mwis ambassadors

The Mountain Weather Information Service now has an ambassadors program!

These are trusted individuals and professionals in the mountain community who love to share their knowledge of the great outdoors and promote safety on the hills.

MWIS Ambassadors contribute to our new blog section of the site, so expect to hear from them!

MWIS ambassadors do not receive payment or public funding for blog posts or any promotional activities connected to MWIS. Their role is to extend the reach of MWIS in the outdoor community. This mutual arrangement serves to further enhance their own reputation and promote their professional services in the mountains.

JAMES ALLSOPP, Peak & Moor Mountain Bike Guiding

Peak & Moor MTB is run by James Allsopp, and based in the midlands. We are passionate about riding the best trails in the country and sharing these experiences with our clients. James has more than 30 yrs plus Biking and Mountaineering experience, and is a British Cycling Level 3 MBLA qualified guide (Highest UK MTB qualification)We Specialize in Guiding the Peak District, Cannock Chase & Shropshire (Long Mynd) along with further destination in the UK upon request. With low client ratios we aim to provide a bespoke tailored experience for all abilities. When we are not biking we are usually back country skiing. www.peakdistrictmountainbiking.co.uk

DAVE ANDERSON, Lochaber Guides

I’m very lucky to live next to and work in some of the best mountains in the country! Based in Fort William, I work all year round as a Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (WMCI) and am a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). We offer a full range of Summer and Winter walking, climbing and mountaineering/scrambling courses and guiding around Ben Nevis, Glencoe and Skye. www.lochaber-guides.co.uk

RACHEL CLARKE

35 years hill experience, I discovered mountains whilst doing the Duke of Edinburgh award at 16. I have spent every spare moment since then, exploring the fells of The Lake District and the mountains of Wales and Scotland. My love of the hills also involves walking long distance trails solo, wild camping in some of the most remote parts of the UK. Based in North West Cumbria.

Instagram: Rachelhappywalking123inthills

MATT COOPER, The Mountaineering Company

Based in North Wales, The Mountaineering Company is perfectly placed to offer outdoor instruction in all aspects of hiking, climbing and mountaineering. Matt Cooper is the owner and a passionate mountaineer who holds the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (MCI) qualification and is a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). For more information please check out our website www.themountaineeringcompany.co.uk

RICHARD DAVISON, Perthshire Treks

Richard has been exploring the mountains and experiencing mountain weather for over 40 years. He did a PhD about snow supply in the Scottish mountains and remains fascinated by summer snow patches. He’s also interested in how climate and the environment has changed in Highland Perthshire since the last Ice Age. After almost 30 years with Scottish Natural Heritage, where one highlight was writing the Scottish Outdoor Access Code with the national Access Forum, he set up Perthshire Treks with his wife, Brenda Clough. Perthshire Treks provides great walking adventures with a focus on small groups in Highland Perthshire. Find out more about us at www.perthshiretreks.scot.

KRIS GLEAVE

Kris is an experienced hiker based in Manchester so mainly hikes and wild camps around the Peak District, Lake District and Wales however has also climbed Kilimanjaro. With a strong passion for hiking and wild camping he is also a keen photographer and loves to capture moment from his travels. A regular Wainwright bagger and last year completed the Wainwrights Coast to Coast in 11 days. He plans to take on more long distance hikes in 2023. Very active across a number of large hiking Facebook Groups and helping advise fellow members on routes, gear and especially weather. Really keen to educate and make others aware of the resources like MWIS provide as its often overlooked by hikers referring to general sites who then get caught out. Instagram: @gleavek

GARY HODGSON, Tarmachan Mountaineering

With over 25 years of personal experience of walking and climbing in the mountains of the UK and many other countries around the world Tarmachan mountaineering offers bespoke courses in hillwalking, winter skills and navigation and also provides wildlife tours, mountain biking and alpine treks. Small group numbers are our specialty. www.tarmachan-mountaineering.org.uk

STEVE HOLMES, Synergy Guides

Steve Holmes has spent his entire life in the outdoors, a former Royal Marine Commando and now company director at Synergy Guides with years of rock, snow, ice and Alpine climbing under his belt. Based in Fort William, Synergy Guides specialise in performance winter climbing, Cuillin mountaineering, skyrunning and coaching rock climbing. www.synergyguides.com.

