What do outdoorsy people do in winter? Meet Sian Sykes

First of all, we didn’t realise this, but you actually live in a cabin in the woods?

Yes! I live in a 20-foot cabin snuggled in a copse. It's wonderful, because you just feel immersed in nature. When it's wild and windy, you feel the energy of the ions through the trees. It’s a joy watching the leaves dance in the wind. I've got stunning views of the Llyn Peninsula from my window. I enjoy being snuggled in my cabin with a wood burner and watching the stars fill up the sky. A magic moment is waking up to the dawn chorus and being in tune with the rhythm of the seasons.

My mother introduced me to the great outdoors when I was only three weeks old by taking me wild camping. It's been instilled at a very early age. For me, being plugged in and connected with nature is what brings me joy. Like bathing outside in my beautiful Victorian bath in the moonlight or when it's raining, it's just incredible looking up through the tree canopy and watching the birds. I think the thing about cabin life is you do feel connected with nature, you're in the elements, you feel the energy.

So how did you end up doing what you’re doing now? We’ve read about some intense 18-hour days working in advertising?

I was managing multiple, £2.5-million global accounts, and the pressure was intense. I was responsible for delivery, making sure projects were delivered on time, and within budget. The catalyst for the change was when I was asked to work on a certain brand, which didn't align with my values, and I had boycotted them since I was 8 years old. I questioned ’What am I doing? I'm earning decent money, but I'm spending it on surface level items’, useless stuff which didn’t provide true happiness and meaning.

It wasn't a healthy lifestyle. I questioned ‘Where are my values? What's happened to that little girl who was carefree, jumping into the sea, climbing trees, hiking up mountains – being free and feral. I was like, Mowgli out of The Jungle Book. Advertising was great. And it was a wonderful achievement, but I wanted to do something more fulfilling.

I retrained as an International Mountain Leader and Climbing Instructor, and then I started leading expeditions all over the world, which was amazing, being able to share my love of the outdoors with others, supporting people to step out of their comfort zone and super boosting people’s confidence. I have been so fortunate to share such incredible experiences with clients.

I discovered paddleboarding by chance, I was asked by a group of friends to join them to cross England on paddleboards. It was an incredible experience, going on a journey, exploring, being self-sufficient, wild camping in stunning locations along the way. It felt like a real adventure, floating on water! After that trip I went to Portugal, and trained to be a paddleboarding instructor and since then I haven’t looked back.

And how many people have you taken out now?

I've taken probably about 15,000 people onto the water, which is amazing. But last year, I decided to end my company, Psyched Paddleboarding, because it got to a stage where I wanted a simpler life, keeping balance, improving my wellbeing, connecting with nature. So, I changed my company and now it's solely guiding and coaching on land and water.

It is a real joy doing what I do now, I have met some incredible people over the years, and it has been a privilege to take them on journeys, pushing comfort levels, helping to improve their skills and confidence, and helping to boost their wellbeing. I find this so much more rewarding than working in an office and being somewhat detached from human connections.

I have shared great experiences with clients over the years and sharing wonderful memories such as seeing seals swimming underneath their paddleboard, dolphins darting along besides us, witnessing magical shooting stars, full moons, lightning bouncing off the mountains in Eryri. And that's what I love, it’s trying to share the uniqueness of the outdoors with people.

Do you ever regret leaving behind a more normal job? What is it about paddleboarding that you felt you had to do? Or wanted to do?

I think for me, I've never looked back. When I announced to my work colleagues that I was leaving London. They thought I was mad, leaving a really good job, a really good salary, good lifestyle. And then when they came to visit me doing what I'm doing, they're like, ‘Oh, my goodness, this is amazing.’ And they were all so supportive and inspired that I was fulfilling my dream.

It was a bit challenging at the start because I was accustomed to the London lifestyle. When I came back home, it was a bit of an adjustment. However, I just feel like I've been shedding all those sorts of layers from city life, and I'm getting back to who I am.

I love being on the water, the sensations of feeling the water underneath my feet, seeing elegant jellyfish floating past, fish leaping out of the water, being in the presence of incredible bird and marine life. You are not intrusive on a board, there are no motors and it uses every single muscle in your body. It allows you to simply switch off and start being in the moment.

