About Us

The Wilderness Company is a progressive and diverse company offering a range of outdoor activities and education options for schools, families and businesses across the North East of England. Operating out of Baldersdale in Teesdale we offer everything from outdoor activity residentials at our purpose built glamping camp, in-school camping packages and a range of day activities for a schools, groups and families with activities such as canyoning, climbing, abseiling, paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing.

Where we started

After a decade operating a traditional outdoor education centre, Rob and Abi Atkinson saw the opportunity to offer something different, having witnessed a distinct shift in the industry away from real adventure and into something more commercial. In 2020 Rob and Abi launched Wilderness Outdoor Education with the hope of offering a combination of a tented camp in a stunning location with a wide range of outdoor activities in truly wild locations. Obviously timing wasn't ideal and within a few months Covid19 but a pause on our plans. The team pivoted and began offering online sessions for families, gaining millions of worldwide followers, when the country began to emerge out of lockdown Wilderness started to offer 'in-school' camping options to align with regulations, these in school camps proved to be exceptionally popular, and in 2021 Wilderness worked with dozens of schools offering a range of camping options. During this time the Staycation boom took off and so The Dales Adventure Co was born with the aim of offering taster sessions for families, again these proved wildly popular. Fast forward into 2022 and Wilderness was able to offer their first full season of camping at their Meadow site in Upper Teesdale, schools loved it! The team at this point knew they'd found a niche and the following year Wilderness moved to a new site nestled in a small woodland, again it provide very popular. 2024 brings a refinement on the offer as well as a rebranding to incorporate the two brands of Wilderness Outdoor Education and The Dales Adventure Co into the The Wilderness Company.

Who we are

We are at heart a group of very passionate people, determined to share our enthusiasm for the outdoor with others.

Rob Atkinson
Opertions Director

Rob spent a childhood in and around Teesdale, a childhood spent scouting and adventuring in the hills of Northern England set Rob on the path into outdoor education. Following a Degree in Outdoor Leadership in the Lake District where he met Abi, Rob spend many years working in independant outdoor centres before taking the plunge with Abi to set up on their own!

Abi Atkinson
​Commercial Director

Abi has been an outdoorsy girl as long as she can remember, so much so that her mum sent her to the climbing wall at 12 as it seemed safer than climbing trees! A passion for outdoors took her to the Lake District for a Degree in Outdoor Leadership, from here Abi became a primary school teacher before heading back into the outdoors.

Rachel Dyke
​Senior Instructor

Rachel started her outdoor journey as an apprentice outdoor instructor over a decade ago! She's always got her smile on her face and when not paddling around a lake with school kids she'll be out on her bike or climbing a cliff somewhere.

George
Duffy-Mcghie
operations manager

George has always had a passion for being outside, after jobs in marketing and as a postman, George came on board at Wilderness in 2024. George brings organisation and energy to the team and loves being out on activity sessions.

John Noble
instructor

John has been working with young people in the outdoors for decades, his wealth of experience combined with his sense of humour means the kids and staff alike always have a great time out with John. 

Peter Lovatt
instructor

Peter has spent most of his working career as a professional Geologist but 5 years ago Peter came along with his daughter for a work experiencer chat and ended up being roped into a season of outdoor ed! 4 full seasons later Peter is integral to our instruction team.
​Based in Teesdale on the Durham/Yorkshire border, The Wilderness Company are specialists in school residentials, forest glamping, corporate and group adventure activities across the North East. From our woodland base to the 50-acre Crag Pond venue, we bring nature to life.