TOM HOPPER, Climb GB

Run by Tom Hopper, Climb GB provides rock climbing, hill walking, navigation, winter skills, scrambling and bouldering courses in Northumberland, the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands. In addition, Climb GB also provides a weather information page and a selection of gear reviews. www.climbgb.com

CHRISTIAN HOWELL, Walk Glencoe

After years of exploring and climbing the mountains and a love of the Scottish Highlands, Christian moved to the small village of Kentallen, just outside Glencoe, to fulfil his dream of living and working in the hills.

Living at the foot of Beinn a’ Bheithir, Christian has this and all the mountains of Glencoe as his playground. Having developed an intimate local knowledge of these magnificent mountains, the history and folklore, the wildlife and plant life, it is this knowledge and this passion and enthusiasm which Christian is so keen to share with others.

Christian is a qualified Winter Mountain Leader and through his small guiding business, Walk Glencoe, offers an extensive calendar of group events and private guiding, across the Highlands, throughout the year. www.walkglencoe.co.uk

CORY JONES, Outdoor First Aid Limited

Cory Jones runs Outdoor First Aid Limited (https://outdoor-first-aid-courses.com) and has been delivering Outdoor/Mountain First Aid training courses for the last 15 years. Cory is an International Mountain Leader, Kayak and Canoe Leader based in the north west highlands near Torridon. We hope the first aid blogs posted on MWIS give walkers and outdoor enthusiasts some confidence and skills for safe travel in the mountains. Cory runs outdoor first aid courses for the public to join in partnership with First Aid Training Co-operative (https://firstaidtrainingcooperative.co.uk/outdoor/).

SCOTT KIRKHOPE, Elite Guides

Scott runs Elite Guides based out of Fort William on the West Coast of Scotland. Scott has been living and working in the Scottish Highlands for nearly 20 years and spends a huge part of his time guiding and instructing throughout the year around Ben Nevis, Glencoe and Skye. Elite Guides offers Ben Nevis Guides, Rock Climbing and Winter Climbing Guides and Courses along with Skye Cuillin Guides. Scott is also the Development Officer for the Association of Mountaineering Instructors.

www.eliteguides.co.uk

JONTY MILLS, On High Hills

Jonty lives, works and plays in the stunning Scottish Highlands. A friendly and fully-qualified Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (AMI), Jonty offers guiding and instruction in walking (summer and winter), scrambling and rock-climbing throughout the Highlands. www.onhighhills.com.

KRYSE MILLS, Trainee Mountain Leader

Currently working as a freelance instructor and trying to gain my ML, I still find plently of time to get out on my own adventures. I'm not only am I a lover of mountaineering but I enjoy climbing, mountain biking and skiing too. I use the outdoors as a kind of therapy and find its an amazing space made for everyone to enjoy. Adventures found on Instagram @kryse_mills.

IONA PAWSON, Instructor - Mountaineering & Rock Climbing

Iona spends a vast proportion of her time either in the weather or reading about it! Professionally she's an outdoor instructor in the mountaineering department at Plas Y Brenin, the National Outdoor Centre, and freelances for a number of other companies. Personally, Iona loves mountain running, ski mountaineering and gardening.

