Mountain Lynx Adventures

Blencathra, Sharp Edge & a Perfect Day in the Lakes ☀️

What a day in the Lake District! 😍

Today we headed up Blencathra, starting from the small village of Scales and setting off towards Scales Tarn.

🧗‍♂️ Sharp Edge
We climbed over the famous Sharp Edge, with its exposed ridge and incredible views across the surrounding fells. It's one of those routes that demands a little concentration, but on a day of glorious sunshine, the views were absolutely spectacular.

From Sharp Edge we continued up to the summit of Blencathra — 868 metres 🏔️

After taking in the views from the top, we descended via Halls Fell Ridge, another fantastic ridge route with plenty of drama and some brilliant mountain terrain.

Eventually we dropped back down into the valley and followed the valley-bottom path back towards Scales.

📍 5.1 miles
🏔️ 868m summit
☀️ Glorious sunshine all day
🧗 Sharp Edge & Halls Fell Ridge

And because every good mountain day needs a proper recovery…

We finished by putting our feet into one of the Lake District's natural foot spas! 😂🦶💦

Cold water, tired legs, sunshine and an absolutely cracking day in the mountains.

🧗 Ready to Start Climbing?

Let Mountain Lynx Adventures Show You How!

Ever looked up at a climbing wall or crag and thought:

“I'd love to have a go at that… but I don't know where to start.”

That's where Mountain Lynx Adventures comes in.

Whether you're a complete beginner, looking to build confidence or wanting to develop your climbing skills, our climbing sessions are designed to help you learn, have fun and progress safely.

🧗 Rock Climbing
Learn the fundamentals of climbing, movement and technique while enjoying some fantastic UK climbing locations.

🪢 Rope Skills & Abseiling
Build your understanding and confidence with ropes, anchors, belaying and abseiling.

🏔️ Outdoor Adventure
Move beyond the climbing wall and experience the challenge of climbing on real rock in some of the UK's most spectacular environments.

👥 Small-group instruction
Get personal guidance from an experienced, qualified instructor rather than simply being another face in a crowd.

And most importantly…

You don't need to be super fit, super strong or an experienced climber to start.

You just need a willingness to give it a go.

With decades of experience in the outdoors and climbing, Mountain Lynx Adventures can help you take those first steps — and perhaps discover a hobby that lasts a lifetime.

📍 Based in South Yorkshire and working across some of the UK's best climbing areas.

Fancy giving climbing a go?

📩 Get in touch with Mountain Lynx Adventures to find out about upcoming climbing sessions and courses.

Adventure starts here.

Mountain Training BMC Mammut Climbing Magazine

www.mountainlynxadventures.com

Mountain Lynx Adventures | Navigation Courses & Hill Skills Training in the Peak District Build confidence in the hills with professional navigation, hill skills, and rock climbing courses in the Peak District. Expert instruction, small groups, and Mountain Training-certified courses. Book your next adventure today with Mountain Lynx Adventures

🧗 My Favourite UK Climbing Area — Wharncliffe Crags

If you asked me to name my favourite climbing area in the UK right now, you might expect me to say somewhere in the Lake District, Peak District or even Skye…

But actually, it’s Wharncliffe Crags, just outside Sheffield.
And there are some pretty simple reasons why I keep coming back.

📍 It’s close to home
One of the biggest advantages is simply how accessible it is. When you live nearby, having a fantastic climbing area on your doorstep makes a huge difference.

🚶 Only about a 10-minute walk in
No huge approach carrying a rack of gear for miles! Park up, grab the kit and you're quickly at the crag.
For a day when you just want to get out and climb, it's hard to beat.

🤫 It’s generally pretty quiet
One of the things I love most about Wharncliffe is that it doesn't always feel like you're at one of the UK's better-known climbing venues.
You can often find yourself with plenty of space to enjoy the climbing without the crowds.

🧗‍♂️ A huge variety of grades
Whether you're relatively new to climbing or looking for something considerably harder, there's a fantastic range of routes.

That makes it a brilliant venue for developing your climbing — you can climb within your ability, push yourself a little further and try something different.

And then there's the setting…
Classic gritstone, woodland, views and plenty of history.
It's somewhere I can head to for a few hours, climb some routes, work on technique, catch up with friends and simply enjoy being outside.

After climbing at venues all over the UK and beyond, sometimes your favourite place isn't the biggest, highest or most famous.

