About Steve

Steve has a background in recreational and competitive outdoor activities, combined with 30+ years of academic and professional training. This positions him uniquely within the ranks of UK outdoor activity providers. His extensive practical experience in all the major outdoor activities is underpinned by a specialist understanding of the theory behind the practice – it’s a rare combination. This guarantees an expert and personalised approach as well as a commitment to supporting everyone to realise their adventure sports ambitions.
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Canoeing in Cumbria

Cumbria Canoeing

The weather gods have provided excellent canoeing conditions of late, so last week we were able to travel from Derwentwater, on lake and river, by paddling and sailing, in sunny, warm conditions with a very helpful breeze blowing us along.  We encountered dippers, goldeneye and tufted ducks among the abundant wildlife, though didn’t spot the kingfishers on this occasion.

This is a relatively straightforward trip and Steve has no difficulty taking even a novice canoeist on a tandem paddling journey of this kind.  It is possible to continue this trip all the way to the sea at Workington depending on water levels and the time of year, though this would certainly be a full day out.

If you’re keen on a canoeing adventure of this kind, Steve will be pleased to hear from you and happy to help: 07796 213817 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By |October 28th, 2022|Canoe, Environment|Comments Off on Canoeing in Cumbria
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Sea paddling navigation & planning courses for SUP and Sit on Top kayakers

SUP & Sit on Top sea safety

Long the domain of sea kayakers with their fast, specialised craft festooned with safety equipment, the sea is now just as likely to have people out paddling on Stand Up Paddleboards and Sit on Top kayaks – certainly in nice weather and on popular coastlines.  The rapid rise in popularity of these craft has, unfortunately, led to many newcomers, inadvertently, finding themselves in challenging situations on rivers and on the sea.

British Canoeing’s Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course is a one-day classroom based event which Steve has run for many years for sea kayakers and which he is now adapting to encompass the expanded range of craft and paddler experience found on seas around the UK.  If you are a sea kayaker, stand up paddleboarder or sit on top kayaker who would like to improve their maritime knowledge so as to be able to make sound decisions and to plan safe trips on the sea then this course should be very beneficial.

Steve’s next courses dates are Nov 8th and Dec 9th 2022.  If you would like to check if the right course for you please get in touch for a chat: 07796 21381 and steve@stevebanksoutdoors.co.uk

By |October 17th, 2022|Sea Kayak, SUP|Comments Off on Sea paddling navigation & planning courses for SUP and Sit on Top kayakers
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Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria

Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course

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 |September 28th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off on Coastal Navigation & Tidal Planning course in Cumbria
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Yorkshire Dales Cave Leader training courses

Cave Leader training

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 |September 21st, 2022|Cave|Comments Off on Yorkshire Dales Cave Leader training courses
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Hallin Fell

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 |September 12th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks, Mountain|Comments Off on Hallin Fell
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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 |September 7th, 2022|Sea Kayak|Comments Off on Sea Kayak Leader training in Cumbria
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The Devil’s Coach Horse

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 |September 6th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off on The Devil’s Coach Horse
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Campsfield Marsh

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 |September 1st, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off on Campsfield Marsh
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Walla Crag

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 |August 26th, 2022|Environment, Keswick Guided Walks|Comments Off on Walla Crag
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Is it a bird? Is it a bee?

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

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 |August 20th, 2022|Environment|Comments Off on Is it a bird? Is it a bee?
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