‘East of Eden’ aims to help individuals or small groups develop their mountaineering skills through investing in proper instruction and friendly guidance.

The courses are organised by David Monteith a fully qualified Mountaineering Instructor and member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors with thirty years experience in the mountains. He has been instructing for over 25 years working freelance, in outdoor centres and in two schools with comprehensive outdoor curriculums; St. David's College and Gordonstoun with it's acclaimed outdoor programme.

He has climbed in the Alps, Kenya, the Antarctic, the Atlas Mountains, Norway and New Zealand, all of which adds depth to a comprehensive knowledge of climbing and mountaineering across the British Isles. Previously he was an orienteering coach and in 1996 ‘compleated’ the Munros.

Courses are run in Scotland and Cumbria. In Scotland accommodation can be arranged to suit the group.

Melmerby and the North Pennines

In Cumbria courses may be based in comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation nestled underneath the Pennines in the village of Melmerby on the East side of the Eden Valley – hence the name! Activities can therefore be based in the Lake District, the Pennines and South West Scotland offering the opportunity to beat the weather and experience a varied diet of mountain and moorland experiences.

Instructor student ratios are kept to a minimum and courses are not tied to the ‘working day’ but take advantage of windows in the weather and opportunities to further experience such as ‘night navigation’ and climbing on the more remote mountain crags.