no-mad Adventures

06/07/2024

Nothing says you're on the way back down like goats with bells.

05/05/2024

Cracking day for some bespoke mountain skills with Darren and Zoe.

Well done both, brilliant to share the journey with you

04/05/2024

A huge thank you to for today's learning on Cader.

So many brilliant learning points and things seen.

Fabulous group of people to share the day with.

03/05/2024

Teaching REAL First Aid is always a pleasure. The last two days in Ellekers Wood especially so.

Great people, with a passion for the outdoors, wanting to look after folk in the outdoors.

Zero PowerPoint, lots of laughs and new friends made. All through the medium of first aid.

Next course open course is 7/8 November in Dolgellau - event page >> 16hr Remote First Aid

13/04/2024

We're working with a client with a particular need later this year. I'd been toying with using this as a venue. It's not going to be quite right for this job, but it's reignited my interest in using this area a bit more for some of the things we do, especially when the weather is not suitable elsewhere.

12/04/2024

Spoiler - this could be an AI generated image!

We think that Meirionnydd has so much to offer the outdoor enthusiast - Mountains, Forests, Coast, Estuaries, Rivers and Lakes as well as packaged adventure at trail centres, water sports centres and facilities like Zip World.

Have a read of why you should pick Meirionnydd as a destination for your adventures in 2024

https://www.no-mad.org/post/meirionnydd-a-destination-for-adventure

10/04/2024

It will stop raining and we will go camping!

***FREE SERVICE OFFER***
♻️tidy up and recycle♻️

If like me you sometimes hoard those old camping gas cylinders here's something I can help with.

I can transfer gas from one cylinder to the other, and pierce the old cylinder so it can go to standard recycling.

You get fewer cylinders for the coming season and do a little bit to help recycle.

Drop me a message if you want to chat it through - it'll need to be Dolgellau based unfortunately.

04/04/2024

Just a reminder about navigating using GPS - it can be switched down without notice. Here's yesterday's GPS interference based around a conflict area. Notice that if you were out for a trail run in Cyprus or Turkey on your holidays there's a good chance your watch wouldn't know where you were. Would you?

Remember that navigation with electronics does simplify things, but it's not as dependable as the basic skills of a map and compass.

29/03/2024

Daldinia concentrica - King Alfred's Cakes

This year seems to be really productive for this amazing funghi.

Historically used to transfer fire from one camp location to another or taking a spark from a flint and steel. Often found on decaying Ash trees, sadly this is much easier to find with Ash die back taking a real hold in the UK.

Although just a black lump, when turned over, purple and silver are uncommon colours.

25/03/2024

What's not to like about a way to check bearings very visually.

21/03/2024

Are you heading to The National Outdoor Expo ? Worth visiting these two stands

We're excited to be exhibiting at The National Outdoor Expo in Birmingham this weekend. Make sure to check out our stand next to BMC (opposite the climbing wall!)

Attendees have the chance of winning a Rock Skills Introduction day course. Learn how to tie a figure 8 knot and enter our prize draw to win a Rock Skills Introduction day course.

09/03/2024

And then there were no paths, and in the wind getting low for taking bearings is the only way!

Well done all, great night.

09/03/2024

Standardising equipment for learners levels the mental playing field.

Skills and knowledge often matter more than kit in the outdoors. This is just one thing educators can do to enhance skill acquisition.

Tonight is "Intro to night navigation" which is excellent for developing better low visibility navigation.

08/03/2024

Cyfrwy looking craggy today. 😍

06/03/2024

A big thank you to all our supporters who have booked for open courses. 🙏

Introduction to Night Navigation and Cader Idris - The Mountain Environment now sold out.

Next availability is on the Mountain Training Mountain Skills (2 days) on 20th April based in Dolgellau.

01/03/2024

New dates added.

Next weekend's Introduction to Night Navigation has sold out, so a new date has been added in October (similar sunset time).

There is one space left on Cader Idris - The Mountain Environment with Nature's Work - Jim Langley in May.

A new weekend, Trail Running weekend including yoga in September in collaboration with Faye Johnson. PEAK Personal Training & Coaching and Emma Yoga PT is now online.

There are spaces left on the Mountain Training Hill & Mountain Skills courses - Mountain Skills 20th April in Dolgellau, and Hill Skills 25th May in Church Stretton.

For non Mountain Training courses the list is here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/no-mad-adventures-8783631011

For Mountain Training courses the list is here -
https://mt.tahdah.me/legalentityprovider/event/161365

29/02/2024

And next up for our trail running weekend (14/15 Sept) this is more of a reminder than an intro. It's me, Ash.

