About

Precision Adventure!

Steep & Deep  is an independently owned and managed lifestyle business. The brand has been incorporated into Acclimbatize Ltd.
We are ideally located in the White Peak area of Derbyshire close to Matlock.
Many of our activities utilise the spectacular natural environments within the Peak District National Park.

Acclimbatize has grown organically from a sole trader business to a ‘stakeholder’ business which has merged / incorporated  2 other local outdoor providers (Steep and Deep being 1 of them)
Traditionally Acclimbatize traded on its outstanding levels of outdoor qualifications and the expertise of its staff team.
This expertise remains in place but ultimately the company’s strength now lies in its structure. Every member of staff has a vested interest in the company’s success and sustainability – for our client base this means guaranteed devotion to delivering successful outcomes.     

The brand is established on a solid foundation of best practice and great value for time.   
From these foundations a distinct delivery style has evolved and been formulated into a coherent style of practice.
Essentially we try to operate in a zone that is both challenging and conducive any associated training. 
In this way we ensure that the outdoor learning is captured and utilised.

The Steep & Deep team are career professionals selected for both technical expertise and interpersonal skills. 

Daryl began his career in the outdoors back in 1988 when for five winter seasons he worked as a member of ski staff for a British Tour operator in the European  Alps.
Returning to life in Derbyshire, Daryl took up a position with the youth service establishing a successful outdoor education project before moving on to work in two respected outdoor education centres including White Hall (OEC)
More recently Daryl worked as an associate lecturer at the University of Derby, as a guide for a British Expedition company and continues to train and advise other outdoor organisations.  
Personal mountaineering & caving experience: Greenland, Pakistan, America, Tanzania, Morocco, Kenya, Jordan, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Iceland, Slovenia, Spain, Sardinia, Mallorca, Greece, Norway and the Outer Hebrides.

Daryl's  International Mountain Leader Award (IML) is strongly underpinned by higher level UK qualifications including: Mountain Instructors Award (MIA), Winter Mountain Leader Award (WML) and the Cave Instructors Certificate (C.I.C)
Daryl is approved by the National Governing Bodies of both Mountaineering (Mountain Leader Training England) and Caving (British Caving Association) to provide accredited training and assessment courses to aspirant leaders.  

Sam Mitchell began his career in the outdoors in 1986, during the early years of work, Sam was engaged in delivering personal development programmesto older teenagers and apprentices.

Continuing to use the outdoors to promote learning Sam became active working for a number of management training organisations and training colleges countrywide.
Drawn towards America by the climbing, Sam lived in San Francisco for two years enjoying California’s warmer climes and climbs.
More locally he became involved in the design and establishment of a publicly funded indoor climbing facility, where he continues to coach young people from the surrounding community.
Prior to becoming a director at Acclimbatize Sam was involved delivering adventurous project work to schools in the Derby City area.

Personal Mountaineering & Caving Experience:Experience has been obtained in America, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada, Corsica, Mallorca, Sardinia and Switzerland.

Qualifications:Mountain Leader Award, Single Pitch Award, Local Cave Leader level 1 & 2

Industrial Rope Access Technician level 2.
Sam imparts a strong sense of calm, thoroughness and has a talent for creating innovative team events. Sam takes the main responsibility for operational organisation and delivery.
 

Tom Monck – Director of Physical Resources
Tom began his career in the outdoors in 1998 as an apprentice / trainee worker at Dukes Barn Centre in Beeley. Tom established himself firmly on the local outdoor scene as a freelancer working for Derby and Sheffield LEA’s and was much in demand by other smaller providers. In more recent years Tom concentrated his efforts working on Acclimbatize courses and became an irreplaceable asset.  He works in a full time capacity and is a key worker on youth development courses.
Tom has caved in France (Vercor) Spain (Cantabria) and Mallorca. His mountaineering has taken him around the UK and into the Swiss, Italian and French Alps.

Tom is a member of ‘WUKSART’   (Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team) and volunteers his free time in support of the police and are Fire and Rescue Services. He is qualified in Swift Water Rescues
Tom is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the company’s equipment stores and its vehicle fleet.
Qualifications 

Tom is qualified in the following areas:
Mountain Leadership (Summer), Rock Climbing (SPA), Caving (LCMLA 2) Powerboat and Bell Boat (RYA)
Archery (GNAS)  a qualified bike mechanic (NVQ2 in applied Mechanics) and very keen amateur automotive engineer.  
 

Chris Carter
Chris graduated from the University of Derby as a Geologist. His fascination with rocks has took him on a professional journey of work to Chad (central Africa not Derby!) and offshore in the North Sea before returning to the sediments of the Peak District to work as an outdoor instructor.
Chris is a lifelong friend of Tom (Above) sharing adventures to France, Spain, Italy, Mallorca and across the UK either on mountain bikes, ski’s in boats or boots.
Chris is also a key member of ‘WUKSART’  (Watersafe UK Search and Rescue Team) giving much of his time to help others or train junior members of the team.

Qualifications:
Rock Climbing (SPA), Canoeing, Kayaking and Bell Boating (BCU level 2 Coach), Caving (Local Cave and Mine Leader Award level 2)  
 

Cynthia Bruce
Cynthia is our business administrator. She is the glue that holds the organisation together.
Cynthia was recruited from her role as ‘Centre Administrator’ at Dukes Barn Activity Centre. She has been managing the bureaucratic business side of the outdoor industry for over 20 years.
Prior to her involvement with the adventure activities industry Cynthia’s business skills were honed by her own entrepreneurialism. She ran a successful garden centre business closing down only due to an agreed land sale.
Cynthia spends much of her spare time helping organize local charity events. She keeps herself active by swimming and enjoys a flutter on the horses as a regular race events.      
She is a legend in her own lunch break!