By Isabel Bradshaw
Isabel Bradshaw reporting from Wales
Lately, every time I open my phone, my screen is flooded with people jumping in lakes, scaling up mountains and jetting off to every corner of the world. Yet, how much of this is real and how much is simply just influencers posing for likes?
I am an incredibly busy person; I simply cannot stand staying at home and I pride myself in the fact that I am always off somewhere doing something new and exciting. So, naturally, I find it rather irritating that people online are faking the adventurous spirit. It does not have to be a holiday in a luxury resort or something as extreme as skydiving, but just getting up and going for a walk in the park is much better than just sitting on your phone watching other people live the life you yourself could be living.
But with that being said, it is important to know how to do so safely and correctly so that you’re not putting yourself or others at risk of harm and injury. I spoke to Aaron Nicholls, civilian instructor and Duke of Edinburgh leader at 610 (City of Chester) Squadron. Aaron has also recently become a qualified lowland expedition leader and is an avid hiker. He told me that his passion from hiking came from his grandfather and father, who took him out and about a lot when he was younger. This was then when he “got really interested in doing things such as scouting, cadets” and, as mentioned, Duke of Edinburgh.
Aaron went on to give some advice for those who are wanting to get out and explore the countryside more. He said that “we find a lot of cadets come with boots fresh out of the box or with a waterproof jacker that isn’t actually waterproof” so it is important that you must “make sure you’re carrying the necessary things”, like for example, “first aid kits, waterproofs” as well as “making sure you have the right food and water to keep you going”. But, equally, “that doesn’t mean buying the most expensive things, that means buying the things that are right for you.”. It is also, as mentioned earlier, incredibly important to “know where you are going and understand the dangers of that particular place” and to not be “too overconfident, because overconfidence can lead to risks.”.
Audio interview with civilian instructor Aaron Nicholls
Following this conversation, I decided then to take some friends one sunny weekend for a hike to Dinorwic Quarry in Wales. The skies were clear, the temperature high, and as we drove further into the countryside, there mountains and fields as far as the eye could see. We laced up our boots, locked the car and started our journey up the hill. One of my friends who accompanied me, was Lucas Shaw. Lucas grew up in Chester and spent a lot of his childhood hiking and exploring Wales and places similar. Once hidden and cherished areas such as Dinorwic Quarry are now beginning to show signs of overcrowding, especially with increases of influencers and travellers. According to an article by Express, major changes are currently on the way to help tackle busy parking sites and roads.
Lucas told me that he and his “mum would come here quite a lot with our dog but unfortunately it’s gotten quite busy now over recent years”. As the day went on and we continued our ascent, the results of this rise in tourism begun to show – plastic bottles and wrappers strew amongst the slate and large groups of people, all with their phones out recording and unbothered by the views beyond their screens. It is so important to respect the area that you are travelling to, from ensuring that you clean up your litter to treating wildlife kindly, we all have a duty to preserve the countryside and allow others to enjoy it too.
So, in an age where our lives are filtered through screens, it is easy to forget that there is a world waiting beyond them. One that is filled with beautiful landscapes, adventure and excitement – all you have to do is get up and go.
