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Wilderness Journeys are an invitation to begin again, in wild places. As the year turns, these immersive experiences offer space to step away from routine and move with purpose — paddling quiet water, walking ancient paths, and travelling through landscapes shaped by time. Each journey is designed to reset the body, focus the mind, and reconnect you with something simple and real, carried forward into the year ahead.
Journey no. 1 Ancient Pathways
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Step onto the old ways and journey through Deepdale, a hidden wooded gorge in the heart of Teesdale. This is a landscape shaped not just by water and stone, but by people — walked, worked, and lived in for thousands of years.
As we follow ancient pathways through forest and ravine, you’ll be guided through the unfolding human story of this place: from Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, to early farmers, and onward to the lives that shaped the valley we see today. The land itself becomes the narrative, with each turn revealing traces of those who came before. Our journey concludes at Crag Pond, where fire once again becomes central. Here, you’ll experience a primitive fire-lighting demonstration, reconnecting with one of humanity’s most important skills, before settling in to enjoy hot soup and fresh rolls cooked over the campfire — a simple, grounding end to a day spent walking through deep time.
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Journey no.2 - Hyll & Holm
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Journey with us through Patterdale, one of the Lake District’s most breathtaking and storied landscapes. Guided by the region’s deep Viking heritage, we’ll paddle quiet waters past ancient Holms (islands), follow winding rivers alive with wildlife, and travel beneath the towering Hylls and mountains that have shaped centuries of folklore.
As the day settles, we’ll draw up on the shore and cook fresh salmon over glowing embers — a simple, fire-kissed feast to end a journey through wild water and old stories.
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Journey no.3 To Hell and Back
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This journey begins with preparation. Suited in wetsuits and essential safety equipment, you’ll be briefed by our expert canyon guides, learning the skills and mindset needed to travel through one of the Yorkshire Dales’ most striking hidden places.
From there, we walk up through open hills to the head of Hell Gill, where the land suddenly breaks away. A first glimpse into the gorge reveals a dark slit in the limestone — narrow, steep, and unmistakably wild. As we descend, the walls close in. Limestone rises sheer on either side, the gorge narrowing to little more than an arm’s width. Light fades, sound deepens, and the world becomes water, stone, and movement. Deep pools, cascades, and sculpted rock guide the way forward, offering moments of both challenge and quiet awe. Eventually, the gorge loosens its grip. The walls lower, daylight returns, and the journey opens back out into the Dales — a powerful transition from shadow to light, and a fitting end to an experience that reveals just how hidden and dramatic the landscape can be.
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Journey no.5 Heart of yorkshire
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This journey follows the gentle flow of the River Ure, tracing a watery route through history, landscape, and the quieter rhythms of Yorkshire life.
We begin on the historic Ripon Canal, paddling beneath Georgian brick bridges and through old working locks, where waterways once shaped trade and travel. Lily pads drift at the margins, dragonflies skim the surface, and the pace slows to match the river. Emerging onto the wide sweep of the River Ure, the landscape opens out. Here, we keep a watchful eye along the banks for flashes of blue — kingfishers that frequent this stretch — as the river carries us deeper into the heart of the county. Our journey passes the grandeur of Newby Hall and Gardens, a striking contrast of formal beauty against wild water, before we draw up on the bank for lunch. On the riverside, you’ll be treated to a luxury cream tea, enjoyed at ease before the final stretch of paddling. The river’s last bends guide us onward to Boroughbridge, where the journey comes to a close — a day shaped by water, wildlife, and Yorkshire’s enduring charm.
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