The Team
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The Global Footprints Team
Mark Cresswell
Owner
Mark has worked extensively overseas guiding, facilitating and managing expeditions from the steppes of Mongolia to the tip of South America. His passion and enthusiasm lies in introducing young people to the outdoors through new and exciting challenges and cultural experiences that overseas expedition life brings. Marks love for travel and challenging environments has taken him to over 6 continents and into over 60 countries to some of the most stunning, remote and interesting places on Earth. He has led over 70 expeditions across the world ranging from one to four month expeditions right down to 1/2 week mini expeditions closer to the UK. Marks climbing and mountaineering experiences have been fortunate enough to have taken him to some of the most stunning places around the globe, from the Himalayas to the Andes. These experiences have provided Mark with the opportunities to meet many colourful and interesting characters along the way!
Mark Brailsford
Associate Leader
An experienced outdoors instructor and international expedition leader, with an affinity for bushcraft, wilderness travel and challenging environments. An experienced communicator and confident leader with a passion for natural history and conservation. Mark has always had a passion for the outdoors living in the Peak District with access to the moors and crags, got into walking, climbing caving and canoeing. He moved into the conservation field where he worked as a Ranger in the Peak District, studied at Broomfield College and went to Sheffield Hallam gaining a Post Graduate in Environmental Management for Conservation and Recreation. He then worked as an outdoor instructor and started leading overseas expeditions with young people, combining his passion for travel and helping young people learn about different environments and to develop themselves. A qualified Mountain Leader, Wilderness Medic, Caver, climber and canoeist. Travelled to over 50 countries with his favourite being Nepal 🇳🇵 for his love of the mountains having scaled Island Peak in the Himalayas.
Andy Bevan
Associate Leader
Andy has worked as an outdoor instructor since 1996; he has experience of guiding, coaching and teaching adults and children in outdoor activities both in the UK and abroad. A former Detective Chief Superintendent, his leadership, coaching and mentoring skills have developed in conjunction with over 33 years of public service delivering results across Policing, and the British Army. He is an International Mountain Leader, UK Mountain Leader (Summer & Winter), Austrian Hiking Guide, Rock Climbing Instructor, Mountain Bike Leader, Road Cycle Leader and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Assessor. Working in a variety of outdoor settings throughout the UK, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Andy also has overseas experience leading cycle tours and training camps in Spain, and trekking expeditions to climb Mera Peak (6476m), Nepal Himalayas, Mt Toubkal (4167m), Morocco and also leading expeditions to The Swiss/French Alps and The Pyrenees in France & Spain. Andy is a Director of Mountain Training Cymru, the Welsh mountain training board, a voluntary role he has done since 2021. Personal Experience An experienced ski mountaineer and back-country skier, Andy has skied extensively in North America and Europe and has spent 4 winter seasons living in the French Alps. He has completed a number of multi-day ski tours including the Haute Route, (Chamonix to Zermatt), the Silvretta Alps in Switzerland & Austria, the Lyngen Alps in Norway, the Julian Alps in Slovenia & Italy and a full traverse of the Tatras Mountains in Poland and Slovakia, He has trekked and climbed in Europe, Canada, Nepal, Morocco, Chile & Argentina including Patagonia. Andy is also a keen cyclist and has previously raced on the road, track and mountain bike.
Dave Marshall
Associate Leader
Dave has been an Outdoor Pursuits Instructor for 18 years and leading groups overseas for 14 of those, to 15 countries. Dave began his career in the Youth Service. Taking groups out climbing, caving, and canoeing. Working with all kinds of teenagers, from Disabled groups to groups with behavioural problems. Dave has Summer ML and Canoe L2 with 4* Leader and has lead groups in the high mountains, such as Mount Kenya and the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru, as well as climbing Mount Toubkal in winter and summer, trekking in the Tagong grasslands, China and exploring the High mountains of Kyrgyzstan. He has also led a 7-day self-supported canoe expedition in Canada. In the UK Dave trains teams That are going on expedition and is a Duke of Edenborough supervisor and Gold assessor. Dave’s personal adventures have included successful ascents on the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. Paddling specialist white water open canoes on Grade 4 white water in the States and Europe and putting up a new WI4 ice route in Norway.
Gwen Bevan
Associate Leader
Gwen developed her ability to work effectively with people from all walks of life through careers as airline cabin crew and subsequently as a Police officer, she has been working as an Outdoor Instructor since 2001. Having retired from the Police in 2023 she is now able to dedicate her time to her work in the outdoors. She is an International Mountain Leader, Austrian Hiking Guide, UK Summer Mountain Leader and Level 1 & 2 British Cycling Leader. She also has a wealth of experience as a DofE Trainer and Gold Assessor working with many different schools around the country. Gwen loves working with adults and children in the outdoors and seeks to inspire others to succeed and achieve their goals, as she has done by representing Great Britain as a Triathlete and winning the British Championships in her age group in 2018. Personal Gwen’s passion for the outdoors has taken her to 5 different continents, where she has either skied, trekked or cycled and in some cases, all three. An accomplished back country skier and ski tourer, she has skied in Canada, the USA, France, Andorra, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland and Scotland and has spent 3 winter seasons living in the French Alps. Gwen has trekked and climbed in the Himalayas, Asia, (Mera Peak Nepal 6497m). The Atlas Mountains, Africa, (Mt Toubkal Morocco 4167m). The Andes Mountains in South America, (Cerro Pintor Chile 4180m) and Torres del Paine in Patagonia. As well as an accomplished triathlete at Ironman and Half Ironman distance, Gwen is a keen cyclist and has led cycle tours and training camps in Mallorca and mainland Spain. Gravel biking and bike packing is her latest passion with some long-distance tours planned for both work and pleasure in the coming years.
49 Leek Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6UE
- info@global-footprints.co.uk
- (+44) 7817 673 575
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Work Hours
- 9 AM - 5 PM, Monday - Friday
CHALLENGING, FUN & DEVELOPMENTAL EXPEDITIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE