Small outdoor adventures with Amy Garside.
I set off to explore, try something different or see where a little curiosity takes me. Sometimes things go to plan. Sometimes they don't. Either way, there's usually more to discover than I expected.
These are my adventures, told through my own eyes and in my own voice.
Could I go bikepacking on my own, having never done it before?
“There was a moment when I was sat in my tent thinking, I can't do this.”
The tent took half an hour the first time, and the rain woke me at three the next morning with hours more forecast. I packed up in the drizzle and rode on anyway.
Watch the filmWhat's left at Sycamore Gap now the tree has gone?
“The tree may be gone, but there's still so much here to appreciate.”
Watch the filmWhy would someone stop here to carve into the rock thousands of years ago?
“Carved into the hardest stone they could find, and they left their mark.”
Watch the filmHow long will this coast path still be here to walk?
“Even ruins don't last forever.”
One stretch of coast, one very old castle and a village that smells distinctly fishy. The sea is taking the cliffs a little faster than anyone would like.
Watch the filmWhat's in the parts of Oman most travellers miss?
“Come on, Amy. Just take the leap.”
Watch the filmWhy did everyone leave this village?
“These people didn't leave because of ghosts or even the sand.”
Watch the film
3.04am. Rain, and hours more forecast.
“There was a moment when I was sat in my tent thinking, I can't do this.”
Then I packed the tent up in the drizzle and rode on anyway. That's the whole channel, really.
Subscribe on YouTubeI like getting out and doing things that take me somewhere new, whether that's exploring a place I've always wanted to see, taking my Brompton off on an adventure or trying something I've never done before. I'm curious about the world around me, and I have a habit of wanting to see things for myself rather than just read about them.
Sometimes I have a plan. Sometimes I just have an idea and decide to give it a go. I might find an unexpected piece of history, discover a place I knew nothing about or end up camping in the rain, wondering why I didn't stay at home.
I live in Dubai and get back to the north of England when I can, so my adventures happen in different places and take different forms. They don't have to be epic. I'm interested in getting out of my usual routine, challenging myself a little and seeing what happens along the way.
Beyond the Expected is where I share those adventures, the places I discover and the things that catch my attention. You never quite know what you'll find when you go and have a look.
