A MICRO SCALE EXPED IN THE BRECON BEACONS

an interview with one of our Wales weekend teammates

Photography by Eliza Brown

An expedition squeezed into just two days and much closer to home – our Wales adventure weekends are the perfect introductory taste of Secret Compass.

Set amidst the Brecon Beacons National Park, the weekend is designed by one of our regular expedition leaders to provide the expedition curious with a memorable adventure set in one of the UK’s best wild spaces. The perfect stepping stone to a more ambitious Secret Compass expedition or just a great excuse to get out and meet some like-minded souls.

Robin Wooler joined the June weekend team earlier in the year for a post lockdown adventure. A couple weeks later, we caught up with him to hear how he found the experience.

What does normal life look like for you – where are you based and what do you do?

I live in West London and work a digital marketing job, which would usually be based in East London but been working from home since March 2020.

How was the weekend, what were your highlights?

The weekend was great – highlights were abseiling, camping in the woods and going through the train tunnel.

Have you done anything like this before?

I’ve not done a group tour before, and especially not alone. I did have some more booked last year but they were all cancelled.

What initially interested you in joining?

I thought Secret Compass looked really interesting, and the expeditions available looked incredible. I like the fact that they’re proper expeditions, rather than guided tours.

What did you find challenging?

I didn’t find any of it overly challenging really, other than a few steep bits but they were quickly dealt with!

How was the team dynamic?

The team dynamic was really great – I loved the guides. I was a bit hesitant joining a group of strangers, as I can be a bit introverted, but at no point did I feel uncomfortable/lonely or anything like that. Everyone was really nice.

What’s next for you? 

Hopefully in September I’ll be going to Jordan for another group tour – but this time I’m bringing my best mate along. I’d like to book another SC expedition, but I definitely need to get my fitness back on track!