Erica Stanford standing on a snowy summit rock in the Cairngorms in winter, in cloud

Before the ice

Prior expeditions and trips

On foot and by bike

Camino de Santiago

780 km on foot · 20 days · May 2025

I had wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago for years, and took three weeks off in May 2025 to do it. I walked the Camino Francés from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, covering 38 to 40 km most days and finishing in around 20 days. A stunning route! Then a day trip by tourist bus out to Finisterre and the sea. Paradise!

Erica Stanford with her bike on a road through the Scottish hills on the Land's End to John O'Groats ride

Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG)

1,600 km · 8 days · by bike, camping · 2022

I cycled 1,600 km from Land’s End to John O’Groats for charity in eight and a half days with an organised group, camping along the way and riding between 160 and 220 km a day, including over two Scottish ski passes. I raised £3,157 for the Orangutan Foundation.

Erica Stanford holding her bike above her head at the John O'Groats signpost in northern Scotland

North Coast 500

Northern Scotland · 565 miles · by bike, camping · 2022

I cycled the North Coast 500, a scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, with a group as training for my upcoming Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) ride later that year. Our route was a slightly longer 565 miles, taking in some quieter roads. Stunning, but it rained a lot. We camped along the way and cooked our own expedition food, and ate a lot of cake, lunch and dinner in the towns and cafés we passed through.

Erica Stanford on the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland with cloud behind

Hiking

Lots of hiking! I have always enjoyed long walks and hiking, and have been on hiking trips in the UK, Europe, Ladakh in India and in South America.

Erica Stanford on her gravel bike on a chalk track with fields and hills behind

Cycling

Lots of cycling! Since getting my first proper bike, a gravel bike, I have loved spending long days out on my bikes. A crash (entirely my own fault, for trying to take my jersey off whilst happily cycling fast on a gravelly bit of road) ended in a trip to A&E and knocked my confidence, but I still enjoy getting out on a bike, especially on gravel trails.

Cold and mountain skills

Erica Stanford traversing a steep snow slope with ice axe and poles on a winter mountain skills course in Scotland

Winter mountain skills, Cairngorms

Scotland · 5 days · March 2023 · Cairngorm Adventure Guides

In March 2023 I did a five day winter mountain skills course in the Cairngorms, learning how to move up and down hills on snow and ice with crampons and an ice axe. It covered self-arrest, winter navigation, snowpack analysis and avalanche avoidance, and what to do in an emergency.

Erica Stanford in an icy Scottish river during winter cold immersion training

Cold immersion, Cairngorms

Scotland · four separate weeks · from November 2022

I have always felt the cold more than most people seem to. I loved being outdoors in remote places in winter, but I was a bit scared of the cold. So in winter 2022 I signed up for a week of cold immersion in Scotland. Cold dips in icy Scottish water, barefoot walking including on frost and snow, winter hikes, and breathing techniques for staying in the water once you are in it.

The first time I got in at the start of the week, I lasted one second. By the end of the week I stayed in for 13 minutes. I have since been back for three more cold immersion weeks of our own, and have largely got over my fear of the cold. The mantra “I’m cold but I’m OK” really does help. I am fairly sure I would not have signed up for Antarctica as readily if I had not done these weeks.

Antarctica, November 2027.

2,000 km on skis from Berkner Island to the Ross Ice Shelf by way of the South Pole. The crossing and all the training for it are on their own page.

Crossing Antarctica Polar Dogs