Your guides
The people at the front, and at the back.
All four of us live in or around Kelderby. Between us we’ve led more than 3,000 walks in the Kelder Fells, in sunshine, sideways rain and the odd foot of snow.
Founder and lead guide
Ruth Allonby
Grew up on a farm at the head of Fennerdale and started High Kelder in 2012 after ten years teaching geography. Still leads most of the big ridge days.
Qualifications
Mountain Leader (placeholder) · Outdoor first aid, 16 hours (placeholder)
Favourite route
Kelder Edge in October, when the bracken turns
Navigation tutor
Owen Pryce
Runs the navigation courses. Spent eight years on the local mountain rescue team and is happiest on featureless moor with a compass in his hand.
Qualifications
Winter Mountain Leader (placeholder) · Navigation tutor award (placeholder)
Favourite route
Skelder Pike by the north ridge, in thick cloud
Guide
Jess Mallory
Leads most of our easy and moderate walks and knows every bird call in Thrangill Wood. Good company for first-timers and nervous walkers.
Qualifications
Hill and Moorland Leader (placeholder) · Outdoor first aid (placeholder)
Favourite route
Beckside Falls after a wet week
Weekend trips guide
Callum Reid
Plans the weekend trips, books the B&Bs, drives the minibus and makes the cake. Has walked every fell in the park at least twenty times.
Qualifications
Mountain Leader (placeholder) · Outdoor first aid (placeholder)
Favourite route
Day two of the High Fells Weekend
Safety
How we keep you safe on the hill.
Every guide holds a current outdoor first aid certificate, and we’re insured for guided walking with (Insurer name), policy no. 000000.
Routes checked the day before
We read the mountain forecast every evening and choose the route to suit it. If the tops are no place to be, we go low.
Kit in every guide’s pack
First aid kit, a group shelter, a spare warm layer, a head torch and a radio or satellite messenger.
A guide at the front
And on bigger days a second one at the back, so nobody gets left behind on the descent.
A turn-back time
Every walk has one. If we aren’t at the top by then, we head down and save the summit for another day.
Want a particular guide? Just ask when you book.
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