Sometimes it's the place that's easy to get to, rarely too busy and consistently delivers a great day out.

For me, at the moment, that's Wharncliffe Crags. ❤️🧗

Have you climbed at Wharncliffe?

What's your favourite UK climbing area — and why?

Mountain Training BMC Mammut Climbing Magazine

🧗 Three things climbers should NEVER compromise on

Whether you're climbing indoors, outdoors, leading a route or just starting out, there are some things that should never be sacrificed for convenience, speed or ego.

1️⃣ Safety
This one should be obvious — but it's amazing how quickly complacency can creep in.
Harness checked. Rope checked. Knots checked. Belay system checked. Protection checked.
Take the extra few seconds. A simple safety check can prevent a serious incident.

2️⃣ Good judgement
Conditions aren't always perfect. Your partner might be tired. The route might be harder than expected. You might not be feeling 100%.
Knowing when to stop, turn around or choose an easier route isn't failure.
It's good climbing judgement.
The mountain, crag or climbing wall will still be there another day.

3️⃣ Your standards
Don't compromise your standards because someone else is rushing you.
Don't climb because you feel pressured to prove yourself.
Don't skip a check because "we've done this hundreds of times."
And never be afraid to say:
“Stop. Let's check that.”

Good climbers aren't the ones who take the biggest risks.

They're the ones who manage risk intelligently, look after their partners and make good decisions when it matters.

After more than 30 years in the outdoors, one thing I've learned is this:

Confidence is knowing what you can do. Experience is knowing when you shouldn't.

🧗 Stay safe. Climb well. Look after each other.

Mountain Training Mammut BMC Climbing Magazine

Three things beginner climbers worry about unnecessarily 🧗‍♂️

Starting climbing can feel intimidating. You’re looking up at a wall, wondering whether you’re strong enough, experienced enough or brave enough.

But there are three things I see beginner climbers worry about far more than they need to.

1️⃣ “I’m not strong enough.”
You don’t need huge muscles to start climbing. Good technique, balance, footwork and learning how to move efficiently are far more important than simply pulling yourself upwards.
Strength comes with time. Technique comes from learning.

2️⃣ “What if I fall?”
This is probably the biggest fear for new climbers — and completely understandable.
But climbing is built around managing falls safely. With the right equipment, a competent instructor and a properly managed climbing environment, you can learn how the systems work and gradually build your confidence.
You don't have to conquer your fear on day one. You just need to take the first step.

3️⃣ “Everyone will be watching me.”

They really aren't! 😂

Climbing gyms and outdoor crags are full of people concentrating on their own routes, their own technique and trying not to fall off themselves.
Nobody expects a beginner to climb like an expert.

The most important thing is to learn, have fun and enjoy the process.

At Mountain Lynx Adventures, we introduce climbing progressively, giving you the skills and confidence to become a safe and independent climber.

🧗‍♀️ Never climbed before?

What’s stopping you?

Drop a 🧗 in the comments if you'd like to give climbing a try.

Mountain Training Mammut BMC Climbing Magazine

🧗‍♂️ WHAT DOES A ROCK CLIMBING INSTRUCTOR ACTUALLY DO?

When people hear Rock Climbing Instructor, they might imagine someone standing at the bottom of a cliff shouting:

"Come on! You can do it!"

There is rather more to it than that!

As a Rock Climbing Instructor, my role is to help people experience climbing safely while developing their skills and confidence.

That can include:

🧗 Teaching climbing techniques — movement, footwork, balance and how to climb efficiently.

🪢 Ropework and belaying — understanding the equipment, setting up systems and learning how to belay safely.

🧭 Route selection and planning — choosing climbs appropriate for the group, weather and conditions.

⚠️ Risk management — identifying hazards and making sensible decisions before and during the session.

🪨 Climbing outdoors — helping people make the transition from an indoor climbing wall to real rock.

And yes...

🪢 ABSEILING!
Abseiling is often people's favourite part.

Standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down and taking that first step backwards can be a pretty big moment!

My job isn't simply to tell you to "trust the rope".

It's to make sure you understand the equipment, the system you're using and what you're doing — while providing the appropriate level of supervision and support.

And that's something I really enjoy about instructing.

Seeing someone arrive nervous and leave thinking:

"I actually did that!"

That's the reward.

