A Hearty Welcome

Hello… I’m Shameer, I am a photographer, video creator, adventurer and a conservationist.

Exploring the great outdoors and photography have been two serious obsessions of mine since a young age. Having lived on three continents, one thing in common is that the great outdoors is where I focused 100% of my time and resources. Whether I was bouldering, trekking or cycling, I just couldn’t get enough of capturing my journey through photographs and video.

My mission is to hike, cycle or whatever it takes to find the hidden gems of the British Isles so that I can bring you on my journey with the most beautiful photographs and storytelling in hope of inspiring you.

I’m also campaigning for ways to encourage the Asian, Black and minority ethnic community to get outdoors, and that nature and the great outdoors is an inclusive experience for all.

What is the Shameer Shah Project about?

The project is about creating a gateway to help us appreciate nature’s wonders by inspiring a connection between people of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds and the great outdoors.

Furthermore, it’s about inspiring families and the younger generation to venture out and live a little. Go explore, make new friends and see new places. Make a difference to your life and wellbeing through nature.

The combined goal is to help protect our nature and wilderness by actually getting people of all backgrounds to visit these breathtaking places, so they too are encouraged to protect, respect and teach others about our fragile, natural environment.

Download my Free Beginners Adventure guidebook

Connect on Social Media for more inspiration and ideas

Along with the content on this website, I regularly post outdoor information, videos, photographs and adventure advice on the various social media channels. You can connect with me below.

The Project Weekly Email Newsletters are free and packed with useful information – Sign up here

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/shameershahproject
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/shameer_shah/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/groups/539399062923367/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/shameerdshah
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4o0XT2vD54ujXSfCCLsBJr
Anchor – https://anchor.fm/naturekicks

I post new material and content on these channels regularly for the benefit of all my fans, followers and supporters. Not only is it a great way to interact and communicate with each other instantly, but also a way for you to be inspired by my daily and weekly micro-adventures and bigger adventures.

Who is this project and guidebook for?

The project and the concept is for everyone and anyone, from the young and old to outdoor enthusiasts and beginners, whoever wants to connect better with the natural outdoors and find their sacred nature through both, micro-adventures and big adventures.

However, the main focus of this project is on beginners to the outdoor world along with the Asian, Black and minority ethnic community who would like to get out more, but who need some encouragement and a tool such as this guidebook to help them.

Finally, I want to inspire young people and the next generation to venture out and live a little. Go explore, make new friends and see new places. Make a difference to your life, wellbeing and mental health.

What equipment do you need to get started?

The equipment you need to get started on exploring the outdoors is the equipment you already have. However, if you’re on the path to spending a lot of time in nature and the wilderness, especially during the wet or winter months then you will find my checklist of outdoor gear in this adventure guidebook which will make your packing easier and explorations a lot more comfortable.

It’s good to remember, the right clothing will give you more comfort and make you more confident.

However, the goal is simple for micro-adventures…. start small, go local and go often, and if you follow this advice then the following basic equipment and gear will be perfectly suitable:

• A fleece, a winter jacket and/or waterproof jacket
• A pair of waterproof over-trousers
• A good pair of sturdy shoes or hiking boots
• A small backpack
• Food and snacks
• Water bottles
  … and off you go for a little day adventure!

For other micro-adventures and longer overnighters, you can refer to my detailed checklist of outdoor gear click here.

The most important aspect of clothing is to avoid wearing cotton clothes especially in the UK due to the weather conditions.

Common mistakes to avoid if you’re new to outdoor adventures

Here are some of the most common mistakes I see people making when helping them take their first steps into the great outdoors.

1. Challenge is too big – As I mentioned earlier on this page… start small, go local and go often. Keep your adventures and explorations small and local to start off with. It’s important not to make the challenge too big or difficult as that will put a damper on your future adventures.
2. Starting destination is far away – Similar to point 1, in the early days of outdoor activities and adventures, go local to get an understanding of how it feels and what it takes. Travelling miles away can create anxiety before you begin and even worse, be daunting when you arrive at your destination especially if you’re camping, hiking or biking solo.
3. Not in the moment – Yes, some of you may be going out of your comfort zone when on an outdoor adventure and this may create some uncomfortable and frightening moments. It’s important you go in with the right mindset and enjoy the wonders of nature that unfold before you. You have to train yourself to overcome challenges and “be in the moment”. Enjoy the experience, be one with nature and it will all fall into place.
4. Exploring with the wrong person – If you plan on going with another person or as a little group, there’s nothing worse than embarking on an adventure with the wrong people. You will find yourself feeling more isolated and not enjoying the full experience. Choose wisely!
5. Procrastinating – Procrastination is your best excuse if you’re really not interesting in spending time in the outdoors. Try not to procrastinate as the best time to get out into nature exploring and adventuring is NOW. There’s never been a better time!
6. Holding back waiting for others – If you’re waiting on others to make a decision which will influence your outcome, then don’t. It’s great that you are planning to go with others, after all outdoor pursuits can be classified as a social activity, but have a Plan B in place and don’t keep waiting. If going with others doesn’t materialise, create a Plan B so that you can still carry on.
7. Inappropriate equipment and gear – You can absolutely start out with walking micro-adventures in your local woods with nothing more than trainers and your daily clothes. However, if you’re going to dive deeper into the outdoor adventure life then you will inevitably require the right equipment and gear. You don’t want to be caught out in bad weather in the wrong gear!
8. Mental v Physical – A combination of both mental health and physical strength is needed in pursuit of big outdoor activities including certain micro-adventures. However, people who underestimate the fact that 80% is mental and 20% is physical often get into trouble. Yes, one needs to be fit, but I would go as far as saying tone down your physical ego and work on your mental fitness.
9. Not researching enough – Without research, you’re preparing to fail. Whether it’s a day hike, overnight wild camp, a thru-hike or whatever, if you haven’t researched the destination / route / camp spot etc. then you will be making it much harder on yourself and in many ways, be disillusioned when you’re out there. I can count on my fingers twice over the number of people who I know have gone out without planning and research and have miserably failed.
10. Wearing cotton – Don’t. Just don’t. As mentioned earlier on this page, the most important aspect of clothing is to avoid wearing cotton clothes. Cotton gets damp and remains damp for longer either via sweat or rain, and this can be dangerous when trying to regulate your body temperature.

Thank you

Thank you for being here and allowing me to inspire, motivate and support your outdoor adventure journey.

My mission is simple. I want to help protect our nature and wilderness by actually getting people of all ages and backgrounds to visit our magnificent, great outdoors in the UK, so they too are encouraged to protect, respect and teach others about our fragile, natural environment.

Along with that, I want to show how nature can absolutely change your personal life for the better by improving your mental health and wellbeing.

I have been completely humbled by the experience and the opportunities the outdoor lifestyle has brought to my life, and I want to pay it forward…

Thank you all my subscribers, followers and supporters, you keep me pushing one foot in front of the other… and a huge hug goes out to my wife and family for their tremendous support, ideas and laughable moments.