Stuart Lye scrambling up a snowy mountain route with his dog Reggie
Founder & Lead Instructor

Stuart Lye

Qualified Outdoor Instructor · Outdoor First Aid · Qualified Teacher (PE)

Stuart is a qualified PE teacher with over ten years of experience delivering Duke of Edinburgh programmes. He's led thousands of students through Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards across the Peak District and beyond.

A Hill and Moorland Leader with Outdoor First Aid certification, he spends as much time on the hills as he can — whether that's leading expeditions, walking the moors, or heading out with his tent to find a secluded spot to camp.

He's passionate about the power of the outdoors to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills. He set up Dark Peak Expeditions to give young people safe, enriching expeditions on their Duke of Edinburgh journey — and to help schools offer their students opportunities they don't have the capacity to run in-house.

10+
Years of DofE experience
200
Students currently on the programme
4
Schools in the Chesterfield area
3
Award levels — Bronze, Silver, Gold
Training & Accreditation

Qualifications and accreditation

HML
Hill & Moorland Leader
Mountain Training qualification for leading groups in hill and moorland terrain. All instructors hold qualifications appropriate to the terrain they work on — Gold expeditions are staffed by Mountain Leader qualified instructors.
OFA
Outdoor First Aid
Current outdoor first aid certification. Every expedition goes out with qualified first aiders and appropriate equipment for remote terrain.
QTS
Qualified Teacher Status
Stuart holds Qualified Teacher Status in Physical Education. The majority of Dark Peak Expeditions staff are current or former teachers — which means DBS checked, safeguarding trained, and experienced in school settings.
DofE
DofE Supervisors & Assessors
A wealth of expedition experience — years of supervising and assessing Duke of Edinburgh expeditions across Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Compliance & Cover

Insurance & safeguarding

All staff are DBS checked. We carry public liability insurance up to £5 million through Activities Industry Mutual — a specialist insurer for companies working in the outdoor sector.

We operate under the school's DofE licence, so the programme sits within your existing framework. All risk assessments, route plans, and expedition procedures are provided for your records.

Industry Bodies

Memberships

  • British Mountaineering Council (BMC)
  • Mountain Training Association (MTA)
  • Activities Industry Mutual
Local Roots

Part of the community,
not passing through

Dark Peak Expeditions sponsors Tupton Rugby Club and offers discounted Gold expeditions to their players — helping them give back to the club and the local community through the DofE volunteering and physical sections.

We're based on the edge of the Peak District, and the schools and communities around Chesterfield are where we come from.

Next Step

Let's talk about what you need

Whether it's DofE programme delivery, a guided walk, or a corporate experience — tell us what you're looking for.