Nicky Merrett
Mountain Leader, Navigation & Poles Coach
Nicky Merrett founded "Hiking Highs" and formerly "Nics Nordic Walks" in 2015, to deliver guided walking breaks, inspire folk in the Lake District Mountains and share her passion for hills. Nicky lives at the foot of Helvellyn, and the Helvellyn Massif is her playground all year round. Using poles in the fells and also teaching their magic is Nicky's passion, alongside Navigation, to those keen to develop their skills in the hills.
As an accomplished Nordic Walking Coach for hiking and distance events, Nicky found her clients were keen to explore the higher fells, so took the next step to qualify as a Mountain Leader in 2018. She found herself being inspired by her clients, pushing their boundaries and giving an all round uplifting experience to all who walk with her. This has also led to inspiring folk to loose the fear of being 'lost' and gain confidence in map reading. Nicky now teaches the Bronze, Silver & Gold Level of Navigation for the National Navigation award Scheme, recognised by Mountain Training Association (MTA) and the British Mountaineering Council (BMC).
There's always a story with Nicky, and knowledge of the surroundings in which they walk. There is always an excitement amongst hiking groups for Nicky to give folk the tools in order to achieve and gain confidence in the fells. Nic's regular Hikers have joined her on many walking holidays, both high and low level all over The Lakes. Now Nic's main goal is to help hikers to escape into the fells on a bespoke adventures, allowing the days to be tailored to her clients' abilities and fitness levels.
Sean Bolland
Mountain Leader, Navigation & Poles Coach
Sean is an excellent and very calm Mountain Leader and navigation coach who joined our team in 2020.
Sean and Nicky have worked together delivering guided days for corporate clients on many occasions, ensuring groups have the best days to experience the secrets of The Lakeland Fells, whatever the weather, as a team.
Sean is also one of our expert Leki Poles coaches. , as a qualified instructor with British Nordic Walking. Sean ensures clients feel efficient and fully competent over any ground in the fells with poles after attending a Nordic Walking poles course.
As an accomplished fell runner too, guided days and courses can easily be ramped up to be more energetic if you head out with Sean!
Max Wainwright
Mountain Leader & Fell Running Guide
Max is a Mountain Leader, running guide and Navigation Tutor with a background as a Royal Marines commando specialising in Mountain and cold weather environments.
Max moved on to work all over the UK and in Iceland as a hiking, Running, skiing and kayaking guide and has since settled in the Lake District.
A journey in the fells is always great fun with Max with lots of local stories up his sleeve. Max will take care to give the folk confidence too, he has a very gentle manner, and will calmly make our hikers feel safe when the typical Lakeland terrain can be a bit challenging.
Gary Lingard
Mountain Leader & Navigation Coach
Gary is a qualified Mountain Leader, Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader and recently joined the Hiking Highs team. He is a member of the Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team (DFMRT) and spends much of his time out in the beautiful South Lakes and the unspoilt Duddon Valley. He loves to teach navigation covering a full range of abilities, from people starting out on their navigation journey to those looking to sharpen up existing skills.
Tina Codling
Mountain Leader & Guidebook Author
Tina is an experienced mountain leader who has been walking in the mountains of the UK for nearly 40 years. She loves introducing people to the fells of the Lake District and helping them achieve things they do not think they can accomplish alone, while providing tales from the fells and safety advice and generally having a great day out. She is a volunteer walk leader for the Wonderful Wild Women community and spends some of her free time ‘dogsbodying’ for the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs. She has written a soon-to-published walking guidebook for Vertebrate Publishing covering Helvellyn and the surrounding area.
Richard Leafe
Mountain Leader & Navigation Coach
Richard is a Mountain Leader and until recently, the Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park. Richard gives a unique experience offering you a truly unparalleled experience exploring the Lake District.
With Richard you will become fully immersed in the wonder of the fells. He has a wealth of cultural, geographical, historical and political knowledge of the Lake District that, depending on your interest or aims, can share this with you, as you explore the National Park together.
Richard’s focus is on you and the experience you want to have. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast looking for new challenges, a family wanting to spend quality time together or a team of colleagues seeking an active day out.
Bryony Catlow
Mountain Leader & Trail Running Leader Bryony loves nothing more than being in the mountains and it’s real honour to be able to take people out on an adventure to explore the beautiful fells - whatever the weather! I have a passion for helping people who may not be as confident on rocky steep terrain and building their confidence up throughout the day - one step at a time. In my free time you’ll find me running the mountain trails with my little dog Charlie. I’ve completed events ranging from 10k - 110k over the years so running is also a big part of my life.
