I've got something to tell... Debbie Johnston

I've been hiking now for around 40 years, I have always felt quite at home and have had a big love for the outdoors. However I got lost with a friend whilst walking the Llyn y Fan Fach/Fawr circular. We only printed a small map off the Brecon Beacons Tourist Website, I didn't have a clue how to map read or use a compass, so we hadn't bothered to take a proper OS map with us. We ended up having to call Brecon Mountain Rescue out after we'd walked in long wet reeds for quite some time and it was foggy and getting late. We were both exhausted & fed up. 
We sat on top of a hill for a while, the mist cleared and we saw a road, so we headed towards it, then the Mountain Rescue guys turned up and saved us! 

Shortly after this, I saw a free navigation day advertised on Facebook with Bryn Walking. We went along and really enjoyed the day. Helen and Alan are very professional. They're fantastic teachers, have lots of patience, but also make it great fun! The camaraderie between them is also very entertaining. 
I enjoyed it so much, I have since gone on to participate in their events as much as possible around work commitments etc. 
I have walked Hay Bluff and Cats Back, Pumlumon, the Blorenge Iron Man Trail, the Kerry Ridgeway with Bryn Walking to name but a few. I have also attended the Hill Skills Course, the Silver NNAS Navigation Course and am hoping to do the Outdoor First Aid Course in December. 

Helen and Alan are so welcoming and inclusive, they make you want to return time after time. I am a Single Parent and life is not always easy, but being outdoors amongst supportive friends really helps me to cope with whatever life throws at me. (My son has been school refusing for the last 2 years and my daughter is anorexic. I also broke my wrist on the Blorenge in September 2021). 

During the Covid years and shortly afterwards, my teenage children refused to come out of their rooms, except to eat. I found myself at a loose end, so I joined lots of walking/outdoor groups, made lots of new friends and got into Wild Swimming, Hiking, Navigation, Canoeing and also joined Severn Area Rescue Association as a Fundraiser/First Aider. I can honestly say that I now feel more like me than I ever have and I love all the new friends that I've made. 

The lockdowns really made people re-evaluate life. For me, walking alongside the River Wye in the Forest of Dean where I live, with the sounds of the water flowing, the birds singing and the trees rustling really helped me to realise that life will go on and that crazy times will pass. 

I'm looking forward to having more freedom to camp and travel once my children get older. I would love to do an overnight trip with Bryn Walking, the bothy weekends, Elan Valley, Snowdonia and Morocco Trips look like so much fun and I have yet to sample Alan's BBQ! 
 

Debbie wanted to add a separate foot note of memories with Bryn Walking, here it is:
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"I've had loads of fun in the last few years with Bryn Walking and learnt an awful lot too.
I remember the time we did the Festive Christmas walk in Brecon along the canals, we all wore Santa hats and Helen bought some lush homemade mince pies & mulled wine. Alan impressed us all with his historical knowledge of Brecon, with dates and everything, until we caught him out - the dates he was quizzing us about were actually written on the back of his hand! 🤭
Helen made us laugh with her mug: "In case of Emergency, ask Alan"
More recently, Alan bought his humongous Compass out and entertained us by putting it on the Brecon Beacons towel to aid our navigation exercise. 🤣.......everything is done in such good humour, it helps you to learn, but also makes you feel like part of a team and makes you want to return, time and time again."

​Thank you Debbie!