Hey, I’m Steve

For as far back as I can remember, I’ve always spent a lot of time outdoors, mainly with my mum during my younger years. She would take me on long walks through the woods where we would wade through streams and collect sticks and pinecones, on trips to the beach for seaside adventures and across the fields close to our home to walk and play with our dogs, Dempsey and Tess. 

Growing up in Sussex, England, we were fortunate enough to have easy access to many areas of outstanding beauty that surrounded our home. To the west of us lay the hills of the South Downs National Park stretching out 100 miles along the South of England and ahead of us, just a 10-minute drive away we could be on the beach, paddling in the waves beneath the white cliffs of the South coast.

Our family often ventured beyond Sussex for our summer holidays. The rugged coastlines of Cornwall or the unspoiled wilderness of the New Forest became our playgrounds. I have so many great childhood memories from these trip, they were always fun filled experiences which gave me a small taste of what else the UK had to offer. With our family’s adventurous spirit, every holiday turned into an expedition of discovery. 

As I grew a little older, I would go on regular bike trips with my dad and venture further afield on my own by bike, sometimes with friends, to explore new areas, build dens in the woods and climb trees.

As a child of the 90s, I’m grateful to have grown up without mobile phones and game consoles. Instead, I was encouraged to go outdoors and explore the world, just as long as I was at home in time for tea.

Growing up, my only travels outside of the UK had been road trips to the South of France on family camping holidays with my Dad. So when the opportunity to visit Peru presented itself at 13, it was a no brainer, I had to go! Being slightly younger than the required age for the expedition, my undeterred enthusiasm and persistence eventually convinced the organizers (World Challenge) that I was indeed up for the challenge.

My journey to Peru wasn’t just a matter of hopping onto a plane. The substantial cost of £3500 meant I had to dive head-first into any odd job I could find. From stacking shelves in local stores, assisting my dad in his business, to a variety of fundraisers at school, every bit of effort and every penny saved from birthdays and holidays went towards making my Peruvian dream a reality.

As part of our prep for the journey, our group ventured on local hikes in Sussex and a memorable camping weekend in the Peak District. All the while, in the backdrop of these preparations, I was also trying to grasp a smattering of Spanish phrases, hoping they’d come in handy.

Landing in Peru, we kicked off our adventures in Huaraz, a small mountian town in which we went on an incredible mountain biking tip and daily hikes as we adjusted to the altitude, a prelude to our more demanding trek across the Andes.

We spent the good part of a week trekking over the Andes, aided by local guides and mules. It was a challenging hike but it was the skies at night during our trip I remember the most – a canvas of stars unfamiliar to my northern hemisphere eyes in a landscape unspoiled by light polution. I had never seen so many stars.

Our expedition wasn’t just about the mountains. After the Andes, long, spine-jarring bus rides took us through winding roads, leading us to the Amazon River’s banks. Here, boat rides were an experience in themselves. On narrow boats where hammocks were our makeshift beds, we made our way through the Amazon. It was during these rides we spent hours chatting with locals, using gestures, smiles, and broken phrases to communicate.

The Amazonian leg of our journey was a page straight out of an adventure novel. Navigating the waters in dug-out canoes, catching glimpses of exotic wildlife from pink river dolphins to mischievous monkeys, and beholding the enormity of a shed anaconda skin. Settling on riverbanks to eat our daily catch of peculiar looking fish speared from the river. A standout memory, near the end of our river journey was our stay in a remote village, where the universal joy of kicking a ball around connected us with the local kids, turning into an impromptu game of football into an experience I will never forget.

Reflecting on it now, Peru wasn’t just a trip. It was an initiation. 

After finishing school, I swapped textbooks for travel guides as I decided against university. A decision that I have never regretted!

My first unguided travelling experience was a four-month trip through Europe in a beat-up Transit van with a friend. We drove through most of Eastern Europe, admittedly partying more than adventuring.

Barely taking a minute to catch my breath after our Eurotrip, I packed up again – this time, to dive into the vibrant chaos of India, however, this time I would be travelling solo. India was a shock to all the senses, but I loved every minute of it. Riding buses and trains, tasting all sorts of new foods, and meeting all kinds of people. It was hectic but in the best possible way. Everywhere I looked, there was something new to see or learn.

But the itch to travel wasn’t going away anytime soon. After every trip, I would come home for a few months, just enough time to catch up with friends and earn enough for the next trip. Over the next few years, I ticked off more of Europe, visiting Russia, the Baltic states and Scandinavia, which introduced me to another unique range of experiences.

I ended my European adventures with an ambitious hitchhike from the ports of La Harve, France to Tangier, Morocco. It was a long journey but well worth it for the unforgettable month spent sleeping on beaches and sipping tea in colourful bazaars.

 After finishing school, I opted to travel rather than go to university. My first travelling experience as a young adult was a four-month trip through Europe in a beat-up Transit van with a friend. We drove through most of Eastern Europe, admittedly partying more than adventuring.

Then I embarked on solo travels around India, traversing the country via buses and trains, immersing myself in its incredible culture and cuisine. Over the next few years, I continued my exploration of the world by travelling through Russia, the Baltics, and Scandinavia, which introduced me to another unique range of experiences.

I got hooked on travel and adventure, inspired by countless books about the exciting experiences of others. I wanted to make a name for myself in the adventure community, so I spent a long time thinking about different ideas until I settled on walking the length of New Zealand. It was far away from home but still an English-speaking country, and there weren’t any dangerous animals to worry about. Plus, my dad had lived there when he was younger, so it was always somewhere I wanted to visit.

Walking the entire length of New Zealand was a tough challenge, but was an unforgettable journey.

I lived in New Zealand for a few more years after finishing my walk so that I could indulge in my passions such as rock climbing and snowboarding. It was here I had the opportunity to work for some fantastic outdoor brands, mainly honing my skills and knowledge of outdoor equipment whilst working for Macpac.

Unfortunately, my adventures were not without their challenges. While travelling in Asia, I suffered a broken neck that could have ended my travels altogether. But after recovering from my injury, my love for adventure and determination helped me push myself towards new challenges and continue on with even more enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, my adventures were not without their challenges. While travelling in Asia, I suffered a broken neck that could have ended my travels altogether. But after recovering from my injury, my love for adventure and determination helped me push myself towards new challenges and continue on with even more enthusiasm.

I’ve tackled some incredible long-distance trails, including the GR20 in Corsica which is known as Europe’s toughest trail, as well as the South Downs Way, and the West Highland Way in the UK. These experiences have taught me the importance of perseverance, patience, and self-reliance.

Throughout my travels, I’ve always been passionate about connecting with other adventure enthusiasts. That’s why I started a site back in 2013 called Adventuresome, an adventure directory and social site that helps people connect with like-minded individuals and find new adventures to embark on together. Unfortunately, this venture failed so I instead started a dog walking business, so that I could at least be out walking every day.

Today, I still run a dog-walking business whilst I build this site and enjoy micro-adventures and rock climbing in my free time. I always continue to seek out new adventures and push my limits, knowing that the rewards of these experiences are endless.

I hope you find my blog helpful and enjoyable, I will continue to fill it with gear guides, reviews, and lots of useful information for adventurers like yourself. 

Now that’s enough about me. Thanks for coming along on my journey but now it’s time for you to get out there and find your adventure!