Lakes and Mountains with Matt
Sector:
Outdoor recreation – Guided walks and corporate wellbeing
Location:
Barrow-in-Furness and the Lake District
Lakes and Mountains with Matt was born in 2021 after its founder, Matt Ryder, returned from a transformative trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal.
Inspired by the way communities support walkers and driven by a lifelong love of the outdoors, Matt decided to pursue his dream of becoming a guide in the mountains and fells close to his native Barrow.
He invested in training and established a Facebook group for logging the group-leadership days required for his qualification.
But things quickly snowballed, and word of mouth and social media turned a handful of walkers into a tight-knit community.
The group meets fortnightly across the Lake District and beyond. Between 20 and 30 people attend each walk, with freelance leaders drafted in when needed.
The business’s offer is simple: take the worry away. Matt plans routes, parking and safety so attendees can focus on connection, fitness and stunning landscapes.
“You can see shops opening, local businesses starting up, and the place is looking cleaner and more vibrant.”
“It just switches me off from the world and the pressures for a few hours,” he explained.
Other group members agree, with many saying that the benefits spill over into family life, as people return to explore new places with loved ones at weekends.
The business also works with local employers. Teams book outdoor away days to talk, problem-solve and bond while walking. Many companies who attend have colleagues who have never met in person before.
Being just 30 minutes from the Lake District means Barrow-based organisations can build wellbeing into the working week without major travel.
“It’s amazing what happens when you take people out of the office,” Matt said. “Conversations flow, ideas come naturally, and people leave feeling recharged.”
Matt’s journey as a business founder was eased by local support. A simple search led him to advisers who helped with business banking, a digital presence and routes into companies.
Today he still guides community walks but also hosts company directors on the fells to showcase packages that improve both wellbeing and team dynamics.
His mission remains constant: use the outdoors to make people feel better. Matt believes that fresh air, green views, gentle challenge and good company are powerful medicine.
He also sees the outdoors as a tool for resilience. “When you’re on a hill in the rain, you learn to adapt,” he says. “That mindset carries back into work and life.”
As a Barrovian, Matt is proud of what the town offers: “There’s a real buzz around Barrow at the moment. The announcement of the new university campus is huge – it’s going to bring students into the town and create opportunities for people who’ve never had them without leaving the area. You can see shops opening, local businesses starting up, and the place is looking cleaner and more vibrant. That kind of investment doesn’t just help Barrow, it lifts the whole region and gives people a reason to stay, work and build their lives here.”
Matt’s journey as a business founder was eased by local support. A simple search led him to advisers who helped with business banking, a digital presence and routes into companies.
