Meet The Team
John Leightley - Founder & Guide
My name is John Leightley, the founder of Navigate Northumberland. I am a member of the Mountain Training Association and Supporter of the British Mountaineering Council.
I established Navigate Northumberland in 2013 with the aim of helping people discover the beautiful scenery of the Northumberland National Park and surrounding areas. My Navigation Courses ensure people learn the necessary skills to safely explore on their own.
I am a freelance Mountain Leader and organise a number of activities for a variety of UK companies, including: guided walks, challenge walks; team building days, navigation courses and supervise Duke of Edinburgh.
My work has allowed me to a discover so many beautiful places throughout the UK and beyond, including the Great Wall of China and the Himalayas in India. I have met some amazing people on my travels and had the privilege of helping them achieve their goals in aid of some very worthwhile causes.
I am passionate about walking and about the wonderful part of the country I live in. I look forward to meeting you and leading you on one of our challenges soon.
Peter Wilson - Guide
My name is Peter Wilson and I have been climbing mountains all of my life, I have been a qualified Mountain Leader for many years.
I live close to the Lake District and so spend most of my time either there, in the Yorkshire Dales or in the peaceful but beautiful Trough of Bowland.
I have led groups for many years across the UK, helping to organise and lead many Charity challenges, both during the day and at night. When I am not leading groups, I can be found running in the fells, or competing in Mountains Marathons, this helps to keep my fitness and navigation skills tip top. A recent achievement, is that over the past year, I have completed the 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District.
Gavin Kellet - Guide
My name is Gavin Kellett and I hold a range of outdoor qualifications including; Winter Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. These qualifications have taken many years to gain and the experience required to gain them is extensive.
“There is no better feeling as a leader or instructor knowing that you have helped clients reach their ambitions.”
I have loved the hills and climbing since I was a teenager and I have been fortunate to climb in such diverse places such as, Alaska, Russia, Nepal, most of the European Alpine countries, and throughout or beloved British Isles. Visiting these areas has been through a mix of personal ambition and leading expeditions.
I look forward to meeting and helping you reach yours.
John Allen - Guide
My name is John Allen, I am a freelance Mountain Leader and Expedition mountain bike guide.
My background includes over thirty years of exploring and playing in the mountains both in the UK and in Europe, whether walking, mountain biking, canoeing, climbing or caving.
It is fair to say, that I have had a lot of fun and have been to some beautiful places. I have been working as a guide for the last six years and I absolutely love it! Not just the fabulous places I have be able to visit, but for all the interesting people who I get to meet on the various challenges and journeys that I’ve shared with them.
Some of the highlights have included trekking in Iceland, climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco, mountain biking in Sri Lanka and trekking to Everest Base Camp!
However, I also believe adventures don’t have to be in far flung places, there’s a lot to discover on your local hills. So whichever challenge you sign up to with Navigate Northumberland, I look forward meeting you and to showing you the best of the Northumberland countryside.