Lisa Wells, Snowdonia National Park ambassador

Lisa Wells lives on the North Wales coast, where she spends her days outside as much as possible, exploring the local mountains and coast with her dogs Billy and The Beast. She’s also an Ordnance Survey #GetOutside champion and an ambassador for Snowdonia National Park. 

WHY I WALK…

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t spent any free time I had outdoors. As children my brothers and I were out of the house as soon as we’d had breakfast, with the instruction to return before it went dark. As I got older, I discovered coastal paths and mountains. The draw of both was the reason I relocated from Worcestershire to the edge of the Snowdonia National Park 30 years ago. It’s where I feel at home.

For my mental health

My own mental health and the link between the outdoors wasn’t something I’d thought about until a bad accident in 2019 left me chair-bound for 4 months. Although my injuries gradually healed, my mental health took a dive and I realised how much I missed lacing up my boots, throwing on my rucksack and feeling the freedom of walking. I missed the rain running down the back of my neck, the sun burning my nose, the birds singing above me. The realisation that it was walking and the outdoors that had given me such a positive mindset was all I needed to get back out there. Although there were no mountains to start with, as my body healed with every step I took, so did my mind.

For companionship

I have two dogs, The Beast and Billy, who enjoy the mountains as much as me. They’re great company and together we’ve shared some incredible days out, watched hundreds of sunrises and sunsets and made memories to last a lifetime. I completed my Mountain Leader award and with my improved navigation skills I discovered a whole new world. It also enabled me to organise women-only walks in Snowdonia where groups of women can meet up and walk together. The walks are at a slower pace; we chat, take photos, eat cake and breath.

To wake up in wild places

I’m definitely happiest on a mountain and wild camping. There’s no feeling like finding the perfect spot to pitch up, cooking my evening meal, crawling into my sleeping bag and falling asleep listening to nature all around me. 

To encourage others

I’m honoured to be an Ordnance Survey GetOutside Champion. There are over 100 of us across the UK. We share our adventures on social media, offer help and advice, and shout a lot about how amazing it is to be outside. I also volunteer and am an ambassador for Snowdonia National Park, wandering over the mountains, chatting to visitors, picking up litter, offering help with routes or attractions to visit, and encouraging everyone to look after our mountains.

To eat guilt-free cake

You don’t need to have a big adventure or summit the highest mountains. The outdoors is a place everyone can find peace, relax, explore and eat cake… because we all know that no day out is complete without cake.