Dan Robinson - Director 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 feels like part of a fantastic journey I have accidentally stumbled upon ... I love it.

Mike Margeson

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.

Presently Mike is working as the Association of Mountaineering Instructors Professional Officer and as a part time AALA Inspector as well as enjoying having all manner of adventures with groups as often as possible. 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.

Tom Sibbald

Tom first paddled a canoe in New Zealand - 3 days in the huge rock bounded gorge of the Wanganui River. It rained all day every day, the water rose 9 feet one night. He loved it and was hooked. Canoeing captures Tom’s passion and dreams for adventure in the outdoors. A little to his surprise he also discovered that sharing canoeing with others is as inspiring. When Tom can be persuaded to get off the water he is also a hidden legend at land based adventure. Tom and I have done a lot of caving in the Dales and have spent time in the Alps climbing together. Everyone who spends time with Tom is inspired.

Graham Derbyshire

Graham has been an active and enthusiastic climber and caver for about thirty years. He has walked and climbed extensively all over the UK, and in Europe and the USA, with a particularly thorough knowledge of the Lakeland Fells.

Grahams love of caving has taken him to all the major British caving areas and abroad to Slovenia. He has worked in the outdoors in an instructional capacity since 1982.

Graham holds MIA and CIC.

Bob Curry

Bob has been a passionate outdoor man since he was compared to a ‘mountain goat’ by his secondary school head-teacher in 1988. This was as a result of his first mountain climb on Bow Fell in the Lake District. His enthusiasm for all things mountain was fully realised in 2000 when he began a full time career in the outdoors.

Bob has extensive extensive climbing and mountaineering experience in England, Wales and Scotland in both summer & winter and also trekking and alpine ascents in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Bob has finally rounded out his climbing portfolio with a recent high altitude trip to Ecuador summiting Cotopaxi at 5897m; the worlds highest active volcano. With qualifications and experience in canoeing, kayaking and sailing Bob brings breadth as well as expertise to the team.

Dave Bottomley

We call him “Phat Dave who can’t Climb”. Dave is a legend on the crag and can wield a paddle too. However he comes into his own when you need him the most

Hazel Johnson

Hazel, never without energy.... Having moved around the U.K. from a young age and dragged to various places around the world, she now travels extensively both with work and for pleasure.

Regularly leading treks in the Nepalese and Bhutanese Himalayas she is no stranger to high altitude. Having also summated Kilimanjaro at just under 6,000m Hazel is more than capable of taking on any challenge presented to her. She has a try anything once attitude, which comes across in her work and personal life, encouraging others to take on the challenge of new adventures and experiences.

Working in the outdoors for well over 10 years, and based in the Lakes in between trips for around 7 years, she is completely at home in the mountains and thrives on introducing groups to the outdoors.

It is said that it is not possible for anyone to keep up with Hazel, never staying static for long, if she is not working, running, climbing or biking, then she must be travelling.

Darren Tattersall

Darren has been playing in the outdoors for nearly 20 years, 9 years of this have been spent using those skills as a way of helping people to develop.

He has worked with all sorts of groups, more recently achieving success with young people with challenging behaviour. Darren creates an environment in which people can achieve over and above their expectations, whether they are learning technical skills or as part of a more holistic development programme.

“I also love it!”

Darren likes to paddle rivers, surf, climb, walk, swim, read books and cook good food. The last one is particularly important!