Themountaincoach Reviews 32

Ive been hiking with Charlie for the last 5 years, would i recommend.. 100%, some of the places weve hiked and the challenges ive done with the mountain coach, i would never have done them without the guidance of charlie. Charlie always gives you plenty of information via email weeks before your hike then another email a few days before. The hikes are always well organised and planned, along with a Charlie he also has experienced helpers to guide and support the group. The group and guides are always brilliant, its a great way to meet and chat and make friends. If your anything like me and love the outdoors but are terrible at guiding and finding routes i would highly recomend booking with charlie.. get out enjoy the outdoors make friends and let someone else worry about which direction you need to walk.. lol.

Just realised I've been going on walks/hikes/challenges with The Mountain Coach (Charlie Wardle) for 4 years this month! I was initially a bit anxious about turning up on my own but I needn't have been. Was welcomed by some lovely people, some of whom I still see on various hikes. I'm always worried about being too slow/unfit/old/wimpy but Charlie has always been a great encourager. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would - or could - ever do the National Three Peaks (3 day) Challenge but in 2024 at the age of 65 I did! The various hikes are rated out of 5 so it's not difficult to gauge what level of difficulty to expect and Charlie does describe the walks in detail. Am looking forward to a new hike on the South Wales coast next week and many more after that.

I have done a couple of hikes with Charlie & several of his Challenge walks, over the last few years and I have loved them all. I have gone with friends & solo which I never would have dreamt of doing before! You are always made to feel welcome. I’ve met some incredible people on all the walks I’ve done and always go home buzzing after a great day/weekend.
The group walks have definitely given me some confidence back in myself and have helped me keep a balance in life.
It’s great to have something to look forward to, and to push you outside your comfort zone a little.

I have been on three types of walks with Charlie and would recommend them. I think you need a certain level of fitness the clue in the title "Mountain" these are not meanders but neither are they for elite - the more walking you do the fitter you become - I am nearly 58 my husband not into walking and these provide a perfect way for me to walk safety, see other areas and build up connections all of which are important to me, I have been on groups where the leader is full of ego - Charlie does communicate and interact but at the same time puts systems in place where there are back markers so he can focus on the route and conditions. Is great to have all the accomodation booked too for the weekend stay overs - and clear e mail instructions 6 weeks before. These are walks where you can pick up skills yourself in a controlled safe enviorment with many experienced fellow walkers - I have signed up to the Hadrians Wall challenge something without this organisation I would never have done. So 100% recommend to anyone

I have been on about 12-15 hikes with the mountain coach over the past year. I was very new to hiking and with that a little nervous. The Mountain Coach has been amazing for my confidence. Everyone on the hikes have been friendly and the hikes have been beautiful and so well planned. I paticularly like the weekend trips and the challenges.

I’m not the most confident of hiker and my map reading is less than to be desired but I’m “fairly” fit and like an adventure! I would HIGHLY recommend Charlie for people like me, to take the pressure off route planning and pace, to meet like minded people and get out into the great outdoors!
Charlie offers a wide range of trips, from one day fairly gentle hikes to challenges which can last a few days so for me he offers something for everyone who likes a bit of a hike.
My husband and I have been on many trips with Charlie and we will certainly book many more. I like the more casual one day hikes, whereas he prefers the more challenging days! Perfect for both of us!

As always I love to start the year with a trip away, this year was no different. Nothing beats mid Wales to get you excited to start the year. Jan 2026 was a different one though, with some fairly heavy snowfall. As always Charlie managed the trip fantastically, giving options to the whole group based on the conditions. We had a fantastic weekend and more trips have already been booked for 2026. If you fancy a new challenge in life you won't be disappointed with the support you get from Charlie, aka The Mountain Coach

I recently completed another brilliant walk with Charlie, this time through the Peak District. I've enjoyed both day and weekend hikes and this one was no different - well organised, friendly, varied terrain and interesting sights throughout.

These walks are a great way to meet like-minded people. Everyone - including Charlie himself - is super friendly and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of the trips I've been on over the last couple of years or so.

I'd encourage you to take a look at the website, find something you fancy and book on. If you have any questions or queries beforehand, drop Charlie an email and he'll come back to you really quickly. Another good pointer is to look at the difficulty rating against each of the hikes, to determine whether or not it's at the right level for you.

Unless you're fit and tall and need zero support, don't bother.

When you join someone called the mountain "coach" and pay £30 etc for the privilege of doing so, you expect an reasonable amount of communication and support on the walks.

I did the Dragons Back walk where the pace was kept in line with the fastest people. I'm 5'2 and I couldn't keep up with the front. Now I will admit I'm not super fit but fit enough, I've done Kinder, Beaklow, Snowdon etc. Even though me and others had highlighted injuries, lack of scrambling experience, fear of heights etc, Charlie had mentioned it wouldn't be an issue, that he would support us through all that. That was highlighted by email to one lady before she booked on as she wanted that reassurance due to an old ankle injury. She was also shorter and with our shorter strides we did struggle with the pace.

However on the day I barely saw or spoke to Charlie as he was so far ahead, there was no check in or support when it came to the scrambling section. I wanted to learn the best way to scramble and luckily one woman held back a bit to support a few people in that area. It just made me wonder why I had even bothered to pay Charlie as his input was no different to following an alltrails map.

Recently I learnt through another walking group where I met others that had been on his walks, that he left two people behind on a walk as he deemed them too slow. Disgusting behaviour.

When you pay money to join something like this, you don't expect a my way or the high way type of attitude, that there would be no such thing as coach sticking with those that need more assistance etc. People don't just join walking groups as they dont want to walk alone but also so as a group, there is some support and guidance on any tricky bits.