I've been involved in climbing and outdoor activities since 1990, and my first outdoor qualification was a Top Rope & Abseil Supervisors course in Cyprus in 1994.

A lot has changed since then — equipment, techniques and technology have all moved on.

But one thing hasn't changed:

Climbing should be challenging, exciting, fun — and safe.

At Mountain Lynx Adventures, I want people to leave a climbing session having learned something, pushed themselves and hopefully discovered that their comfort zone is a little bigger than they thought.

Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.

💬 Would you rather try rock climbing or abseiling?

👇 And if you've never tried either, which one would you be brave enough to have a go at?

Mountain Training BMC Climbing Magazine Mammut

🌍🏔️ MOUNTAIN LYNX — INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE, INFORMING UK INSTRUCTION

I've been fortunate enough to experience adventure in some incredible places around the world.

From the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco to the Himalayas, from mountains across Europe to adventures in Africa, my outdoor journey has taken me well beyond the UK.

I've climbed above 4,000 metres, trekked in the Himalayas, climbed in some amazing locations and experienced environments and cultures that are very different from home.

So what does that have to do with teaching someone to walk paddle, climb or Mountain Bike in the Yorkshire Dales, Peak District Lake District or Snowdonia?

Quite a lot, actually.

Travelling and undertaking adventures in different environments has taught me that the fundamentals of good outdoor practice remain the same:

🧭 Good navigation
🌦️ Understanding the weather
🎒 Being properly prepared
⚠️ Managing risk
👥 Working as a team
🧠 Making good decisions when things don't go to plan

But international adventures have also taught me something equally important:

There is no substitute for experience.

You can read about altitude, weather, unfamiliar terrain and different cultures in a book.

It's very different when you're actually experiencing them.

Those experiences have helped develop my judgement and understanding — and I bring that experience back into the way I teach in the UK.

But I'm also a firm believer that international experience doesn't make someone a better instructor automatically.

The mountains in the UK deserve just as much respect as mountains anywhere else.

A wet, windy day in Snowdonia can provide plenty of challenges without travelling 4,000 miles!

That's why at Mountain Lynx Adventures, I want to combine my international experiences with my knowledge of the UK's mountains and outdoor environment.

Whether we're learning navigation in the Peak District, tackling mountain terrain in Eryri, climbing rock, paddling a lake or simply developing someone's confidence outdoors...
the aim is always the same:

To help people develop the skills, knowledge and judgement to have better adventures.

Mountain Lynx Adventures — adventure experience from around the world, brought home to the UK.

💬 What's the most adventurous place you've ever visited?

I'd love to hear where your adventures have taken you. 🌍👇

🏔️🇲🇦 WHAT TOUBKAL AND MOROCCO TAUGHT ME ABOUT ADVENTURE

Climbing Jebel Toubkal to 4,167 metres was obviously a fantastic achievement.

But looking back, the summit wasn't necessarily the most important part of the adventure.

Morocco taught me that adventure is about far more than reaching the top.

It started in the chaos and colour of Marrakech — wandering through the Medinas, squeezing through narrow alleyways, watching the market traders, snake charmers and dancing monkeys, and discovering beautiful riads hidden behind unassuming doors.

Then everything changed when we reached Imlil.

The noise and bustle of Marrakech were replaced by the peacefulness of a mountain village surrounded by the High Atlas.

From there, we started our journey towards Toubkal.
🥾 Walking through the mountains.
🍊 Stopping for freshly squeezed orange juice on the trail.
🍲 Eating amazing Moroccan food from tagines.
👥 Meeting local people.
🏔️ Experiencing a completely different mountain environment.

And eventually, standing at 4,167m, looking across the Atlas Mountains and towards the Sahara.

But what did I actually learn?
Adventure isn't just about the summit.

It's about stepping outside your normal life.

It's about experiencing different cultures.

It's about meeting people who live very different lives from your own.

It's about being uncomfortable sometimes.

It's about the unexpected things that happen along the way.

And it's about coming home with stories rather than simply photographs.

I've climbed plenty of mountains over the years, but some of my strongest memories aren't necessarily from the summits.

They're from the people I've met, the places I've stayed, the food I've eaten and the experiences I never could have planned.

That's why I love adventure.
Because you can plan the route...

but you can't always plan the experience.

And perhaps that's one of the biggest lessons I've taken into Mountain Lynx Adventures.
I want people to experience more than simply completing an activity.