In trail running terms, previously I've done events - team Gold at the Welsh Long Distance Trail Running Champs in 2012, a few sub 8hr 50 mile races, Sub 3hr 45 Trail Marathon Wales in 2015 and 25 year of 2 day self-supported Mountain Marathons. Not to forget, the mind altering, shuffle on a big beach that is the 251km Marathon des Sables in the Sahara 2014. I believe that I was the first person to complete the Coed y Brenin Grand Slam (all the waymarked trail running routes, non stop). I've also helped quite a few folk on their way to completing and competing in a range of running goals both 1:1 and as a course designer and race control.

Since 2015, you won't see me at trail races (and I've only ever done one road race), but Trail is very much still my Tribe, and Vibe. You'll see from the screenshot that all the yellow routes are trail runs around Dolgellau - an area that I believe to be probably the best in the UK for trail running. So, I personally don't compete, but do love moving quickly and efficiently on the trails, exploring new places through the medium of trail running. In the day, at night, in the sun, rain and snow. Without being too hippy, that moment of flow when everything works is just the best feeling ever!

I bring lots of little extra bits of knowledge and experience, navigation, weather, hill craft, first aid as well as a bit of foraging, history and legend to taking people out on the trails. And, of course the occasional really bad joke.



Why are pigs such bad runners? Tight hamstrings.
Why are cows such good runners? Great calves.

28/02/2024

Coming on any course with no-mad doesn't end when the course does.

Dreigiau Coed y Brenin Dragons did their REAL First Aid 16hr remote first aid course with no-mad a few years ago, focussing on mountain bike leadership. With a slight change in their setup they asked whether I could have a look over their (already good) leaders first aid kits. After a bit of thinking about what their new set-up might benefit from it's been great to get together and donate new bits to supplement and enhance their first aid. From 'biggies' to "there there" first aid it helps to have some extra bits sometimes - and of course their leaders are already trained and know how and when to use it.

27/02/2024

Next up for introduction for our trail running weekend (14/15 Sept) is Faye Johnson.

Faye is well known in Coed y Brenin for being “Queen of the Sting” since 2018, Faye has a number of impressive trail race results at all distances.

1st Female – Man v Horse 2019, Midnight Mountain Marathon 2018.
2nd Female Ultra Trail Wales 2018
3rd Female Winter Trail (half) 2023
9th Female Costa Brava Stage Race 2023

Faye is also a UK/WA qualified coach & advanced L4 Personal Trainer.
“I have spent over 15 years working in health, fitness and coaching, from gyms, to out on the fells in Wales and the Lake District to the mountains and trails of Mallorca and New Zealand.”

Faye's says;
"As a coach I have supported many people working towards a variety of running and multi sport goals. Specialising in trail, fell and off-road running, from 10km to ultra-distance. Supporting people in and through the changes, phases, up’s and downs of life and the impacts that has on training, confidence and wellbeing.

As a coach I want to be able to help people run the very best they can, with achievable, personalised and enjoyable training and coaching. Maintaining the balance of all that life brings and your running is key to continuity and achieving the goals you set out."

26/02/2024

We've an exciting weekend planned for the 14/15 September. We're delighted to be bringing a very cool team of folk together for a trail running weekend with a difference. Details will follow later in the week.

Let's start by introducing the team. Today is Emma Yoga PT

Emma is a qualified Yoga instructor and Personal Trainer with over 12 years of fitness and dance experience. She teaches a variety of yoga styles including Vinyasa, Yin, Hot Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Breath-work and Meditation.

She is currently a Performance Coach for the Mercedes Formula 1 team and enjoys teaching yoga to help the team improve their well-being and performance.

Emma is excited to be collaborating with no-mad, exploring the benefits of yoga for adventure sports and doing some yoga sessions in the mountains!

22/02/2024

🗓️Save the date🗓️

The March date for "Intro to Night Navigation" has sold out.

19 October will be the next date, tickets available soon.

21/02/2024

If you're inspired by Nature's Work - Jim Langley knowledge on these free videos - come join him on our local mountain.

Cader Idris - The Mountain Environment on the 4th May - only 2️⃣ spaces left

20/02/2024

Anyone for watersports instead of mountain sports?

19/02/2024

👀👀Limited availability👀👀

1 space left on Introduction to Night Navigation on 9th March
2 spaces left on Cader Idris - The Mountain Environment on 4th May with Nature's Work - Jim Langley

If there is a lot if interest in more than these, we may open another date.

12/02/2024

Just one reason to be confident moving about after dark!

Keen to get the skills? Our Introduction to Night Navigation on 9th March might be just what you're looking for.

Learn more about the work Eryri does to protect our dark skies here - https://ow.ly/ppae50Qzla6

10/02/2024

Sometimes the no-mad bus has to go where only sheep have been before.

A massive thanks to AutoMax for the new Davanti Terratoura A/T shoes that keeps the bus moving. 🙏🏼

09/02/2024

Our open course dates for 2024 are filling up (except the OMM training weekend).

Links for booking all/any are on the Facebook Events tab.

Or get in touch if you want a direct link to book or have any questions.