Cardigan Bay Active started in the Spring of 2011.
We pride ourselves in delivering a range of activities for you, your family and friends to enjoy the best of what our local landscape has to offer. We provide one of the region’s largest choice of activities on the sea, on the river and in the woods from our base on the Teifi and out into Cardigan Bay and around the Pembrokeshire coast. It is Adventure Beyond that provides the activities services for Cardigan Bay Active.
Is an outdoor pursuits company which has been running adventure activities since 1997. Being based in West Wales we provide a wide range of activities covering the whole of our immediate area (Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire & Pembrokeshire), from Aberystwyth to Tenby, along the coast, as well as inland on the hills and rivers. We have organised courses and activity trips in the UK and mainland Europe for all kinds of groups including couples, schools, youth groups, youth organisations, colleges, universities, adult weekends, stag and hen groups and corporate based adventure training. We specialise in 'fun' whilst providing a real adventure! Adventure Beyond is responsible for the delivery of all activities provided by Cardigan Bay Active.
All of the staff here at Cardigan Bay Active are highly motivated and experienced in their respective activities and will always strive to provide you with the best possible sessions. When they're not working then you can pretty much guarantee that they are somewhere outdoors honing their skills and enjoying themselves. One thing is for sure, our staff all have a passion for both the activities and adventuring.
Jethro (or Jet for short) is the company's Managing Director, setting up Adventure Beyond in 1997 following a very respectable career as an international slalom kayaker, Jet has become a prominent figure in both the activity providing and outdoor education scene. Not just a keen paddler, Jet also enjoys climbing, coasteering and the occasional expedition.
His work has seen him partner with universities, colleges, schools, youth groups and tourist groups in a wide variety of locations across the UK, Europe and the rest of the World.
Dai has been involved with Adventure Beyond for many years and since leaving the police force has become the company's Corporate, Events and Expedition Manager. Dai is a keen hiker, climber and canoeist and spends his time between the UK and sunny Mexico.
NB: Although Dai is a valued member of our team, his constant holidaying means that he is a difficult member of the team to track down. If anybody catches a glimpse of him could you please tell the office of your sighting!
Rhod is the Company's Operation Manager. He has been a close friend of Jet since they studied together at college and has worked for Adventure Beyond for many years. (Well, at least the years when he has been in the country!) He has a keen interest in travel and adventure. When he's not leading our activities he will more than likely be found traveling the coastlines of Wales, looking for the perfect wave to surf.
Having grown up locally in the countryside and by the sea, Clare is no stranger to the outdoors. Clare has been involved in the Guides and Scouts from a very young age and continues to do so to this day as a Scout Leader and Adult Trainer. Together with working in the outdoors and volunteering, Clare, a graduate, has a working background in youth work and the youth justice system so has many skills and experiences on which to draw. Clare was the 2020/21 British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador for Canoe Wales which aims to provide a supportive and nurturing environment in paddlesports for women and girls and break down or eliminate the barriers that many females face to participate and stay involved. Clare, who was the first British Canoeing #ShePaddles Ambassador for Wales - appointed in 2020, was a driving force in the incredibly successful and explosive first year of #ShePaddles in Wales and as a result of her efforts was nominated for the Canoe Wales Volunteer of the Year Award and Canoe Wales Coach of the Year Award, taking away the Volunteer of the Year Award title. As well as her national role, Clare leads the regional #ShePaddlesCymru programme, is an Event Leader and Paddlesports Instructor for the charity Black Dog Outdoors, is on the Emergency Response Team for the British Red Cross, is a Brand Ambassador for multiple paddlesport product companies and also co-ordinates the local LGBTQ+ community group. Clare is one of our full-time staff on our instructor team and when she's not working or volunteering she can normally be found canoeing, kayaking or stand up paddleboarding for pleasure, biking or project working photography and videography.
Following a 28-year career in the Royal Navy, Mike has continued to lead an active life. As a runner, he has completed numerous marathons around the world and undertaken a number of long distance rowing challenges. In recent years he has taken up competing in triathlons. After competing in several UK-based triathlons in 2016, Mike finished the year by going to Australia and completed the Ballarat Ironman 70.3. In one of these photographs he is seen coming to the finish line of the Cayman Islands Marathon. Mike is also seen pictured at the mountain refuge on Cotopaxi (19,300ft) in Ecuador, which he scaled to celebrate his 60th birthday in 2013. Mike is also pictured after walking 920k of the 'Camino de Santiago' in Spain, in 31 days during April/May 2014.
BA (hons) in Outdoor Education, PGCE and QTS in Secondary Outdoor Activities. Rhys is currently Level 5 trained WW Kayak Coach, Level 3 Canoe Coach and 4* Sea Leader, He has his ML and MIAS Level 2 (Mountain Biking), and also has DofE Assessor Qualification (to Gold). These are some of the highlights of his past education and qualifications. Currently he is working on completing his MA in Outdoor Education, and further developing his qualification skills set.
