Meet Paul, once a member of the police force, now one of our brilliant UK guides! We caught up with him to chat about how he got into guiding, his top trips and a few fun insights along the way.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you’re from…
Originally, I come from Carlisle where my parents introduced me to the beautiful surrounding countryside, including the Lake District which remains one of my favourite places. I then moved to Newcastle for university and stayed to join the Northumbria Police. I was posted to Sunderland where I lived for 5 years before escaping and returning to Newcastle (sorry to the ‘Mackems’ I did enjoy my time there) where I have brought up my family and still live. It’s an excellent base for living and cycling.
What got you passionate about cycling?
I have cycled all my life using a bike for both transport and leisure. As a kid I cycled to school and the local canoe club, as well as embarking on cycling adventures around Cumbria with friends. We had no cycling kit, only a rock-hard plastic saddle, sports shorts, and an Aertex t-shirt but my bike gave me freedom. I spend a lot of my leisure time cycling with friends – from daytrips to backpacking trips – and have ridden Land’s End to John O’Groats unsupported with a Garmin which broke on day 2 – long story! My friends and I have developed a network of rides using the old waggon ways around Tyneside to allow riding at night in the winter when we cannot ride the roads of Northumberland.
Cycling also gave me time to enjoy trips with my dad before he passed recently. We had a couple of trips a year around Scotland and Northern England where I took him mountain biking for the first time in his mid-70s. We came across the area where the Allies practiced the Normandy landings – not widely known but a huge area in Southwest Scotland.
What’s your history with Skedaddle?
When I was still in the police, I rode a Sportif which some of the Skedaddle team were also riding. I asked if I could have a job guiding when I finished the police and was told to get in touch when I retired. Unfortunately, when I retired there were no jobs at that time, but then COVID hit and coming out of lockdowns they were short of guides, and I got a call. The only issue was the trip started the following day, and I had some other work to complete. So, after working back-to-back, I went into the Skedaddle office for training and arrived at the restaurant in York 2 minutes before the guests arrived from the hotel with the other guide. The trip went well; I had a great mentor and guests – and the rest is history.
My first trip was Way of the Roses. A baptism of fire that reinforced how much I enjoyed guiding. I had a great experienced fellow guide, lovely guests, and the best office ever. Way of the Roses is still one of my favourite rides with such varied scenery and history.
Now, I generally guide gravel, road, MTB and leisure cycling in Scotland, England and Wales, but have been lucky enough to also guide in Italy. I have become a bit of a Hebridean Way aficionado – guiding the trip 6 times one year and experiencing all the weather it had to offer.
My daughter sums up why I enjoy being a guide: “Dad, you have the perfect job. Making people ride everywhere and telling them loads of facts about the area. Just like you did when we were little, but now it’s with people who want to do it.” She went on to say, “You’ll never get me on a bike now, but I love sharing the facts I learned from you.”
What is your favourite trip?
Two island trips stand out to me for the same reasons – great cycling, fantastic beaches and countryside, superb food and friendly people. There may be a slight difference in the weather though!
The Hebridean Way: A lovely, varied ride over 5 days which is a real adventure as you are stuck out in the Atlantic. As a guide you really learn to think on your feet out there as facilities can be limited but that’s what adds to the appeal. It’s as remote as you can get in the UK.
Sardinia Coastal Explorer: A great road ride with time to explore this fascinating island’s west coast. So much to see from forests to great climbs and lovely beaches as well as sampling great food.
Favourite day on the bike?
A favourite ride is hard to choose as there are so many! However, the ride from Brampton to Peebles/Cardrona on Land’s End to John O’Groats stands out. A castle and priory to start, lovely quiet roads with a slight excursion to Hadrian’s Wall. Then on through the Borders’ market towns with tales of the Border Reivers and Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rebellion before passing a Buddhist Temple, once visited by the Dali Lama. Most of all though, it is the quiet roads with undulating hills. Not too steep to climb but with fantastic sweeping downhills for miles in wild uninhabited countryside. What’s not to like?
What’s your favourite Skedaddle memory?
Riding in a group just outside Tarbert on the Isle of Harris with a Golden Eagle hovering 10 meters above the group. The other was when I was preparing lunch above Settle when I was surrounded by Highland cattle which ate the food and knocked over the table!
What’s your top packing essential for a cycling holiday?
Recently I decided that it must be an electric pump. I was on a trip with 21 punctures – we were unlucky as hedges had just been cut. We did run out of spare inner tubes but became experts at patching. My recent purchase of an electric pump would have helped so much!
Tell us something we might not know about you…
When I was in the police, I caught a car driver in a car chase whilst I was on a bike. I admit that local knowledge and a steep downhill section helped! During my 30 years in the police, I also developed roles which used bikes, including a training programme and becoming an influencer on You Tube with a video of ‘how to lock your bike’ which went viral with over 320,000 views! Watch here.
Want to know more about our amazing guides? Check out our meet the team section on the blog to get to know our team a little bit better and for more expert advice on all things cycling!