360 Technical Outdoors

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360 Technical Outdoors

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Hi, I am Mark Richards a highly experienced and qualified outdoor practitioner holding the MCI, CIC, L3 sea kayak amongst other awards.

To offer and deliver a high level of training, coaching and exciting adventures alongside providing technical and safety advice to organisations, TV and film crews, UK wide. Being based in North Wales gives access to a wide range of activity venues for many of my adventure and training courses, in addition to using The Yorkshire Dales for many of my caving courses. I offer a range of adventure experiences and training opportunities for caving, mine exploration, climbing, walking, scrambling, sit on top kayaking. I offer National Governing Body ( NGB ) courses for mine exploration ( via BCA ) and climbing and walking awards ( via MTC ). The other area of my expertise involves delivering a range of first aid course. I have worked for outdoor centres, organisations and TV companies offering technical and safety expert advice both local and nationally. I have been climbing, caving, mine exploring, cycling, sea kayaking and paragliding for over 30 years. I am also known as Baggy, a nickname I was given many years ago. Please do get in contact with any questions you may about any course or service I offer.

27/09/2026

🔍Full weekend attending the Hidden Earth event. Representing CNCC in my roles as equipment and assistant training officer.
🔎Managing stand in the trade hall promoting the checking of your caving equipment, what to look for and pointers as when to retire .
🔍Great to see so many young cavers and uni club cavers visiting the stand and seeking advice and up skilling.
🔎 Also, our training officer and main anchor installer managing a stand promoting and educating cavers regarding anchors and installation in the Dales which is CNCC patch. Another busy stand.
🔍 As always top event and thanks to all the volunteers who makes it happen

🔎 popular question is what brand resin do we use - Fischer

05/09/2026

💭 Delivering training based on SRT for leader module.
💭 Up skilling the youth of today, is a great position to be in. Even more so when they are dead keen and focused.
💭 Skills based around the BCA syllabus for leaders to use SRT as part of thier professional work tool box.
💭 Never seen other groups in this venue before, yet today 2 clubs made an appearance . Outdoor courses and qualifications UK Mine Exploration Freelance Outdoor Instructors North Wales

02/09/2026

Busy bank holiday, delivering outdoor first aid for an organisation's customers and underground guiding.

14/08/2026

This last month, I have been supporting a range of providers for gorge scrambling. How to define and establish you have competent staff for a particular outdoor activity when no NGB exists ? One pathway is to use a Technical Expert to train and assess staff for the activity in question and at the venue/s required. Combining this, with a review of RA and Ops, a solid training and assessment criteria provided by the TE will give you a robust outcome. Outdoor courses and qualifications Save Outdoor Education Institute for Outdoor Learning Learning Outside

03/08/2026

💠 Clip from a recent training course I delivered.
💠 An electron ladder is rare site in a North Wales mine. 💠 However, it is a key skill of the BCA Vertical Mine and Cave leader award and is used extensively in vertical caves when working with novices, as it is the only way back up a pitch. In mines once a customer has been lowered down, there is normally an alternative way up on foot. 💠 Leaders need to know how to rig the system, belay from above and deal with relevant incidents, such as a trapped foot, tired caver and injured caver.

28/07/2026

🔶With a large percentage of my delivery being focused on training and assessing, skill development and desk top technical advisors work , I feel it’s important to stay current on the delivery of actual sessions. That’s working at the coal face 🔶Not only that , but working with young people is rewarding and inspiring. 🔶They always keep reminding me,how positive, responsible, respectful and resilient they can be.
🔶My session delivery at the conwaycentres Angelsey is fulfilling, very enjoyable and such a key part of being in touch with outdoor education at grass roots. 🔶Also reassuring to see how other staff that deliver there ,strive to improve young people with the time they are given.
🔶The photo is of a group of year six getting embraced on the High Ropes course. Such a good activity to promote challenge, trust, responsibility, team work, listening and also good Fun

07/07/2026

🧗 Back at the super friendly Kilnworx wall delivering a CWI assessment. 🧗‍♀️The climbing wall award ( CWA ) is an excellent award for those wishing to work in climbing walls. 💯It was also great to be able to pass the full house of 4 attendees. It was obvious they had put the time in to prepare. Kilnworx Climbing Centre Outdoor courses and qualifications

28/06/2026

🥇3 great days, 3 great candiates, 3 top passes, 3 more Female vertical mine leaders to join the NW ranks.💪 It was a pleasure assessing you and being part of your journey. 🥇Gaining this award is no easy task and requires dedication, practice and a willingness to learn. In terms of leading groups in mines within the UK, this is the highest award. Freelance Outdoor Instructors North Wales Outdoor courses and qualifications

23/06/2026

🐝 Its been a busy time since my last post. Various training and assessment courses, staff observations, instructional sessions and plenty of Technical Expert admin. 🌤What has made a change, is my time out on the boat has coincided with good wether. Time spent for pleasure and training. 🐬Living in this part of N Wales I can be on the Menai Strait in 20mins. Its one of my favourite places to kayak, so much wild life + tidal activity and wind conditions to consider, its never totally the same. 🐟 The video is taken last Saturday, whilst sitting in the eddy behind the famous Swelly Pole. With the speed of the incoming tide it was a v quick trip back to my starting location.

26/05/2026

⛑️Recent North Wales Cave and Mine rescue team training. Scenario . ⛑️After an over due explorer was found by members of the team at the end of a mine system , due to their medical and injuries, the casualty required a full stretcher evacuation ⛑️
North Wales Caves and Mines Cave Rescue Organisation British Caving Association If your an explorer then maybe consider a small donation to our team. You never know

Address

Ogwen Valley
Betws-Y-Coed
LL573LZ

Telephone

+447825034891

Website

http://www.360outdoors.co.uk/

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