15/06/2025
Growing up in Mid-Wales, I was always outside—riding bikes, playing football… not much has changed. My dream was to become a snowboard instructor in Canada, but life took a few detours. I became a graphic designer, a job I genuinely enjoyed, but the long hours and lack of freedom had me craving something more.
So I applied—on a bit of a whim—to be an ‘Explorer’ on a 3-month trip across Finnish Lapland. It was bizarre, beautiful, and (not to be dramatic) totally life-changing. I fell in love—with Lapland, the snow, and the sense of endless freedom.
That trip sparked something, and I discovered a full-time wilderness guide course taught in English in southern Finland. I knew I had to do it. While waiting (it took a couple of attempts to get in), I spent an unforgettable year guiding in the Dolomites—living the mountain dream with some of the loveliest people I’ve ever met.
When I finally started the course, I found myself building snow shelters in Russia, trekking through frozen forests, and learning how to live in the wild. As part of the course, we had to write a hypothetical business plan—and that’s where Sidetracked Adventures first took shape.
I know it sounds ridiculous, but I never really planned to make a business out of it. I just wanted to run the kind of trips I’d actually want to go on—and honestly, that’s still pretty much what I do. I’ve built something around what I’m passionate about, what I’m good at, and where I get to work with and meet lovely people.
Of course, there are things I totally suck at—running a business is hard, it’s relentless... but it’s also kind of pure magic.
That first trip—skiing hut-to-hut with three amazing guests (and my best mate Jen)—is still the route we use today. And that’s how it all started ✨
