About me & lovedartmoor
As the name of my website suggests, I love Dartmoor. Being health-conscious and wanting to be physically fit, I have found outdoor activities to be the key to maintaining a healthy mind and body, and it is the combination of these things that have influenced my work.
The benefits of effective weight control, enjoying a balanced and varied diet, a positive body image, improved self-esteem, and being able to experience the beauty of a natural environment, have been become apparent as I have progressed in this field, and I have developed a passion, which I am keen to apply in my work to motivate and inspire others to achieve long-lasting health benefits, improve fitness and overall well-being.
I have an extensive knowledge and experience of Dartmoor, and trained in moorland navigation, first aid, wild camping, mountain biking and outdoor education and am never happier than when encouraging others to enjoy the benefits of exercising and exploring on Dartmoor. My travels have led to many adventures such as camping in Iceland, sailing around Sweden, exploring the Lake District, Brecon Beacons and Isles of Scilly, and, of course, leading numerous expeditions on and around Dartmoor. My most recent long-distance treks have been Wainwright's 192 mile coast to coast route across England, from St.Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay in Yorkshire, and the West Highland Way to Fort William in September 2011.
It has not all been plain sailing. My activities were almost thwarted when in 2007 I suffered a broken leg, which had to be plated and pinned and I was out of action for many months. "Like a fish out of water" I was determined to regain my strength and mobility and managed my own rehabilitation by researching and practising health and fitness training, which impressed on me the power of motivation and individual determination in my recovery. This led to my qualifying as a Nordic walking instructor, an aerobics teacher, gym instructor and a Level 3 Personal Trainer with a GP referral specialisation.
I have worked for many years as a Dartmoor National Park Guide, Nordic walking / fitness instructor and regularly teach aerobics, as well as having gained a BA in Public Relations, a post-graduate certificate in Education, and previously lecturing in Marketing and Business Studies in Further and Higher Education prior to taking a career break to raise my three daughters.
I aim to combine and commit my skills, knowledge and experience to help others improve their respective health, well-being and fitness on and around Dartmoor.
