About us

It began with a pure passion for wild places, particularly the coast and mountains of North Wales. Their sense of adventure and respect for the environment inspired Roger and Sonja to share this part of the world with others and begin Coastal Spirit.

Exploring the coast by sea kayak, moving over rock or mountaintop is a wonderful way to connect and get up close to nature.

Roger was introduced to hill walking at an early age by his parents and then to inland kayaking by his Dad and brother.

From being involved with a youth club he choose to pursue a career in the Outdoors and he has worked with various centres and projects, with the role of instructor, operations manager and technical advisor.

During this time Roger gained further national governing body qualifications, such as the mountain instructor award (MIA), the highest UK rock climbing award and coach level 3 inland kayak, level 4 open canoe and level 5 sea kayak coach.  Level 5 coach identifies a competent, motivated individual with a depth and wealth of knowledge, who can be relied upon to provide practical coaching and guidance up to a high level.  

Roger also occasionally works on a freelance capacity for Plas Y Brenin, Adventure Activity Associates, Joint Services Training Centre on Anglesey - Indefatigable and Canoe Wales, to name a few and is available as a technical advisor (click underlined for further information). He is also a UKCC 4 star sea trainer and assessor, holds a national diploma in youth work, a degree in development training and has over 20 years experience of working in the outdoors.

Roger has climbed and walked in the UK, Majorca and in the Ecrins (French alps). His real love is for journeying on the sea. Roger has paddled and led groups in the Southern Ocean and Chilean Patagonia, the Mediterranean Sea, such as Mallorca & Sardinia, locations throughout the UK, West Coast Canada and above the arctic circle, to Norway's Lofoten islands. (click underlined to see article printed by Canoe Focus). 

Roger beleaves strongly that it essential to ensure his personal skills and ablity are maintained at a high standard, so on his days off, he goes paddeling!  A recent article published by Canoe & Kayak, was about a solo paddle to the Eddystone Lighthouse (click to read article)

He is highly dependable, passionate, cheerful and really enjoys peanut butter!

Sonja developed her passion for the outdoors when she was introduced to the world of the sea and leading life by the tides and the calls of “swells up" as she learnt to wave ski and body board when she lived in North Devon. Exmoor provided ample opportunity for developing hillwalking, navigation and mountain biking skills.

Sonja’s background is in nursing and management and she has held senior leadership and management roles. She has worked as a volunteer Project Manager for Raleigh International in Patagonia, and has canoed and kayaked extensively within the UK, Finland, Norway, Turkey, Sardinia, and Canada

Sonja has worked as a freelance instructor, and trainer in the Outdoors, holds national governing body awards and has extensively coached and mentored others in their personal develoment. She is currently training to be a qualified executive coach and leadership mentor and a Rescue Emergency Care Trainer.

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