Working highlights include; being an assistant 'house parent' and Outdoor Education teacher, being a Sea Kayak Guide in Malaysia for three seasons, and enjoying 6 seasons at an American summer camp in many roles and capacities.
He would say that he enjoys activities with more of a 'journeying' element - canoeing, all kayaking, walking and bikes. This enjoyment of journeying and travelling is also evident in his experiences outside of the work mentioned above, with highlights being personal kayaking trips in New Zealand, Zambia and Uganda. Throughout his time working and being outdoors he would say that his proudest moment was being awarded with the 'Young Volunteer Coach of the Year' for Carmarthenshire in 2009. His aims for the future are to better his own understanding and improve his skills set, to better assist those he takes out so that they too can come to enjoy and be comfortable in an outdoor setting.
Before working for Adventure Beyond Rhydian worked as an ECAR Ranger in the Brecon Beacons National Park. Rhydian was educated to the highest standard and holds a BA in Outdoor Education. As an experienced member of the team, Rhydian is a Lead Instructor in all the activities that Adventure Beyond has to offer and is also the most bearded member of staff. He can be found in his spare time paddling some tasty waterfalls. After years of working across Europe, being a Motor Sport Photographer in the summer and a Manager in French Ski Resorts in the winter and also managing to freelance for the busy activity period in the UK.
Tim has been with us for the last four summers working in the outdoors whilst on school breaks as a Coasteering, Canoeing and Stand Up Paddle Boarding Instructor as well as having a go at everything else we as much as he possibly can. Tim spends as much of his free time as possible in the outdoors whether it’s in the water, up a mountain or climbing up a rock face. He's passionate about the outdoors and a big advocate of jumping off as high a cliff as possible (safely of course!).
Fergal has only recently arrived in sunny Pembrokeshire, however he discovered his love for the outdoors working at summer camps in the USA and worked his way up to the role of Program Director in his time there. Fergal specialised in adapting existing program activities for special needs clientele. He then spent almost a decade working as a Key worker and Activities Coordinator for a South London children's home, specialising in autism and challenging behaviour. He has a passion for travel and has visited India and Australia amongst others. On his days off, Fergal can be found exploring the Welsh countryside with his trusty collie John.
Anna is a watersports enthusiast. She has her own Sea Kayak, Stand-Up-Paddleboard and Surfboard and is often to be found using them or just swimming in the sea. Originally from Latvia, Anna has lived in the UK for 15 years and now is based in Pembrokeshire close to the stunning Ceibwr Bay. Having trained in accounts she helps in the booking office as well as with the activities. Anna is also a keen runner, skier, and artist in her free time.
Jack came to us after working on the Ardèche for a number of years. He is an experienced paddler and Raft Guide who enjoys throwing himself off waterfalls. Jack frequently travels Europe in search of the perfect river. When Jack isn’t in his boat he is likely to be found coasteering or trying to surf something (possibly an ironing board).
Louis is a keen surfer and thrill seeker, he has a flawless jumping technique and his calm and composed nature is highly praised in all of his sessions. He primarily runs coasteering and surf sessions but is just as skilled with a Canoe, Kayak or Paddleboard. When he's not working he can usually be found anywhere where there are waves to be caught! He hates spicy food and loves to show off his amazing singing voice.
Tom is calm and laid back, he has excellent people skills and keeps his cool in all situations. If he's not canoeing or coasteering around Ceredigion he can usually be found surfing and barbequing down on the south coast. He is working towards becoming a Duke of Edinburgh assessor and is an excellent coach to the young people who have recently joined our Cyffro Ceibwr initiative.
Ricky is mainly a Canoe Instructor with Adventure Beyond and can usually be found on the River Teifi when he’s not coasteering around Ceredigion. He underwent the Government kickstart scheme and has been with the company ever since. Since joining our team he has become a Duke of Edinburgh assessor and continues to further his qualifications towards paddlesports and outdoor persuits. Before joining adventure beyond he studied music and worked in the theatre in Cardigan.
Callum also joined through Kickstart, he is very chatty and able to relate to all of his clients which allows him to tailor his sessions to whoever comes along and make them all feel comfortable and welcome. He is a very skilled Paddleboarder but loves getting out on the water in any capacity. He spends his free time gaming, streaming and walking his dogs.
Sarah started with Adventure Beyond working in the office but has since completed her Paddlesport Instructor qualification and never misses an opportunity to spend time out on the water. She is currently working towards becoming a Duke of Edinburgh assessor and already planning which qualifications to chase next! Before joining the outdoor industry she worked in Hospitality and completed a number of qualifications in Business Management. Her favourite activities include shooting, archery, canoeing and coasteering.
Josh is the newest member of the team who completed his Paddlesport Instructor qualification before joining the company and is now working to improve his paddling climbing and coasteering skills. Before joining the world of outdoor adventures he has worked as both a chef and car body restorer but is no stranger to life outdoors and has persued thislifestyle in his free time whilst working in other industries. His craft of choice is a closed-cockpit kayak but he takes just about any outdoor activity in his stride!