OS Champion

Isis Taylor New

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you like to get outside?

After growing up in the Scottish Highlands, being outdoors has always been part of my life. I love most activities in the outdoors; hiking, trail running, paddleboarding and wild swimming are my favourites and I’ve recently started to rediscover wild camping. I was a primary teacher for eight years and after that career came to an end after a decline in my mental health, I decided that a career in the outdoors was something I wanted to pursue. I’m about to start my training for the Mountain Leader qualification but I also write outdoor adventure blogs and hiking routes and have recently started a female outdoor community called Her Outdoors Collective, in an effort to get more women out into the great outdoors. I love an outdoor adventure of any type or size – it could be a long, full say challenging hike in the mountains or a short woodland stroll. As long as I’m outside, I’m happy.

What’s your favourite route or place to go and why?

Favourite Hiking Route – Langdale Valley

My favourite place is probably the Langdale Valley in the Lake District. I love the hiking, the dramatic views, the waterfalls, scrambles, hidden caves and the variety of adventure options that are around there. My favourite route is any that takes me to the summit of Bowfell because I adore that mountain and the views over to the Scafell range on a nice day! I enjoy linking it in with a stop at Whorneyside Force for a swim, a hike across to Crinkle Crags and Pike of Blisco and then back down into the Valley for a great hike.

Langdale Valley – Lake District

Want to find out more about how to start hiking?

Read our complete guide to Hiking for Beginners, everything you need to get started from essential equipment to fitness and safety advice – Hiking For Beginners

What’s your fave bit of kit available on the OS Shop?

My favourite piece of kit from the OS shop is this micro towel with the OS map of Ben Nevis printed onto it. Ben Nevis hold a special place in my heart after many childhood adventures on this mountain and is a mountain I revisit over and over whenever I venture back up to my homeland. I’m always looking for swim spots on a hike so having a small, packable towel in my rucksack is always a must and I love the memories it brings back for me whenever I get it out for a swim!