10 years since studying Geography at University and going on a number of field trips to the Lake District and the Alps. I had 3 years’ experience at a children’s activity centre delivering sessions such as climbing, canoeing and archery.
Since 2013 I have been a Geography teacher in a secondary school in Yorkshire. I often attend and organise school trips including Geography trips to the East Coast and the Yorkshire Dales, as well as being a regular on the School Ski trip. I also set up the Duke of Edinburgh scheme at school and have led overseas expeditions to Nepal and Thailand.
I have a huge passion for outdoor activities including; hiking, scrambling, climbing, mountain biking and swimming but love any activity that includes exploration, even underground. I’m a member of the Mountain Training Association and often take part in additional training sessions and workshops.
I can regularly be found out and about in the Yorkshire Dales, but equally happy in the landscapes of the Lake District, North Wales or the mountains of Scotland. I love teaching in the outdoors, but also still love learning and furthering my understanding of landscape processes, with a particular interest in rivers and glaciers.
I have a valid wilderness first aid certificate which is a requirement to holding the awards. I also hold a current (and transferable) enhanced DBS certificate and I'm insured to provide the range of activities within the remit of the Mountain Training Awards held.
ABOUT
ROB WEBSTER
SML
I have been passionate about the great outdoors for as long as I can remember. I was first introduced to multi-day hiking and camping in the scouts and then mountain climbing in the mountaineering society at university.
Since then I have enjoyed extensive travels abroad and have been lucky enough to experience multi-day hikes in 2 of my favourite destinations; the stunning Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru and Annapurna in Nepal.
I enjoy testing my mental and physical limits through endurance events and have completed several ultra-marathons, have cycled the length of Britain, swam the length of coniston water and aim to complete my first ironman triathlon in 2021.
I have lived in the Lake District since 2017 and have found that being immersed in nature is the best antidote to life's many stresses. I spend a lot of my time fell-running, hiking, road cycling, lake swimming and exploring new routes.
I hold the Summer Mountain Leader qualification, a valid first aid certificate, relevant insurance to cover the activities I am involved with and hope to show others how much fun and how therapeutic the outdoors can be.
Guided Trips & Special Events - Frequently asked questions
Is this suitable for me?
It depends on what you are after in terms of an experience and how much walking experience you have! I will always try and accommodate everyone but if unsure please drop me an email.
What do I need to bring?
You can see the recommended kit list here. I can provide spares and other bits of equipment so long as you let me know in advance! I'll do my best to bring stuff along.
Where do we meet?
Please click on the individual event to find out about the meeting time and place. Due to conditions underfoot I may have to alter the start point (this can especially be true in the Fisherfield trip!). If that's the case I'll send an email to anyone booked to come on the trip.
I'm coming from further afield, where can I stay nearby?
This is up to you depending on your budget. I can make recommendations nearby should you be unsure. Simply send me an email
What's not included?
How much is the event and how do I book?
The events are priced individually based on how complex they are and where they are. To book please see the individual event pages and ensure you have read the Terms and Conditions and the recommended gear list for the particular activity/season.
I can't make the dates you are offering but I want to do the trip
That's no problem - Just get in touch with me and I'll see what dates you are free and whether I am too. Please also see the Adventures for You page. I tend to run the popular events each year.
What are the Terms & Conditions?
Please see the Terms and Conditions section by clicking the link. You can also see the Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.
I've got some more general questions...
Please see the General FAQ section by clicking the link here. If you've still got questions then please get in touch!