OS Champion

Beth Craigen

Meet Beth Craigen

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you like to get outside?

I am very lucky to get to spend a lot of time either outdoors or encouraging and providing opportunities for others to get outside. In my day job I work helping community groups to set up to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) with the aim of making the award more accessible to young people from marginalised backgrounds. In my spare time I work and volunteer for charity Nacro Greater Manchester Outdoor Learning where I run lots of outdoor activities for inner city young people as well as training for teachers, leaders and parents/ carers with a focus on making the outdoors more accessible.

I completed my Lowland Leader Award last year and am now working on my Mountain Leader Award so that I can be a Course Director for Lowland Leader one day and help others lead in the outdoors. When I am not busy working, I love to be out mountain biking or hiking mountains with my family and friends as well as enjoying lovely walks and bike rides around my local green spaces.

What’s your favourite route or place to go and why?

Beth Craigen’s Favourite Hiking Route – River Weaver walk from Barnton

I love this walk from Barnton along the River Weaver and back along the Trent and Mersey Canal which I walk a few times a year with my husband. It a beautiful flat walk with varied terrain through fields, woodland, along footpaths and towpaths with plenty of wildflowers, farm animals and wildlife to spot. We once spotted an elusive kingfisher along the canal which will still remain one of my favourite wildlife sightings. There are plenty of picnic spots along the way as well as a pub at roughly the halfway point. Accessible from train stations in Northwich and you can make it longer or shorter depending on what you fancy doing/. The Anderton Boat Lift is just to the east so can be added on as a site of interest. It can get a bit muddy in winter but it is still lots of fun in waterproofs and wellies!

River Weaver walk from Barnton

Want to find out more about how to start hiking?

Read our complete guide to Hiking for Beginners, everything you need to get started from essential equipment to fitness and safety advice – Hiking For Beginners

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Find and follow Beth Craigen online:
Instagram: @bethskeptsecrets and @nacrooutdoorlearning
www.nacro.org.uk

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Beth's Posts on Get Outside

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Beth Craigen

Holme Chapel Loop – A Rochdale Adventure

November 24, 2024

4 min read

Holme Chapel Loop: OS Champion Beth Craigen teamed up with Aspire 2 Inspire Communities for some essential navigation practice so they can help even more people to get outside.

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Walking & Hiking

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Nature & Sustainability

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Running

Unprocessed Exercise

Outdoor Fitness with Purpose – Ditch the Gym and Protect Nature

December 23, 2024

8 min read

It’s easy to lose sight of what really matters: moving our bodies, connecting with others, and caring for the world around us. We don’t need a gym to do that!

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Walking & Hiking

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How to Start Hiking

UK Hiking Routes for Beginners

Hiking for Beginners – A Complete Guide

June 18, 2024

13 min read

Hiking for beginners, a complete guide to hiking safety, hiking fitness and the best UK Routes for beginners

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Map Reading

Beginner’s guides

Contours and Terrain

A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Map Contour Lines

June 5, 2022

2 min read

Learn the use and meaning of contour lines on a map and understand how to use them to when you’re out and about or planning routes. Understanding contours will improve your map reading skills.

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Walking & Hiking

Waterside Adventures

Lake District

8 Epic Lake District walks you need to do

July 30, 2017

5 min read

It’s no secret that the Lake District is one of the most beautiful places in England with some epic walks to boot. Walker and cyclist Jamie Knop has listed eight of the most epic Lake District walks you need to tick off your bucket list.