Louisa Rodriguez
Mountain Leader & Mountain Rescue Team Member
Tina is an experienced mountain leader who has been walking in the mountains of the UK for nearly 40 years. She loves introducing people to the fells of the Lake District and helping them achieve things they do not think they can accomplish alone, while providing tales from the fells and safety advice and generally having a great day out. She is a volunteer walk leader for the Wonderful Wild Women community and spends some of her free time ‘dogsbodying’ for the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs. She has written a soon-to-published walking guidebook for Vertebrate Publishing covering Helvellyn and the surrounding area.
Zac Poulton
Summer & Winter Mountain Leader & Fell Top Assessor
Zac's a Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor with many years experience wandering around the world's high and cold places. He's called the Lakes home for the last twenty odd years with a keen interest in its ultra challenges, wildlife & mountain safety.
Zac is one of the Lake District National Park Winter Felltop Assessors - for this he ascends Helvellyn daily in Winter to deliver a full winter conditions report to hikers, skiers and climbers
Luke Jackson
Mountain Leader & Fell Running Guide
Luke describes himself as: hype man, part mountain guide, and full-time adventure enthusiast. Finding his true passion in the great outdoors has been nothing short of epic. The freedom and excitement of the mountains give him confidence and a sense of purpose that he never felt before.
For 15 years, in the “corporate” grind, it took its toll and I found myself yearning for something more meaningful, & left this world when he realised he belonged in the mountains.
Now spends days guiding others through the breathtaking landscapes of the Lake District, sharing my love for the outdoors and helping people discover their own strengths and passions. My goal is to inspire clients to break free from the mundane, embrace the wild, and become the best version of yourself. So, if you’re ready for an adventure filled with laughter, challenges, and unforgettable moments, Luke is the man to book for your day!
Rob Brown
Summer & Winter Mountain Leader & Fell Running Guide
Rob loves adventures in the mountains, whether on foot, bike or skis. He has twenty years experience of guiding and instructing others in the hills and loves to share his skills and passion with others.
Rob has lived in the Lake District for the last 10 years and despite adventures all over the world, he is never happier than exploring the Lakeland fells. Rob is a qualified Summer and Winter Mountain Leader and a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor. He looks forward to sharing some time in the fells with you.
Andy Reeves
Summer & Winter Mountain Leader, First Aid Trainer
Andy has been involved in Mountain Rescue as a Casualty Carer for close to Eleven years from his home in the Yorkshire Dales and when he is not guiding groups or Instructing he also delivers Outdoor Incident Management Courses & First Aid courses. Although Andy is not local to the Lakes, he has spent many years Andy is an experienced climber,
mountaineer, mountain biker and skier who regularly visits the French Alps. Now working as a
Mountain Leader, Outdoor instructor and tutor for the Field Studies Council , Andy leads Geography
and Environmental Science programmes to young people at home and abroad.
Andy is passionate about a life outdoors and bring a great deal of experience and good humour to
adventures with groups and individuals. You might even get some home baking, fuelling adventures
with Borrowdale Tea Bread.
With over 25 years of experience as a secondary Geographer. He has been fortunate to visit the
China, the Sahara, Iceland, North and West Africa, teaching and learning about new places and their
people.
Lucy Burnett
Mountain Leader & Mountain Bike Guide
Lucy has walked and run the mountains since she was kicked out of her parents' rucksack age 3, and she loves nothing more than sharing her passion for mountain and other outdoor environments with others. She likes to offer people a full and varied day out, not only potentially bagging some peaks, but also sharing her environmental and local knowledge, anecdotes, and customising the experience to meet different clients' needs and wants. She finished the Wainwrights age 16, and has in-depth knowledge of the Lake District Fells, has completed the Scottish Munros, and some years back finished just outside the top 10 in the English fellrunning champs! A day out with Lucy will be at your pace though, whether this is speeding up the slopes or more of a wander. She is also a published poet and professional photographer, so if you want to incorporate some artistic activity into your day, or just receive a high quality photographic memento, then Lucy's your woman (see www.scree.uk).
Ros Allam
Mountain Leader, Geography Expert & Family Guide
Ros is perfectly placed, living over on the west coast of the Lakes, near to Wasdale, to guide families to the summit of England's highest peak, Scafell Pike. The journey to the top would include stories of local life and times gone by. With lots of experience in teaching and guiding children, Ros can really turn a day out into a super experience for the whole group.
Ros is also a highly experienced Mountain Leader, teacher and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Manager with over 20 years’ experience delivering structured training and expeditions to Duke of Edinburgh participants at Bronze, Silver and Gold level, across a wide range of venues and environments. She has extensive practical experience applying first aid and risk management in schools, on expeditions, and in mountain contexts. In a previous life, Ros spent 20 years teaching & running a highly successful Geography Department, so plenty to chat to folk about whilst up in the fells.