@verbier_ski_conditions

https://betweenskiingandclimbing.blogspot.com

JO REYNOLDS, SUP & Summit

I have had a love for the outdoors for the past 20 years, an interest that I decided to take more serious a few years ago in order to get fitter and healthier. My ambition now is to encourage others to experience the benefits of the outdoors, particularly those who think ‘I can’t do that!’. SUP & Summit offers a wide range of events across the country, particularly targeting those who want to increase their fitness and confidence in the hills. www.supandsummit.com

FABIAN SEYMOUR, All Four Seasons Mountaineering

All Four Seasons (AFS) Mountaineering is run by Fabian Seymour who provides mountain adventures as well as skills training to enable you to become more confident in the great outdoors. Fabian established AFS Mountaineering in 2016 to combine his passion for teaching, science, nature and the mountains, and bring that to others.He's been amazingly lucky to have been involved with some pretty amazing mountaineering clubs along with the opportunity to go and work in the Antarctic - which was the catalyst to awaken the thrill of adventure, snow and ice in his blood. He loves teaching and helping folks gain the confidence to go out exploring, creating their own routes, getting out in winter, starting climbing, and of course Munro bagging! We provide courses, private guiding, private courses, night events, wilderness treks, climbing and winter mountaineering activities. There is so much to explore!

www.afsmountaineering.co.uk

TOM SIGLER, Weekend Hiker

Tom turned to the mountains several years ago to see if they would help him make a fundamental lifestyle change for the better and has not looked back since! Having enjoyed the 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District, national trails and hiking challenges (including a solo Welsh 3000s), he has recently started on his winter Munro journey. Currently training to be a Mountain Leader, Tom shares his adventures, tips and routes over on Instagram @weekend_hiker. He has also founded @hike_britain, an account which shares hikes from the community to help inspire others to get out and enjoy the mountains.

GRAHAM UNEY, Graham Uney Mountaineering

Graham Uney has over 30 year’s experience of exploring the mountains of the UK, and runs a very successful mountain skills business for walkers, mountaineers and climbers. He’s based in the Lake District, but works regularly throughout all the mountain regions of the UK, both summer and winter. For the last five winters Graham has also been the Fell Top Assessor on Helvellyn, climbing the mountain every day to take weather readings and to write a snow report to keep walkers and climber safe. www.grahamuneymountaineering.co.uk

SIMON VERSPEAK, Orange Mountaineering

Simon is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor based in Snowdonia for much of the year and wintering in Glencoe. He is an active member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue. He is a keen hill goer, mountaineer and climber who is obsessed with making the most of the weather. He runs the small outdoor business orange-mountaineering.com teaching and guiding mountain days, scrambles and climbs, summer and winter in Snowdonia, the Peak and the Scottish Highlands.

SUSIE WALKER, Trainee Mountain Leader

Susie was introduced to the outdoors through Scouts and has split her adventures between the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Cairngorms and the Adirondack mountains of New York State. Fresh out of the first Day with MWIS course and the first Women's Outdoor Leadership Course with the Outward Bound Trust, she's preparing for her ML and RCI assessments and a member of the midland's premier, active mountaineering club, Skyline Mountaineering.

SCOTT WEBSTER - Scott Webster Mountaineering

Scott is a fully qualified Summer and Winter Mountaineering & Climbing Instructor (WMCI) based at the foot of Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands. He runs a small company providing professional year round instruction and guiding in climbing, mountaineering and ski touring. Scott is also an IPGA certified Polar Guide and regularly works in both Greenland and Antarctica. web: www.scottwebster.co.uk Instagram: @scottwebstermountain

EMILY WOODHOUSE, Travelling Lines

Emily Woodhouse is an adventure writer based on Dartmoor. She is an active member of Mountain Rescue and a summer Mountain Leader, currently working towards her winter qualification. Founder of Intrepid Magazine, she works to help break stereotypes about women in the outdoors. travellinglines.com

KATE & ROSS WORTHINGTON, RAW Adventures

RAW Adventures is owned and operated by Kate and Ross Worthington, based in Snowdonia. Between us we hold nationally recognised Mountain Training qualifications: Mountain Leader, Winter Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. We are always looking for new opportunities to support others’ journeys into the UK mountains, for pleasure or professional development. www.raw-adventures.co.uk