Meet

The Reluctant Explorers

All About The Reluctant Explorers!

Well hello there, you lovely lot!

Back in 2020, I had a bit of an epiphany. Something that came out of the COVID Pandemic that was a bit unexpected… The Reluctant Explorers.

Ugh Lockdown. The word still fills me with a gutful of dread. Being cooped up together as a family with no ability to do what we wanted, when we wanted…. remember that? Life was so tightly controlled that the spark of spontaneity was extinguished, replaced with those ruddy zoom calls, daily government updates and an immense feeling of sadness and fear for the absolute devastation that the world experienced together, on a scale we’d never really experienced in our lifetimes.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh. Isn’t it weird to think back on that now?

But you know, a remarkable thing happens when you have something you take for granted whipped away in the blink of an eye doesn’t it? You suddenly feel the joy in normality, like the feeling of just being able to walk further than half a mile from your house. There is nothing quite like a heavy dose of perspective. We STOPPED taking things for granted and for me, that was the freedom to explore.

Enter…. The Reluctant Explorers. Little did I know that what started as a blog would take us to places we never thought possible!

Wild Swimming in Wainwath Falls in the Yorkshire Dales

Our Journey

Where it all began…

In the Summer of 2020, I set up the social media pages for The Reluctant Explorers on Instagram and Facebook with the aim of sharing our experiences of outdoors life, to provide information about Yorkshire attractions and local businesses during the pandemic and to detail our family walks, whilst acknowledging the struggles we can all face motivating kids to get away from their screens and outside (particularly with having to endure those BOOOOORING local walks!)

The pages proved to be an instant hit, and it was in March of 2021 that the website was born (a definite lockdown project!)

And now three years later, the website aims to be all things Yorkshire Dales with the family.

What started as a site that shared our pandemic walks, has turned into a directory of family friendly walks across the entirety of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With over 100 family walks stretching from the Cumbrian Westmorland Dales all the way to Nidderdale National Landscape, this website has been (and continues to be) my third child!

The Journey So Far…

But I didn’t stop there, oh NO! Over the last three years I’ve created ‘Visit with Kids Guides’ for areas in and on the edge of the National Park, so no family can go on holiday and fail to find the play park, the ice cream, or the best local walk. I’ve compiled a list of helpful games and activities to reduce the ‘moan factor’ (which let’s face it) we’ve all faced in an effort to get more families outside. I have an entire section of the website dedicated to seasonal events for kids, an outdoors blog reviewing campsites and places to stay, as well as providing families with safety tips on how to get outdoors and hiking safely…. I even have an A-Z directory of the Yorkshire Dales play parks (you know, for that park bribery emergency!)

The l’il proud part

Through the tiny niggling idea that I had whilst having a shower, I have worked and continue to work with some incredible organisations including the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Ordnance Survey (for whom we are champions of the outdoors) the Royal Life Saving Society, the North York Moors National Park and a huge array of local and small businesses who we’ve supported and worked with through our journey so far.

paddleboarding at sunset on a river with trees

And here’s to the future…

This ‘little blog’ has become very much a part of my life and as a Hill and Moorland Leader (in training… nearly there now…..) I intend to continue to inspire everybody’s Reluctant Explorers outdoors.

My kids were at a tender age of 6&4 when I set the Reluctant Explorers up and we’re now at 11 & 9, but I’ve hiked with the kids since before they could actually walk and for far longer than the lifespan of the blog.

Oh yes. The kids have been outdoors since word dot. I’ve lived the difficulties of the feeding emergencies, the completely irrational toddler tantrums, the ‘pick-me-up’ then ‘put-me-down’ rollercoaster, the sit-down protests, the epic whinge factor. I know that these challenges will continue as the kids grow up, but I am FULLY intending on keeping up the annoyance of my kids through the continued exposure to nature and hiking. OK?

You in?

Watch this space for more exciting developments. I WILL be inspiring our next generation of Reluctant Explorers very soon…. 2025 is the year!

Sam

Head Reluctant Explorer (and Mum!)

I’m Sam, the brains (kinda, I blame sleep deprivation) behind the Reluctant Explorers.

I have grown up with hiking holidays in the Lake District and moved to Yorkshire in 2002 to study. I qualified as a solicitor, but decided to take a break to focus on family.

I now teach music and work with children from babies to teenagers!

I love outdoors life! Whether that be hiking, swimming, paddleboarding, picnicking or camping I am passionate about being outside as much as possible!

As a Mum of two, I am TRYING to kindle that love for the outdoors in the kids too, but I know that’s not always very easy, which is why I am constantly thinking of ways to make outdoors fun!

Edie

Edie is 11 years old and a budding climber!

Edie has always loved being outdoors (but don’t worry, she regularly forgets about that!) She first hiked the highest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks at age 6 and has since climbed it 3 times, she loves to swim and has completed the Via Ferrata at How Stean Gorge (pictured right). She has a passion for climbing inspired by the climbers of the Dales and is just about to complete her level 3 NICAS.

She regularly shows me up whilst paddleboarding and is an all round kick-ass kid.

Ezra

Ezra is 9 and loves exploring caves.

We always say that Ezra is the most Reluctant Explorer as he is a 100% snack fuelled hiker but is in his element when he’s exploring something ‘cool’. Like ruins, or caves.

He loves to operate at 100 miles per hour, loves getting wet, extremely muddy and swimming (as long as it’s not too cold!). He is a massive fan of football, but squeezes in his adventures around games, is about to finish his NICAS level 3 and is like a spider monkey up the walls!

Oh and parks. He loves parks!

Would you like to work with us?

As an award winning blogger, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with some incredible people over the last two years. You can check out our Media Pack here!

We are so proud to have worked with some amazing small businesses as well as national organisations. Please do get in touch if you’d like to work with us.

email: sam@thereluctantexplorers.com