When I was on the last stages of finishing my epic trip circumnavigating Wales, in the tidal race, and the sun was setting, and I saw six dolphins riding the waves with me. It was such a magical moment.

We arguably have our weakest connection to nature in winter. What would be your tips for getting your fix?

It's all about clothing, and your attitude. There are so many benefits when you get outside. It will boost your mood, you’ll get dopamine and vitamin D, but it also builds up your immune system. I appreciate winter, as you can give yourself permission to slow down, pause, light candles, read, create, repair, nourish. A time in the year to hunker down and hibernate.

But then there’s the option to still go outside and move the body. Just gentle movement, get into the rhythm and the cycle of nature. Leave your phone and distractions behind, put your coat on, and just go for a walk, to clear your head and breathe in the crisp, cool air. Get rosy cheeks, smell the pines, hear the birds, just meander without a fixed itinerary. If you get to the beach, just walk along, and listen to the water lapping up on the shore.

Just try and look at the positives of winter. Get yourself in nature and just go meandering. I'm really enjoying going for a walk, watching the dusk fall and not being guided by head torch. Because your senses heighten. You start to adjust your vision, you hear a lot, you use your sense of smell, all your senses. That's what I encourage on my night paddleboarding journeys, because it allows you to be immersed in nature. I think in the winter, you don't have those distractions as you do in the busyness of the summer. I think the winter allows you to go within, it’s a good healing time.

I think people just need to slow down. A lot of people seem to be so burnt out. I think people are scared to let go and surrender to the winter. And they're trying to force winter to be like summer. I think people should just be kind to themselves, put on their favourite woollen jumper, step outside with a lovely hot drink and star gaze and then back into the warmth, snuggle by a fire.

Do you have a wild happy place? Where would you go to take a break in nature yourself?

I go to Newborough forest in the morning. I like to saunter barefooted and connect with the earth, enjoying sharing the trails with my dog and no one else around. Hearing the cheeky ravens and seeing the handsome shy red squirrels and listening to the trees creak sounding like ancient whales. Go for a dip in the sea, whether its calm and still or playful and wild, I enjoy immersing and being held by the ocean. That's my tonic for starting off the day. After work I enjoy heading to a quiet beach for a swim and a picnic.

How do you stay so motivated in the winter?

For me it is embracing what the winter has to offer. It is a beautiful transition from the autumn. A lovely time of the year to slow down, look within yourself to shed and process internal stuff – in readiness for a fresh start in the spring.

Living in the cabin allows me to be in tune with the seasons and therefore winter isn’t a surprise for me, I can gradually feel winter creeping in, and I adjust accordingly. The reduced daylight hours allow me the luxury of spending more time in the cabin by candlelight.

Personally, I feel if you are rattling around in a big house, with thick walls and heating cranked up high, you're so detached and unaware of the changing patterns of nature. Cabin life allows you to prepare and accept the joys that each season brings. It is a wonderful ritual collecting fallen twigs and branches and creating a lovely fire. It is all about slowing down and giving yourself permission to do so.

I think a lot of people have just been so fearful of going into winter, because of the shortness of the day, however see it as an opportunity for the darkness to show us the light. Simply get the candles lit, get a fire going and step outside as and when you can.

What advice would you give to someone to do what you do?

My big advice is, find something which makes your soul sparkle, find something which aligns with your values. Focus on what brings you joy. Because you’ll keep on doing it, and it won't feel like work, it will feel like being. When I was making my career change transition, I would go and volunteer just to get the flavour.

I am very grateful to lead the life I do, and I am so pleased I made the lifestyle change. I appreciate not everybody wants to live in a cabin, but they can go away and stay in one of yours.

If you’re dreaming about getting out this winter to explore everything the UK has to offer or staying with Canopy & Stars in a space just down the road from a journey you’d like an adventure buddy on – get in contact with Sian for some professional help. You can find a little more about her on insta or go straight to her site.

Header image by Chris Davies, Eastwood Media.