Leader Recruitment Manager Gillian Mininch, who will be guiding you through the application process, joined HF Holidays' Walking Department in 1992, following two seasons as a voluntary walk Leader. She has always been a keen mountaineer and hillwalker, not only in her native Scotland but across the UK and beyond. Her enjoyment and experience of leading parties in the UK hills has led to her gaining the summer Mountain Leader award and completing the winter ML training course. Since coming to work and live in Cumbria, Gillian has made the most of her local fells and in 1997 joined Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team - one of the UK's busiest.
When not climbing hills in Britain, Gillian enjoys exploring mountains further afield. She has trekked in the Atlas mountains of Morocco, explored the canyons and summits of South West USA and walked in a number of European mountain ranges including the French Pyrenees and the Picos de Europa and Sierra de Gredos in Spain.
Siobhan Beck, our Leader Operations Manager, manages the team who look after all the volunteer walking leaders. She enjoys walking and recently visited the Dolomites, she said "Via ferrata is fantastic, as is the area, I am keen to return for more. I recommend it to anyone who would like to do a bit more than walk up a mountain but doesn't fancy climbing." Having also walked in the Andes (Ecuador), Spanish Pyrenees, North America (Washington State), Morocco, Greece, Belize and most of the UK, she is one of the more experienced members of the team. The Howgills are her weekend get away with great walking, fantastic views and peaceful surroundings. When not walking Siobhan is a fledgling gardener and loves sea kayaking especially off the west coast of Scotland.
Dave Brooks joined the Walking Operations team in 2006 and lives close to Hadrian's Wall Country, to the east of Carlisle. He came with an outdoor background working first for the Youth Hostels Association and more recently with Outward Bound. "I've also had first hand experience of leading groups with Countrywide Holidays at their Glaramara house in Borrowdale and know how rewarding it can be when you help guests achieve something they thought impossible." Dave has completed the round of Lakeland's Wainwrights and is now looking further north to the Munros of Scotland although with only 6 peaks 'bagged' so far, it could take a few years to complete! One of his favourite areas for walking is the Knoydart peninsula on Scotland's west coast. “A stunning combination of sea lochs, mountains & wildlife married to the remoteness of the area and the freshness of the air. Magic!"
Vicki Chuter joined HF Holidays as a Walking Operations Executive in 2005 having previously been (and continues to be!) a voluntary walk leader. She moved to the Lake District a number of years ago with her family to buy a small sheep farm - the ideal location for fell walking. Vicki also loves long distance walks - favourites include the Coast to Coast and Offa's Dyke. Although she spends most of her time in the Lake District, she has also enjoyed walking in France, Peru and New Zealand.
Kathleen Doidge-Harrison lives in "the garden of Eden", the lovely Eden valley area of Cumbria, and enjoys walking in this relatively quiet part of the country. As a Walking Operations Executive she helps to select the teams of leaders and particularly enjoys the opportunity to meet leaders at our UK Houses. Kathleen lived in Kenya for two years and recommends the Aberdare Mountains region for its "surprisingly lush and green landscape." A favourite local walk is a circuit of Rydal Water and Grasmere late in the evening in summer.
Andy Berlyn, our Head of Walking Operations, walks for fun and the enjoyment of seeing
nature and industrial archaeology up close. One of his favourite walks is a a route from Haweswater into Swindale - probably one of the nicest dales in the Lakes and a superbly scenic walk away from the crowds. Further afield, Andy can personally recommend a number of our European and worldwide holidays, with
Bryce Canyon on our USA's Grand Canyon & Monument Valley holiday scoring top marks.
Want to know more?
Click here for frequently asked questions about leading our walking holidays.
Apply now
Complete your application online, save your progress, then print and mail when complete.
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