In recent news Nerys Lloyd, who ran paddleboarding trips in Wales, has been sentenced to 10½ years in prison after four of her clients died on one of her trips.

This wasn’t a fluke or a freak accident.

This was a preventable incident caused by negligence, poor judgment, and a complete disregard for basic safety standards. Lloyd wasn’t qualified to lead that trip. She didn’t have the right emergency protocols in place. She didn’t even carry out proper risk assessments, recces, or gather emergency contact information. And four people didn’t come home.

Now more than ever, it’s time to have a serious conversation about how we choose outdoor instructors and what standards we accept as clients.

The Rise of Social Media “Guides” and the Illusion of Adventure

Let’s be honest: the outdoor space is booming. People are chasing summits, paddling remote rivers, running ridgelines — and that’s brilliant. But there’s a worrying trend that’s grown alongside it: booking your “guide” based on an Instagram post, a big group WhatsApp, or a Facebook ad.

These “adventures” are often:

• Oversubscribed

• Undersupervised

• Led by unqualified or out-of-date instructors (or not instructors at all)

• Promoted more for photos than for safety

When it goes wrong, it goes very wrong. And we’ve just seen the worst-case scenario.

My Perspective: Over a Decade of Real Experience

I’m a qualified Summer and Winter Mountain Leader, Level 2 Mountain Bike Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor, Performance White Water Canoe Coach, Coach in Running Fitness, Level 3 Sea Kayak Coach and Level 3 White Water Kayak Coach. I’ve spent the last 11 years earning formal qualifications, developing my skill set, and leading people through challenging environments all over the world — from the Himalayas to the Alps, through gnarly Scottish winters, and across the wilds of South Africa.

Also, I’m a terrible white water kayaker!  Not everything’s in the toolkit, and I’m alright with that. Knowing what you're not good at is part of being safe out there too.

While I lived in Scotland, I had the privilege of working alongside some of the most experienced international mountain guides around. The kind of people who take planning, safety, and leadership seriously, and know what to do when things don't go to plan (does a scottish winter climb ever go to plan!?) — because they know that out there, things change fast.

This isn’t just a job. It’s a responsibility — and one I take seriously every time someone trusts me to guide them into the wild.

Accidents Happen — But That’s Not the Problem

The outdoors is never 100% predictable — and we shouldn't pretend it is. Weather turns. People slip. Gear breaks. Accidents happen. That’s the nature of being in the wild.

But here’s the thing: the difference isn’t whether something goes wrong — it’s what happens when it does.

That’s what experience is for. That’s what training is for. That’s why qualifications and insurances matter.  

It’s not just about who’s got the best navigation skills, or the most hill days under their belt. It’s not about whether you think you know better than the guide (I see some of you influencers). I’ve seen this go wrong more than once — people relying on gut feel or past experience and ignoring the very person trained to manage that environment, ever heard the term "I've been doing XYZ for years...."?

Things happen, and guides can get things wrong, but we deal with it through experience and management.  Jeez, I have even ended up on the wrong mountain while on an expedition with some solidiers across the Drakensberg in South Africa.

This isn’t about black-and-white “yes or no” arguments. You might be an experienced hillwalker or climber — but there’s a big gap between knowing how to get to the top, and knowing how to lead a group safely through a complex situation when everything changes.

That’s the difference between confidence and competence.

What You Should Be Asking Before You Book Any Guided Adventure

Here are the non-negotiables that anyone — regardless of experience — should ask when considering a guide, instructor, or group-led adventure:

1. What are your qualifications and are they current?

2. Do you hold an outdoor-specific first aid qualification?

3. What’s the group size, and how is it managed?

4. Do you know this environment well?

5. What’s your plan when something goes wrong?

6. Are you insured and what are your terms and conditions?

    

Let’s Talk About Cost — and Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of It

A fully qualified, experienced instructor costs more. Of course they do. But you’re not just paying for the day out. You’re paying for the training, experience, emergency readiness, equipment, insurance, route planning, and all the behind-the-scenes work that keeps you safe.

That’s not a cost — that’s an investment. In your safety. In your experience. In your peace of mind.

And look, I get it. Not everyone can afford £200 for a guided mountain day or £300 for a day of guided moutain biking. That’s real life. But if you can’t afford it right now — don’t try to shortcut it by joining a massive, unqualified group. Wait. Save. Or find free options with qualified people.

That’s exactly why I run free guided mountain days, with a cap of 10 people max. These are accessible, safe, fun, personal — not rushed and not commercialised. You can join these and still get a real, quality mountain experience.

Why I Refused to Lead the National Three Peaks Challenge… Until Now

I have guiuded the National Three Peaks over 30 times, it was a popular excursion for soliders and officers, and something that people really push for.  But for the last 6 years, I refused to lead the National Three Peaks Challenge. Not because I didn’t love it, but because of how it was being treated. Herding huge numbers through the hills, minimal instruction, no personal connection — it was just a box-ticking exercise.

But in 2025, I’ve brought it back — on my terms.

• One trip

• Max 10 people

• Two instructors

• Full support before, during, and after

Because challenges like this deserve more than a cattle run. They deserve care, safety, and intention.

I know its a shameless plug, because of course I want you to join me in the mountains, but I want you to have a safe, enjoyable adventure that makes you thirsty for more.

Final Thoughts: Ask the Questions. Protect Yourself. Choose Better.

This isn’t about gatekeeping the outdoors or saying only the qualified should be out there. Far from it. The outdoors should be for everyone. I’m not saying you need to be a qualified mountain guide to take your mates or your family up a hill for a day out. What I am saying is — if you’re marketing to the general public, if you're charging people or leading strangers into the mountains, onto the water, or even out on the bike — then you’ve got a responsibility. You’re taking on a duty of care, and that comes with weight. Just because you’ve lived in the area for 20 years and you’ve been up the mountains every weekend without a hitch doesn’t automatically mean you’re equipped to manage other people’s safety when things go wrong. It’s not about how many summits you’ve bagged — it’s about whether you’re prepared, trained, and ready to lead other people safely through unpredictable environments. That’s the line.

The mountains, the rivers, the trails — they don’t owe you anything. They can be magical, but they’re also indifferent. And that means when you go out there, you need to be prepared — or go with someone who is.

Ask.
Challenge.
Wait if you have to.

Because when something goes wrong, it’s not about how good you look in the Instagram shot — it’s about who’s beside you, and whether they know what to do.

Your safety is never a gamble. So treat it like the investment it is.