Who We Are

Put simply Chasing Peaks for the time being is me - Phil. Having worked for other companies on and off in various outdoor activities as well as running my University Mountaineering and Climbing Club for a few years I decided it was time to dust myself off and start my own business on the side. You will notice I use the phrase "we" when talking about what this company offers and does. This is an indication of my future ambitions to eventually leave my regular full-time work behind, make a living from the business and eventually be able to employ others in doing so. Further, while I mostly work on my own I may at times call in other instructors to carry out the work where appropriate. While these instructors are not directly my staff and you would not see them in the instructor list, they are nevertheless working in the spirit of my vision for Chasing Peaks.

So what's with the name Chasing Peaks. We believe that everybody has their own personal mountain to climb when it comes to adventure. We would love to be your partner in doing so, either taking you by the hand and guiding you directly, or equipping you with the necessary skills to succeed yourself. We know that any challenge, no matter how big or small it might seem, requires persistence, perseverance and motivation - hence it can sometimes feel like you are chasing your peak.

Phil

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Phil is our founder, owner and the brain behind Chasing Peaks. Hill Walking since the '90s (read: since he could walk) and climbing for almost as long he has amassed a wide range of experience growing up in the lower Alps. Since moving to the UK in 2009 he has built an ever increasing repertoire of qualifications despite living in one of the least mountainous parts of the country.

He currently holds the Summer Mountain Leader (MLS), Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) and Climbing Wall Development Instructor (CWDI) awards, allowing him to lead people on non-technical and non-wintry walks, hikes, expeditions and scrambles anywhere in the lowlands, moorlands, uplands and mountains of Britain and Ireland. As a qualified climbing instructor he teaches the full spectrum of indoor climbing skills, including lead climbing, and introduces people to climbing on real rock outdoors. Phil also provides basic coaching in climbing movement and technique up to intermediate level.
Aside from the outdoors, Phil enjoys good beer, good food and good company while also occasionally writing about all things outdoors in his blog.

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What do our difficulty values mean?
	Suitable for beginners with little or no previous knowledge and experience. For walking activities you should be able to walk at a slow to average pace continuously for 30 minutes.
	Suitable for intermediates with basic knowledge and previous experience. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace continuously for 1 hour. Climbing participants should be able to pass a belay test and/or demonstrate good bouldering practice.
	Suitable for those competent at and comfortable with the basics of the activity. Walking participants should be able to walk at an average pace and ascent rate continuously for 1 hour. For mountain activities, you should be a little sure-footed and not hugely afraid of heights, as activities may include short sections of exposure and steep ground. Climbing participants should be able to comfortably and competently top-rope grade 5 climbs or boulder the equivalent.
	Suitable for experienced participants with above average fitness and knowledge. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk at an average pace and rate of ascent continuously for 1 hour over broken terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to be sure-footed, have a moderate head for heights and be happy with longer stretches of moderate exposure. Climbing participants are expected to competently lead climb/belay and climb grade 5 indoors (or the equivalent boulder grade).
	Suitable for very experienced participants with high degrees of fitness and above average knowledge of the basics. Walking participants are expected to be able to walk to Naismith's rule (3-4km/hr + 1min/10m ascent) steadily for long periods of time over broken and complex terrain. For mountain activities you are expected to have a good sense of balance, be sure-footed and happy with long stretches of, at times severe, exposure. Participants are expected to show high levels of competence and self-sufficiency in their disciplines.

Our current private course price list:
For the prices listed here, we deliver a private booking just for you, on your chosen date and time. Where practical we will deliver the booking in your chosen location, though any areas outside of our usual operational areas may incur extra travel costs. We will let you know should this be the case. You will receive a full breakdown of costs with your quote.
Scrambling	£180 for the first 2 participants, £45 for each additional participant	A significant portion of the day is spent scrambling in complex, rocky and steep terrain.
Mountain Walk	£180 for the first 4 participants, £45 for each additional participant	Most of the day is spent walking in the mountains, though short sections of scrambling and steep terrain may be encountered.
Hill Walking	£170 for the first 4 participants, £25 for each additional participant	Days involving no possibility of scrambling and encountering rocky or steep terrain.
Lowland Walking	£160 for the first 6 participants, £20 for each additional participant
Beginner Navigation	£390 for the first 4 participants, £75 for each additional participant	2 days learning the fundamentals of navigating with map and compass.
Intermediate Navigation	£410 for the first 4 participants, £100 for each additional participant	2 days intermediate navigation, learning to navigate off path and across open countryside.
Advanced Navigation	£360 for the first 2 participants, £120 for each additional participant	2 day advanced navigation course learning to navigate in mountaineous terrain and remote countryside.