The Team

Ruth Pickvance

Founder & Director of Element
International mountain runner, former British Fell Champion,  GB and England representation and a few fast marathons. Now retired from racing and based in the Black Mountains on the Welsh borders, there’s nothing Ruth likes more than exploring wilder nature and mountain landscapes and enthusing and empowering people, particularly women, to find the confidence and fitness to get outside. Formerly head of literature at UWC Atlantic College, now Race Director, working with Leadership Development and  founder of Element which offers quality events based around the restorative well-being of the wilder outdoors.

Natalie Bedford

Cook & Concierge
A key member of the team, Natalie knows all about feeding active people well having previously worked in France overseeing the catering on walking holidays. As well as being a professional artist and photographer she is a keen wild swimmer and the mother of four daughters and still manages to find time to walk her two Labrador dogs every day.

Sarah Pritchard

Walks Assistant
Passionate about the outdoors Sarah can often be found with her head in an OS map. Her love of mountains began during her time as a chalet host in the Alps. Since then she has walked in the mountainous areas of Britain and as far afield as the Himalayas. She is also a qualified textiles expert and has worked for top London fashion designers.

Emma Bayliss

Fell Running

Emma is an international level fell runner. She has competed in some of the world’s most extreme ultra runs and she has a passion for the outdoors.  She lives at the base of some of Wales’ highest mountains and is never happier than running up and down them with her two faithful dogs. She feels strongly about motivating women to run.

Roy Wiles

Guide
Roy is a top Ecologist and has taken students on field trip all over the world – from Cuba, Indonesia, Honduras to New Guinea, as well as the UK. He is a great plant, freshwater and wildlife guide, artist and raconteur. He recently retired as a senior lecturer in ecology where he ran the International Wildlife Biology degree at University of South Wales.

Helen Brown

Helen is an international level fell runner having won both the British and English Fell Championships. She has ten international ‘vests’ and has also competed in the World Long Distance championships.   Helen is a very experienced fell runner and she feels strongly about motivating women to run. In her ‘other life’ she is a full time vet and has a collection of characterful infamous rescue dogs.