Welcome to Rock and Moor
As qualified and highly experienced outdoor activities guides in Devon, we specialise in rock climbing, caving, hill and moorland navigation and mountaineering. Our activity instructors, each with several decades of expert knowledge, offer guided outdoor activities and skills development courses. These include fun outdoor activity taster sessions, and lessons from beginner to advanced level. For instance, if you want to try rock climbing, abseiling or caving, improve your technical skills, or book some summer mountain leadership training, we can help!
Based near Dartmoor, we mainly operate throughout the Westcountry, including South Devon, North Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. In addition, we guide in the mountainous areas of the UK. Such locations include North Wales, the Lake District and Scotland, for mountaineering routes and skills training.
Our adventure activity days and courses cater for individuals, couples, friends, families and small parties. Importantly, we keep our maximum group sizes small to ensure a safe and enjoyable and experience. This means a low instructor to client ratio, which maximises the value and quality of your learning opportunities and adventures with us. If you would like to know more about us, or have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Mike Roberts
Mike has been rock climbing, caving and mountaineering for over 30 years. From a young age he taught himself to rock climb with a friend from school (there were no climbing walls in those days!) By 18 years old he worked as a trainee instructor at an outdoor centre on the edge of Dartmoor. Qualifying as a Rock Climbing Instructor and Local Cave Leader, Mike continued to work for outdoor centres providing guided activities in Devon, and also in North Wales where he was inspired by many of the climbing world’s famous ‘legends’.
Fuelled with his passion for all things ‘mountains’, Mike gained his Mountain Leader summer qualification, and continued his professional development to gain his Rock Climbing Development Instructor (RCDI) qualification. Mike is now an aspirant Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor (MCI).
With a life-long interest in the natural world, Mike is a keen wildlife photographer with eagle eyes. He often shows clients animals and birds, whilst respectfully enjoying adventures in their environment.
With many a bleak night on the hill as a Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team member, Mike has an intimate understanding of Dartmoor’s difficult conditions. He is well-practiced and highly regarded for his expertise in looking after people in challenging conditions. As such, he is well-placed to judge when it is best to hone climbing skills indoors at one of the local climbing walls, or sit by a warm fire, learning outdoor skills theory. Better still, it’s always possible to go caving at Pridhamsleigh Cave near Buckfastleigh – a fantastic all-weather activity!
Mike is a member of the MTA (Mountain Training Association) and trainee member of AMI (Association of Mountain Instructors). These associations ensure that our instructors complete Continual Professional Development and that First Aid and Insurance are kept up to date.
Testimonial:
“Perfect adventure for our family of 5!!
Mike created a custom day for our family of 5 and it was incredible. We wanted to share some adventure with the kids in Dartmoor. He created the perfect level of challenge for their ages (4, 8, 12). The day included scrambling, practice abseiling, rock climb, and tyrolean traverse. He also gave extra help to the 4 year old when she needed it, so sweetly! The whole day was a beautiful memory for all of us. The kids felt proud of what they accomplished and us parents were so grateful to Mike for his skill and great coaching to us all.“
Helen Cox
While our instructors are out guiding climbs, exploring caves, or teaching navigation on the hillside, Helen can be found working quietly behind the scenes to keep everything running seamlessly. From managing our website and bookings, to tackling the admin load, Helen ensures that every part of the business runs as smoothly as a well-placed belay. This allows you to focus on the adventure ahead with complete confidence.
Helen is an adventurer, traveller, and passionate about wildlife. From remote jungles and deserts, polar regions to high mountain peaks, she has explored the natural world with a commitment to protecting its biodiversity. Her explorer’s spirit has led her to try most adventure activities that you can imagine!
Born in Devon, she loves to help others appreciate and connect with the beautiful outdoors locally, and support our clients on activities which instil a genuine sense of achievement and adventure. Always enthusiastic, her advice is , “Don’t wait to live your dreams!” (Very wise…)
She may not be the one tying knots or wriggling through caves (although she does love to get outside as much as possible!) but Helen is essential to the Rock and Moor experience. She’s also a softie, and the lovely feedback we receive often makes her sob, proud and happy tears behind the scenes!
Ray Allwood
Ray Allwood is a fully qualified International Mountain Leader, UK Summer Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and an aspirant Winter Mountain Leader. This has instilled Ray’s passion for the outdoor environment and for showing others its hidden wonders. He is a full member of BAIML (British Association of International Mountain Leaders) and the MTA (Mountain Training Association).
Ray’s outdoor adventures journey began in an unlikely fashion at 16 years old, when he joined a telecommunications company as an apprentice. The induction for apprentices was a week on an ‘Outward Bound’ course on the Isle of Purbeck. He thoroughly enjoyed the camping, abseiling, walking and canoeing activities, inspiring him to join a Mountaineering Club later. This club gave Ray the opportunity to rock climb and hike all over the UK.
Based for many years in the South West of the UK in Devon, Ray is also an experienced guide in the Scottish Highlands where he spends much of his time. He has grown a broad interest in the flora and fauna, as well as the fascinating history of these regions. Accordingly, Ray will be pleased to tell you more about the areas you are adventuring in.
If you would like to learn more about us at Rock and Moor, and all the activities we offer in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and elsewhere in the UK, please don’t hesitate to contact us!