A MOTHER-OF-TWO is urging people get out and about in what she believes is an under explored part of the region.

Kirsty Brien, of Cockfield, County Durham, said the vast landscape of Teesdale is accessible to everyone and opportunities to discover what it has to offer should be seized upon.

The international mountain leader spent the weekend running her first Lowland Leader Award - a course aimed at getting people walking in rural areas - in Teesdale.

“The area is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “This is not aimed at people climbing mountains but just discovering the countryside.

“I have done them in the York area but this is the first one here.

“Teesdale has some lovely long distance footpaths which anyone could use. I think we just need to encourage people to get out there and use them.”

Despite having trips Iceland, Sweden, the Alps and the Rocky Mountains planned, Mrs Brien said even she could get out into the fresh air more.

She said: “On lovely days like these we shouldn’t be living our lives behind computer games and Facebook. We should be enjoying each others company and spending time with family and friends.

“I have two children who were desperate to come with me and be outside. There are so many benefits to it.”

The Mountain Explorers course, held in Barnard Castle on Saturday and Sunday, saw four people learn about a number of different aspects of being in the countryside, including leading walks, the risks associated with taking a group out and how to put together a walk for others.

To complete the course need to complete a logbook before returning later in the year for a final assessment.

“They all come from different backgrounds and they each have some wonderful ideas and skills,” Mrs Brien added. “They are really interested in what we are doing.

“It has been brilliant to see what they can do.”

Mrs Brien has been running Mountain Explorers for about six years and in addition to walking, she also completed the Snowdonia Marathon last year.

To find out more about the Lowland Leader Award and for future course dates, like the Facebook page Mountain-Explorers.