Martin Curtis grew up in Poole which is where he became passionate about the outdoors lifestyle

MARTIN CURTIS grew up in Poole, Dorset and lived walking distance from the Jurassic Coast.  His parents were never short of finding ways for him to explore the nature around them and he was introduced to activities such as fossil hunting and searching for crabs from a young age.

By the time Martin climbed Ben Nevis in his 20s he had well and truly caught the hiking and walking bug and it was soon after that he set up his own walking group. He then trained for his Mountain Leader Qualification which has eventually led to him to set up Jurassic Coast Guides  (www.jurassiccoastguides.co.uk) which offers guided tours of the stunning walks the coast located in Dorset offers. 

Read on to find out about how deep his passion for his lifestyle runs and what you can expect if you seek his guidance when it comes to hiking or walking or choose to take on one of his guided tours along the Jurassic Coast.

When did you first get a passion for the outdoors and who or what do you think sparked this? 

My passion for the outdoors started real early… I was born in Poole, Dorset and the Jurassic Coast was just a stone’s throw away from our house. Mum and dad did not have much money back then and the cheapest option to entertain me and my older brother was to take us to the coast. We were always there. My Mum and dad had spent a lot of time on the coast as children and it was inevitable that they would introduce us both to the coast… our favourite haunt was Kimmeridge, it was the best place to investigate rock pools for crabs and sea urchins. We would also spend many hours fossil hunting. These visits were the foundation for my interest in the outdoors and life on the coast today.

What are some of your earliest memories of adventure and embracing the outdoors and all it has to offer? 

I can remember back to an early age, activities such as fossil hunting, rock pooling and having picnics with family and friends. Every free day was spent near, or on the coast.

Even our holidays were very outdoor based… my dad would buy a van in the winter and we would all work together through the spring and convert it into a camper van. When the school holidays came we would travel to North Wales and the Black mountains and just pull up on the side of the road to camp overnight. I remember when me and my brother would go off and collect sheep’s wool and wood so we could have a camp fire near our camper van. I was very lucky to have this lifestyle as a child, it definitely formed a good start for my outdoor interests and gave me the drive to become a qualified Mountain Leader.

A Duke of Edinburgh Award group further ignited Martin’s passion for the outdoors and adventure

When did you catch the bug for hiking and walking and what have been some of the highlights of this hobby of yours? 

I’ve always been interested in hiking and walking and always took the chance to climb mountains when the opportunity arose. I climbed Ben Nevis in my 20s and I think that really sparked my interested in walking. It wasn’t until I volunteered at a Duke of Edinburgh Award group here in Dorset that I really got into walking distances. As part of my training it was necessary for me to get some leadership experience. At the time I wasn’t sure how I was going to do this, so I started my own long distance walking group. This gave me the chance to get the leadership experience I needed and walk in the areas I enjoyed as a child. It was this walking group that led me to train as a mountain leader. It was great running the walking group… it gave me the excuse to get out regularly!

Training for my Mountain Leader Qualification has definitely been the highlight of my hobby. This has led me to some amazing locations in England, Wales and Scotland. Before you can go away for your training it is required that you accumulate 20 quality mountain days in at least 3 mountainous regions. Despite having a few mountain days under my belt I decided that if I was going to pass my assessment successfully, it would be best to start again and revisit some of my old haunts. I worked hard for six years to raise the funds and find the time to travel to the locations and gain my days.

With a lot of help from friends and family I eventually managed to log mountain days in the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia, the Lake District, Gairngorms and Torridon in Scotland. I got commended for my efforts on my assessment by the accessors. Living on the south coast in Dorset, they said I showed real commitment to becoming a Mountain Leader. It was a great feeling to be told this after my efforts and I passed with flying colours. With only a part time job, ongoing house renovations and the arrival of a second baby during the six year period, this was by no means an easy feat!

Where did the idea for Jurassic Coast Guides come from and could you tell us more about what you offer and where? 

I couple of years ago I got the chance to look after and guide a journalist from the Netherlands. He was visiting the Jurassic Coast to write an article for a main stream newspaper there. As an Ambassador for the World Heritage Site, I was originally asked just to take him out on a fossil hunt but I knew if he was to write a good article about the Jurassic Coast he needed someone to show him the best bits. I’d been walking on the coast for years up to this point so thought I’d be able to show him what the coast could offer people back in the Netherlands.

I needed to look professional in front of him and after just stopping my walking group I still had full business insurance to guide people on the coast. I decided at that point that I would start Jurassic Coast Guides as a proper ‘guiding’ business. I knew of companies using ‘Mountain Guides’ in their company name and knew no one on the coast was using Jurassic coast guides… at the time it seemed the obvious name for a guiding company on the Jurassic Coast. I used guides in the title because I’d planned to use Freelance Mountain Leaders for bigger jobs on the coast if the business succeeded.

After operating for a couple of years I now run guided tours of the Jurassic Coast, sometimes these are full week tours where I look after clients and show them the whole of the Jurassic Coast. I also run day long walking tours and fossil hunts and run private charity walks along the Jurassic Coast.

 
What is the message you try to instil in those who come to you for guided walks and hikes? 

‘You’re here to enjoy yourselves and it’s your day’… I’m just there to make sure that happens and to keep things as safe as possible for them. As a local and a guide I do my best to make sure my clients get the most from their day with me. I want them to feel in control of their tours and walks. I will draw up a plan for the day’s activities and run through the itinerary with them at the start of their day. From there on they decide where they want to go and what they want to see. During their day I will hold talks about the geology and fossils of the Jurassic Coast. I want them to go away with as much knowledge as possible about the area they have visited. As an ambassador for the Jurassic Coast it’s my job to make sure I showcase the World Heritage Site to it’s visitors.

If you could take on any walk in the world what would that walk be? 

I’d like to walk the entire coast of the UK. I’d have to wait until my children are much older for that though. The UK is an amazing place, we are so lucky to live here. As much as I’d like to travel the world, I’d also like to see much more of the island I live on… I’ve not touched the sides yet!
 

Are you involved in any other sports? 

When I get chance I like to do a spot of bouldering at the local wall… I’ve also been a keen skier in the past but long distance walking is now the activity I enjoy the most. I’m also hoping to start running this year. I’ve now reached a stage where I’d like to get some faster times on a couple of challenge walks I enter each year here in Dorset. I can’t walk them any faster, running is now may only option. I’ve never been much of a runner but I’m looking forward to taking on a new challenge!!
 

What exciting projects do you have lined up for 2018 and beyond? 

I have one project I’d like to get off the ground on the Jurassic Coast this year if possible but I’m keeping it a secret for now. If you keep things quiet you’re under no pressure to get them up and running so if it takes longer, it’s no problem and no one can steal your ideas. It may never happen but it’s something I want to do. Apart from that I hope to be busier with my tours and I hope to have some more media opportunities. 2017 was a good year with a few interviews and a day out on the coast with the Telegraph, hopefully I can build on that. I will also continue to work as an Ambassador for the World Heritage Site… I enjoy showing people my coastline, it’s an amazing place and so much has happened to the geology here it’s unbelievable. Fossil hunting will play a big part of the coming years and I intend to do more as the children grow up and time allows.