Let's have an ADVENTURE!

Four women share the thrills of breaking out of their comfort zone

Kumbi Kariwo, 40, lives in Birmingham with her partner Andy, 37.

Cliff climbing is a ballet of precision and accuracy - not speed. It begins with a thrilling descent down rocks, and I need skill and strength to keep me from plunging into the sea. Without this bravery, I wouldn't see the stunning views.

Since joining a climbing club with Andy, in our late 20s, we now climb with friends and our club, Extreme Sports Central. We enjoy climbs in Ogwen Valley, North Wales, and in June 2023, took on the challenging cliff climb of Rhoscolyn's Symphony Crack in Anglesey. Next, we're planning to climb in the Rockies during a visit to my parents in Canada.

My job as a senior NHS nurse can often feel like I'm on a treadmill; climbing helps me recharge. The summit offers a serene moment of reflection and is the most important moment of the climb. Despite the adrenaline, it makes me feel calm. Climbing grants me a sense of youth, freedom and capability. I've always been curious and mischievous. I think in these traits, adventure thrives.

The lessons learnt on the cliffs permeate daily life. Be kind to yourself, pace yourself, savour the beauty around you... and try to laugh along the way.

'I DIDN'T KNOW HOW STRONG I WAS'

Heather Miller, 50, lives in Streatley, Berkshire, with her husband James, 54, and their children Jay, 14, and Toby, 12.

With my 50th birthday approaching, friends asked whether I was having a party. But I didn't want one. I wanted to travel and challenge myself. I've always enjoyed cycling, so when my old university friend Suzie recommended a Korean drama, that led me to suggesting we cycle across South Korea.