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!
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.
Bryony Catlow
Mountain 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.
Rachel Platt
Mountain Leader & Geology Expert
Rachel joined our team in 2019, as an expert mountain leader who has a passion for geology also. Rachel is fun to walk with and encourages folk whilst telling tales of the valleys and fells we walk in. She is also a Mountain Rescue Team Member as well as Cave Rescue, and works as a medic on our sky race events in the fells, so if you have the pleasure to walk with Rachel you are truly in safe hands!.
Zac Poulton
Summar & Winter Mountain Leader
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
Rob Brown
Summer & Winter Mountain Leader, Navigation coach
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.
Louise Greenwood
Fell Guide
Louise is passionate about inspiring folk in The Lakes and is expert at giving confidence to those who are new to this environment. Nicky & Louise have worked together since 2019 delivering guided days and mini breaks and inspiring folk with stories of the Lakeland Fells. Louise has a very calm approach and always smiling whatever the weather.
Dave Pratt
Mountain Leader & Navigation coach
Dave is a Mountain Leader who has a passion for the mountains. His style is very democratic emphasising on inclusion. He likes to have fun while looking to help develop peoples skills and aid progression.
Emma Kershaw
Mountain Leader
Emma has a huge zest for outdoor life and is keen to share her passion for the outdoors and exploring the hidden corners of the fells with clients.
Meeting new people, encouraging people to feel relaxed and gain confidence in the mountains is really important.
Emma loves nature and the work going on to restore the woodlands in The Lake District, so you can chat trees, plants wildlife or just enjoy the peace of the mountains and fells.
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.
Louisa Rodriguez
Mountain Leader
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.
Luke Jackson
Mountain Leader & Fell Running Leader
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!
Kate Allen
Mountain Leader
Kate has always loved the outdoors and has a huge amount of experience from working in different areas of the outdoors industry. Her main passion was taking part in ultra marathons in the mountains, which involved some running, but mainly walking….. with cake! She owns RunUltra, a website dedicated to ultra marathons. Kate’s love of mountain running and outdoor gear led to her wanting to learn more about how to keep safe when on difficult terrain. After knee surgery in February 2024, she became a Mountain Leader so that she can help teach mountain lore and provide knowledge and kit guidance to enable people enjoy hiking by themselves, safely. It’s a pleasure for her to see the determination in people new to walking, or those taking on a slightly tougher challenge, accomplish their goals with their new-found knowledge.
Lucy Burnett
Mountain Leader
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 compleated 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).