Growing up in a quiet village in the West Midlands I had plenty of outdoor space to keep me busy and the fields and woodlands near my home was where my passion for the outdoors really began. After school and college I left the UK to live in Greece and Canada before returning home to start looking for a career. After a long stint in management and working as a retail manager in a cycle store I made the decision to turn my passion for the outdoors into a career and start working towards mountain leadership and becoming an outdoor instructor.
In 2015 I passed my Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor Award which gave me the skills I needed to set up my own business and start offering courses to the public. Since then business has grown rapidly and I set up The Mountaineering Company in 2018 with the aim of offering high-quality instruction in smaller group sizes with passionate instructors. I now hold the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification (MCI) which is the highest qualification you can hold for summer mountaineering in the UK.
Passing on knowledge and skills to my clients is what I am really passionate about and watching my clients go on to have big adventures with their new skills is the reason I became an instructor. As a passionate mountaineer, climber and mountain runner I try my hardest to bring that passion with me to every course and feel that’s one of the reasons why I have so many repeat clients.
I now live in North Wales where I spend most of my free time climbing, running and hiking in the mountains. I also spend lots of time abroad leading treks in Morocco and climbing in the Alps but North Wales will always be where my heart is!
I'm a full member of The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) a member of Ogwen Mountain Rescue Team (OVMRO) and a member of Mountain Training and British Mountaineering Council. I also work as a Safety Manager for a number of large participation events and Technical Advisor for large-scale organisations.
Matts Latest Articles
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/Scrambling-mountaineering-in-winter-top-tips
https://www.thebmc.co.uk/7-reasons-to-get-into-scrambling
Mountain Leader (ML), Mountaineering Instructor (MCI), Winter Mountain Leader (WML), Rope Rescue (RRO)
Jbel Toubkal Expedition Leader - 2015, 2018, 2019
Jbel Mgoun Expedition Leader - 2019
Morocco Three Peaks Expedition Leader (Mgoun, Toubkal, Ouanakrim) - 2019
Kat (short for Kathryn) is a North Wales-born adventurer with a deep passion for mountain running, mountaineering, and open water swimming—basically, anything that involves moving fast through wild terrain. With a natural flair for leadership, she now works as an outdoor instructor, sharing her love for the mountains and helping others discover the joy of the great outdoors.
Raised on the edge of the Clwydian Hills, not far from Snowdonia, Kat’s connection to the land runs deep. Her childhood was spent running trails, hiking with her dad, and exploring forests with her brother—where she first developed a love for bushcraft and the natural world. Her journey into the outdoor world began early, taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award and later becoming a young leader. She also competed in Welsh athletics and began coaching—marking the start of her career helping others build confidence and skills in outdoor settings.
Today, Kat combines her adventurous spirit with a genuine passion for teaching, encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace the outdoors and push their boundaries.
Kathryn is the Managing Director of The Mountaineering Company, working behind the scenes to ensure every course is carefully planned and delivered to the highest standard.
Dave Evans holds the full suite of Mountain Training qualifications and is widely recognised as one of the UK’s most driven and enthusiastic climbing instructors. From sea cliffs to Alpine peaks, his lifelong passion for climbing has taken him to some of the world’s most adventurous destinations.
As an instructor, Dave’s energy and commitment to helping others stand out. He is deeply passionate about developing climbers of all abilities, supporting them to achieve their goals and realise their ambitions in the mountains.
Dave works across all levels—from entry-level climbing and mountaineering courses to winter ascents on the north faces of Ben Nevis and expeditions overseas. He is also a Course Director across the full range of Mountain Training schemes, from Hill and Moorland Leader and Lowland Leader to Rock Climbing Instructor, Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor, and beyond.
Will Nicholls holds the Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification and works across a wide range of environments, from summer climbing and mountaineering to winter courses and technical winter climbing.
Beyond his own climbing ability, Will is deeply passionate about developing clients at every stage—whether that’s guiding someone through their first navigation course or leading them onto the north face of Ben Nevis for ice climbing. A true all-rounder, he thrives on working with people and helping them progress.
Will is also a Mountain Training Course Director and a Senior Instructor for The Mountaineering Company.
Dave MacIntyre is a highly skilled and professional Mountaineering Instructor, known for his friendly approach and ability to put clients at ease. His passion for climbing goes far beyond teaching technical skills—his client-focused style makes him a firm favourite with those he works with.
Dave has climbed extensively around the world, including notable ascents of Ama Dablam and Island Peak. Combining experience with approachability, he delivers a wide range of courses for The Mountaineering Company.
Rachael France is a Mountaineering Instructor, Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor, based in the Peak District. She has climbed extensively around the world, including in Morocco and Kyrgyzstan, and is passionate about delivering high-quality courses that educate, inspire, and empower.
Rachael is also an active member of the Edale Search and Rescue Team and works as a rescue dog handler alongside her sheepdog Tarn.
Sam is a full-time Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (MCI) and is part of our core team at The Mountaineering Company. Sam has a passion for teaching and his enthusiastic and patient style had made him very popular with our clients. When Sams not working in the mountains he's either busy at home being a dad or out at the crags of Snowdonia enjoying his time on rock.
Tess lives in the Nantlle valley with her dog, Saba. When not working in the hills walking, running or scrambling, she can usually be found…in the hills, walking, running or scrambling (sometimes on a bike or climbing too) - but running really long distances up and down big hills is her first passion. Tess has spent much of her life travelling for work in wild places, from Afghanistan to Tanzania, responding to humanitarian crises, and found that she needed to spend time in the mountains in between in order to reset and recharge - so it’s really important to her to support others to be able to find that connection with the hills, and share the skills to be able to explore the wilder corners of the great outdoors.
Interested in booking a private walking, scrambling, or running day with Tess? Get in touch to check availability.