I want them to learn something, challenge themselves, meet new people and create memories they'll still be talking about years later.

Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone.

💬 What's the biggest lesson adventure has taught you?

👇 I'd love to hear your stories.

🇲🇦 MORE THAN JUST THE MOUNTAINS — MOROCCO, ITS PEOPLE & ITS CULTURE

When I think back to my trip to Morocco to climb Jebel Toubkal, it's not just the 4,167m summit that I remember.

One of the things that made the trip so memorable was experiencing Morocco itself.

Marrakech

The Medinas of Marrakech are an experience in themselves.
The noise, colour and sheer energy are incredible.

Wandering through the narrow alleyways, you find yourself surrounded by markets selling almost everything you can imagine.

Spices.
Leather goods.
Clothing.
Handmade crafts.
Food.

And then there's the entertainment...

🐍 Snake charmers
🐒 Dancing monkeys
🎶 Music
🛍️ Market traders trying to persuade you that their product is definitely the one you need!

It's chaotic, fascinating and completely different from anything you'll experience at home.

And tucked away amongst those tiny alleyways are the riads — traditional Moroccan houses built around an internal courtyard, many of which have been converted into beautiful guesthouses.

From the craziness of the Medina, you can disappear through an almost hidden doorway and suddenly find yourself somewhere incredibly peaceful.

🍲 And then there's the food...
Moroccan food was another highlight.
Tagines, cooked slowly with meat, vegetables, fruit and spices, seemed to be everywhere.

And they tasted even better after a day outside!

There's something particularly satisfying about sitting down to a hot Moroccan meal after spending hours walking in the mountains.

🏔️ Imlil
Then we travelled towards the mountains and reached Imlil, the village where our trek towards Toubkal began.
What a contrast.

The hustle and bustle of Marrakech seemed a world away.

Imlil was peaceful, surrounded by the dramatic landscape of the High Atlas Mountains.

And even on the mountain trails there were little reminders of Moroccan life.

One of my favourites?

🍊 Freshly squeezed orange juice being sold along the trail.

Imagine walking uphill towards a 4,000m mountain and coming across someone squeezing fresh oranges for trekkers!

I'm not sure there's a better mountain refreshment.

Looking back, the summit of Toubkal was obviously a huge part of the trip.

But travelling is about more than ticking a mountain off a list.

It's about the people you meet, the food you eat, the places you stay and the culture you experience along the way.

That's what makes adventure memorable.
Sometimes the journey is just as important as the summit.

💬 Have you ever visited Morocco?

What's the one thing you remember most about it?

👇 I'd love to hear your stories.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE ABOVE 4,000 METRES?

I've been fortunate enough to get above 4,000 metres on several occasions, and every time I'm reminded that mountains at this altitude play by slightly different rules.

One of my most memorable experiences was climbing Jebel Toubkal in Morocco, reaching 4,167 metres above sea level.

But Toubkal isn't the only time I've been above 4,000m.

At that altitude, one of the biggest differences isn't necessarily how the mountain looks.

It's how your body feels.

There's significantly less atmospheric pressure than at sea level, meaning less oxygen is available with each breath.

Suddenly, something as simple as walking uphill becomes noticeably harder.
🥾 Your pace slows.
💨 You breathe harder.
❤️ Your heart works harder.
😴 You fatigue more quickly.

And here's something I've learned from experience:

Being fit doesn't make you immune to altitude.

You can be perfectly capable of walking for hours in the UK, but above 4,000m the same effort can feel completely different.

Then there's the environment itself:
❄️ Snow and ice
💨 Strong winds
🥶 Very low temperatures
☀️ Intense sunlight
🌬️ Thin, dry air
It demands a different approach.

Slow down. Drink. Eat. Listen to your body. Don't rush.

And most importantly, don't let your ego make decisions for you.

I've climbed plenty of mountains where reaching the summit was the goal.

But I've also learned that getting back down safely is just as important as reaching the top.

After more than 35 years in the outdoors, perhaps one of the biggest lessons I've learned is:

The mountain doesn't care how experienced, fit or confident you think you are.

Respect the environment, understand your limitations and make good decisions.

💬 What's the highest altitude you've ever reached?

I'd love to hear about it — summit, trekking, skiing, or anything else!

👇 Tell me in the comments.