Steve, Author at Steve Banks Outdoors

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria

Steve has two Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning courses coming up over the next few months – November 8th and December 9th. These indoor, theory based courses have traditionally been the preserve of sea kayakers seeking to be safer and more knowledgeable both for personal paddling and to prepare for leadership qualifications. Whilst sea kayakers still form the bulk of participants, we are now also seeing people attending who are paddling on sit on tops and stand up paddleboards on the sea. We’re very pleased to be able to support this relatively new group of sea paddlers, especially as the explosion in interest in these craft has led to many folk going out onto the sea ill-equipped in terms of knowledge and equipment. Hopefully the CN&TP course will be a great way to help improve all paddlers’ safety on the sea.

If you are keen to improve and develop your maritime knowledge and understanding so you can enjoy your craft in greater safety Steve will be delighted to help. If you’d like to know more about the course or to book onto one of the existing dates please get in touch at steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk or 07796 213817.

By Steve|September 28th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

Yorkshire Dales Cave Leader training courses

Steve has a raft of Cave Leader and Vertical Cave Leader training courses on offer over the next three months. All the courses are in the Yorkshire Dales based near Ingleton. Training courses can be used to develop personal understanding and practice without any necessity to take the assessment. For those interested in the leadership qualification these courses provide all the necessary guidance and preparation – guidance which Steve will continue to make available between the training and assessment phases as needed.

Current Cave Leader training dates: 18th-19th October; 29th-30th November.

Current Vertical Cave Leader training dates: 27th-28th September; 1st-2nd November; 3-4 December; 6-7 December.

Assessments for both awards can be run at any mutually convenient time. Please call to discuss your requirements.

Additional and bespoke training courses as well as personal guiding and tuition can also be provided as needed anywhere in the UK and abroad. 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 21st, 2022|Cave|Comments Off

Hallin Fell

We had a short but pleasant ascent up Hallin Fell from Martindale in warm and sunny conditions. Whilst it is one of the Lake’s most straightforward hills to climb, it does offer excellent views over Ullswater and the surrounding mountains. Hallin Fell also happened to be the only Lakeland fell which Steve had not been up at least twice. He’s been up most of the 214 Lakeland peaks on multiple occasions though we’re not sure a full third lap is on the cards.

If you’d like Steve’s support for your walking, hiking, exploring and natural history, he’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to help: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 12th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks, Mountain|Comments Off

Sea Kayak Leader training in Cumbria

As Autumn draws near, the time for a wide variety of professional outdoor training courses arrives with the more varied, seasonal conditions. For sea kayakers Steve has put on three Sea Kayak Leader training courses over the next few months, all based on the Cumbrian coast. He is happy to put on additional, bespoke dates if needed. Current course dates are 10th-11th Sept; 9th-10th Nov & 10th-11th Dec. All have the Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course on the preceding day.

Steve is one of the country’s most experienced and expert trainers with decades of varied and high level sea kayaking. He is also a national trainer for this discipline so is responsible for training and assessing the trainers and assessors as British Canoeing require.

If you are interested in becoming a safer and more effective sea kayaker or wish to gain a leadership qualification in this discipline please get in touch with Steve. He’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to assist: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 7th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

The Devil’s Coach Horse

With such a fantastic name the Devil’s Coach Horse (Staphylinus olens) is a creature we should all be able to recognise. It’s not just a name either as this is a beetle not to be messed with! The Devil’s Coach Horse is a species of rove beetle, it’s about an inch in length and is a fast and voracious predator – it crushes other invertebrates with its large, powerful pincers. If threatened, it is famous for curling its tail upwards in the manner of a scorpion and will emit a foul smelling liquid from its rear if its posture hasn’t been deterent enough. If you still haven’t got the message it can sink its impressive pincers into you and inflict a painful bite. One to look at but don’t touch!

If you’re interested in learning more about the environment and nature Steve is always happy to lead walks and rambles to help develop your knowledge whilst having a nice day out. Get in touch on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|September 6th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off

Campsfield Marsh

We had a great new find for a natural history walk on the Solway coast: Campsfield Marsh is an RSPB reserve near Bowness on Solway and is a haven of wild flowers, fresh water pools and plenty of bird life. They have Marsh Harriers (Circus aeruginosus) and a fantastic array of dragonflies swooping over the reeds and ponds hunting for prey. There is a small centre with hot drinks available when open. It is staffed on weekends. The photo shows bull rushes and purple loosestrife in one of the pools.

By Steve|September 1st, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off

Walla Crag

Steve ran a walking and exploring day for a family on holiday from Oxfordshire. Starting in Keswick we followed the lakeshore looking at and discussing anything of interest: trees species, poisonous and toxic plants, safe navigation in the fells and hills, the history of the Lakeland landscape, the maximum density of water and its criticality to life, red squirrels, graphite mining in Borrowdale and much more besides! Our walk wound its way to the summit of Walla Crag then north to the neolithic Castlerigg Stone circle before descending to the river Greta and making our way back to town along the little used, but very pretty, northern bank. We had an excellent day out and dinner was well earned!

If you’d like Steve’s support to enhance your Lakeland walks, whatever the standard, he’ll be pleased to hear from you and happy to help. Get in touch on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|August 26th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off

Is it a bird? Is it a bee?

Well, no, it’s neither a bird nor a bee but you could certainly be forgiven for being taken aback by this large (2 inch wingspan), day-flying creature which resembles a bee hummingbird in size and behaviour. It’s actually a beautiful and completely harmless hummingbird hawk moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) which is resident in Southern France, though has been seen in every county in the UK at some point. Like hummingbirds they have convergently evolved to be extremely capable flyers and can hover to feed on the nectar of deep and strongly scented flowers via their long proboscis with great precision. Steve spotted this one but they are difficult to photograph due to their speed of movement and the fact that their wings beat so fast they are a blur – and give off an audible hum.

Steve is always happy to provide natural history walks. Whilst hummingbird hawk moths can’t be promised there are usually plenty of amazing creatures and plants to keep us interested and amazed on any outing.

07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|August 20th, 2022|Environment|Comments Off

Vertical Cave Leader assessment

Steve ran a Vertical Cave Leader assessment in Sell Gill Holes in sweltering, atypical conditions – we were pleased to get underground! The candidate did an excellent job of providing a good day out for a small group of adults.

If you are interested in trying or developing your caving, or progressing your British Caving qualifications, Steve will be pleased to help you. He can offer caving experiences and training at all levels and is a trainer/assessor for both BCA’s Cave Leader and Vertical Cave Leader awards.

Get in touch on 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|August 1st, 2022|Cave|Comments Off

Cumbria Sea Kayak Leader assessment

Steve ran a further Sea Kayak Leader assessment on the Cumbrian coast, this time at St Bees. We had a sea state at the very top of the remit all day with force 4 wind and a long surf break to negotiate out and back to shore. The candidate did a good job of paddling in the conditions and managed the clients very well – they had a great day out!

If you would like support with your sea kayaking at any level from beginner to advanced, or help with leadership qualifications, Cumbria provides some excellent venues and Steve will be delighted to assist you. Please get in touch for a discussion about your needs: 07796 213817 & steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By Steve|July 8th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off

STEVE BANKS OUTDOORS

About Steve

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria

Yorkshire Dales Cave Leader training courses

Hallin Fell

Sea Kayak Leader training in Cumbria

The Devil’s Coach Horse

Campsfield Marsh

Walla Crag

Is it a bird? Is it a bee?

Vertical Cave Leader assessment

Cumbria Sea Kayak Leader assessment