Author: Tim Moss
-
Paddle Boarding Lough Neagh
The 2020 Next Challenge Grant opened for applications today. And to the mark the occasion, we have a story from 2017 grant winner Joanne McCallum, who took a paddle board across Lough Neagh. One of the great things about Jo’s trip is that she managed to fit it around life and work by spreading out…
-
Running a Marathon at Marathon (in full Greek garb)
Grant winner Joshua Powell describes his attempt to run a marathon at Marathon dressed as a Greek soldier. Running a Marathon at Marathon by Joshua Powell It was October 2016 and I was approaching the end of English Heritage’s ‘1066 March’, marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings in 1066. We had traced…
-
Cycling to the Most Northerly Inhabited Part of the UK to Perform a One Woman Mythological Opera in a Lighthouse
Without doubt, this is the best title I have ever had on my blog. When I read it on the application form for my grant, I knew I had to support it. In fact, it’s such a good title that I don’t think I really need to offer any more explanation (even if I were…
-
Cycling to the Åland Islands (via the Baltics)
Laura and I are currently on our way to the Baltics and the Aland islands on a cycling trip. You can see our very rough route plan on the map above. Two things are making this trip more interesting for us: 1) We are travelling “overland” the whole way, on trains and ferries. No flights.…
-
How to Build an Adventure Career from Scratch – Interview with Bex Band
When Bex Band won a Next Challenge Grant to ride a kick-scooter 150 miles around London, it was her first big adventure. In her application for the 2016 grant, she wrote: “Myself and my husband have never done anything like this before. We are very ordinary – I am a secondary school teacher and my…
-
What is the best brand of camping gas canister?
I was recently asked about whether the brand of butane/propane canister used on a camping stove makes a difference. In other words, are MSR or JetBoil canisters better than Primus and Colemans? Or are they all the same, just with different logos on the side? I’ve written a lot about camping stoves, system stoves and…
-
The Winners of the 2019 Next Challenge
I am delighted to announce the winners of the 2019 Next Challenge Grant. There are 11 fantastic adventure ideas ranging from prison island “swimming escapes” and fat-biking across a frozen plateau, to crossing a mountain range in northeastern Russia and walking the Staffordshire Way with a baby. The Next Challenge Grant would not be possible…
-
Kids go free at this year’s Cycle Touring Festival
The UK’s only cycle touring festival is returning for its fifth year this May. Started in 2015 by round-the-world cyclist Laura Moss, the Cycle Touring Festival brings together cyclists of all types, from experienced veterans to those who have never put up a tent before. It is a non-profit event, run by volunteers, and the…
-
Why Tyre Dragging is the Perfect Preparation for Parenthood
When I was a care-free bachelor, I used to spend my spare time dragging tyres: Ostensibly, this was in preparation for a North Pole expedition which never happened. But really I think I just liked hard physical labour. After getting married, my wife and I started spending our spare time dragging tyres: Although, we were…
-
Walking Sweden’s Largest Island
Matus won a Next Challenge Grant for his idea of circumnavigating Sweden’s largest island, Gotland, on foot. He hit some trouble along the way though which meant he couldn’t complete his trip. When he got back home, he tried give his grant money back but I encouraged him to share his story instead. I am…
-
Crossing Frozen Lake Baikal (with someone you met on Facebook)
I started this website to help people go on adventures. I use three means to do so: Giving advice Giving money Demonstrating that expeditions don’t always need lots of time, money and expertise The article I am posting today reassures me that #3 is working. In 2009, I was part of a group that made…
-
Kayaking to the Black Sea
Anna and Kate had never met each other before they decided to paddle a tandem kayak from England to Romania. But that’s exactly what they did… [one_sixth]–[/one_sixth] [two_third][box] The Next Challenge Grant Kate & Anna’s trip was supported by The Next Challenge Grant, an annual bursary for aspiring adventurers. It’s funded by me – Tim…