Dave Beare
I grew up near the South Devon coast, and I have many happy childhood memories of the coastline and exploring Dartmoor just a few miles to the north.
Over the years I've have gained a wide range of experience mountain biking, hill walking and wild camping. Those experiences were incredibly important to me, and after semi-retiring in 2019 I began thinking about how to help others discover the benefits of getting out into wild places. That was the beginning of Camp 404.
I'm now a member of the Mountain Training Association, British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and fully qualified* and insured to lead groups on day walks and multi-day camping expeditions out in the hills and moors of the UK.
A lunchtime conversation during one of the training courses I attended back in 2019 resulted in a recommendation and eventual meeting with Emma Holland. We quickly clicked, and discovered a shared love for the hills, wild camping, and a desire to share with others how those experiences can benefit mental wellbeing. We discussed ideas, agreed to work in partnership and after initial covid related delays, the first Camp 404 wild camping expeditions were run in the summer of 2021.
* Qualifications:
Mountain Training England Level 3 Award in Hill and Moorland Leadership (HML)
Mountain Training England Level 3 Award in Expedition Skills Instruction (Camping Leader, CL)
ITC Level 3 Outdoor First Aid Certificate
Mental Health First Aid Certificate