I'm glad other people have had better experiences but if you have a slower pace, injuries, are unfit etc, he might tell you it's not a problem to get you to book and pay but after that there's a massive lack of consideration, care and support.

Having never done much scrambling before, I decided to sign up for Crib Goch with The Mountain Coach! It was a fairly big group with 4 very experienced guides & a few other "guests" who also knew what they were doing! The group were great, friendly & helpful as were the guides who all made sure we were safe at all times. Although I found the ups & downs fairly ok, I was more than a little lost along the flat ridges. I didn't freeze, I just didn't know where to put my feet next & didn't have the confidence to make progress on my own. While all guides were extremely helpful, it was Chris who went in front and talked me through getting across the ridge safely, I really couldn't have done it without him. The weather was hot & sunny so we had the most amazing views and despite the bruises I received (only to be expected) I really did enjoy the day & would highly recommend The Mountain Coach & this trip to others.

Another excellent weekend walking with Charlie the mountain coach. This one was around costal path walk in Dorset. As always great instructions including info for parking, toilets (always good to know!)
A good walking pace was set with time to admire the views- but these are not ‘strolls’. The rating guide tells you what you need to know and for me these walks push me to do. I do sometimes worry about falling behind on the hills but I always catch up on the flats! And there is definite improvement, with the more I do. There is always great encouragement from the group - which are full of friendly faces. And on bigger groups Charlie will have other leaders - who have always been encouraging and friendly.
‘Lunch with a view’ gives you time for a break - but not too long that you stiffen up and don’t want to start again!
Can’t recommend the group enough. Thanks Charlie - see you in March 😁🥾

Fantastic walking weekend!
A great group of people, I enjoyed the whole experience in Dorset this weekend.
Charlie set a good pace, but kept an eye on the whole group, offering help on the more tricky coastal paths. He scouted ahead where sections of the path has been closed by rockfalls, finding ways round to ensure our safety.
I felt relaxed knowing he had our safety at heart. He gave plenty of time to pause and admire the view, noting all the points of interest along the way.
I'm looking forward to doing lots more walks with Charlie, before I get too old!

Another great walk today with Charlie and Chris around the Baslow/ Curbar & Frogatt area.
Nice big friendly group.
Emails sent out beforehand detailing where to park and what the weather is predicted.
Charlie is always on time, reliable and friendly. Looking forward to the next weekend away with the group in January.

Outstanding Mountain Guide – Highly Recommended!

I recently had the pleasure of going on a guided hiking trip with Charlie and I can’t recommend him enough. From the start, it was clear that Charlie is not only extremely knowledgeable about the terrain and weather conditions, but also deeply passionate about the mountains!

Throughout the trek, Charlie provided invaluable insights into the surrounding environment, pointing out landmarks, wildlife, and sharing fascinating details about the region’s history and geology. The route was perfectly planned, and Charlie made sure we were comfortable and well-prepared for the challenges along the way. Safety was always a top priority, and the guide’s expertise in navigating difficult terrain gave us confidence every step of the way.

What I appreciated most was Charlie’s ability to tailor the experience to the group’s skill level. Whether you’re a seasoned mountaineer or a beginner, this guide has the ability to make the journey enjoyable and rewarding for everyone. The pacing was just right, and there was always a focus on making sure everyone felt supported and encouraged.

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, friendly, and professional guide, look no further than the Mountain Coach.
It was an unforgettable experience, and I’m already planning my next adventure with them!

Always a pleasure to join the Mountain Coach for well guided walks all over the UK. Details of the walks always give a rating as to how challenging they might be. Charlie always engages with the group and introduces the guides that will be looking after them for the duration of the walk. It is lovely to be able to switch off and just follow an experienced guide who has many years of experience guiding groups. Instead of having to navigate yourself, you are free to just enjoy the surrounding views in the knowledge that Charlie will look after you. Can't wait to join the group again on 7/8 November.

Always enjoy the mountain coach walks. It’s great to be guided by such an experienced mountain leader. It allows you to enjoy the day without having to worry about where you are going.
I would always read the trip information beforehand and assess the difficulty rating to make sure it suits my ability
Look forward to my next walk!

I enjoyed a weekend of walking in Angelsey with The Mountain Coach. Having done many walks with Charlie I have had the opportunity to see much of the beauty of the UK and have always felt very safe in the knowledge that I am with a very experienced Mountain Guide.
Having been in some challenging weather situations, Charlie has always put safety first and will ensure safety of all whilst still ensuring a good experience is had by everyone.
I have loved all my walks and climbs with Charlie and continue to look with enthusiasm at what I can book next.
Charlie ensures we are well informed of the Difficulty Grading of each walk so we can make informed choices
Highly recommended for anyone wanting to explore under the guide of an experienced coach and his guides.

Just spent the whole weekend with the mountain coach doing Newborough Beach and then today doing Holyhead Mountain and Southshack lighthouse. An amazing walk both days with fabulous views and an informative talk when question about trigger points en route. Walk was tailored on both days to support the ability of walkers. If Charlie is not aware of capabilities of new walkers or their capabilities it is unfair to pre judge him on this and leave an unfair review 👍

Another wonderful walk, expertly led by Charlie. So nice to be able to have trust in someone to lead with confidence and experience.
The routes are always varied, interesting and slightly challenging.

Another great day with Charlie Wardle of Mountain Coach. A well led walk on the Anglesey coast at Newborough and nearby woods. Thank you and look forward to the next one.