Walking with leaders – coaching in the outdoors
“A leader must first manage their own energy before they can help others manage theirs.”
Peter Drucker
Grow your leadership through coaching in the outdoors.
Drawing on Peter Drucker’s 4 ‘leadership energies’ as a lens, this experience connects with you:
- Physically – being in the outdoors to invest in your health and well-being.
- Intellectually – creating space for deeper thought and clarity, while holding it all lightly, with curiosity.
- Spiritually – re-connecting with your true spirit, and speak directly to the future you want to create as a leader.
- Emotionally – building new relationships, get peer-coaching, and create a living network for future support.
Includes evening meal, overnight accommodation and breakfast, and travel on day of walk.
This experience offers:
Virtual launch session (end March 2026)
We begin with a virtual group coaching session some 4 weeks before the walk, to allow the group to get to know each other, explore their leadership needs, and get clear on what is needed for the walk.
Meet up the night before the walk (Monday 27th April 2026)
On arrival the evening before the walk, Steve hosts a short group coaching round and walk briefing.
This is followed by a joint-dinner in a hotel in Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, before retiring to rest that evening.
Gently-paced 12-mile walk on historic stretch of Hadrian's Wall (Tuesday 28th April)
Take a gently-paced 12-mile group walk with 15 other leaders and a leadership coach, on an historic stretch of the famous Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, UK. Walking side by side as you explore your leadership, you will follow a lightly-held coaching framework, supported by Steve Holliday from Lacerta Consulting. The walk is split into 3 sections with check-points, toilets and refreshments at each stage. The aim is to walk in close proximity to each other to allow coaching rounds as we walk. It is not a race.
On completion of the walk, transportation is taken back to the hotel venue for a final coaching de-brief, before closing for the day.
Virtual reflection and closing session (early June)
We end our time together with a final virtual group coaching session some 6 weeks after the walk.
We check in on each others’ the leadership practice, and the group contracts for any further meetings together if wanted.
Individuals can ask for ongoing coaching support and help, including an option for a 1:1 deeper hiking experience with Steve Holliday, and/or to combine this with other aspects of our leadership work.
Want to talk to Steve about how this might suit you?
Please note that when we reply to you, it will come from academy@lacertaconsulting.co.uk or steve@lacertaconsulting.co.uk. It is useful to put these addresses in your contacts list now, to prevent replies going into your ‘Junk’ mailbox. If you don’t receive a reply in the next 48 hours, check this to see if it has disappeared in there! 🙂
Walking side by side with 15 other leaders, you will explore your leadership, following a lightly-held coaching framework, supported by Steve Holliday from Lacerta Consulting.
This experience aims to interrupt your daily life as a leader, to create a different space and place for leadership reflection.
The aim is to help you get clearer what you may need to let go of, reveal what your big questions might be, and what you may need to embrace in your future leadership.
In relation to safety, health and logistics, the event is co-organized in partnership with Neville Duncan and his team from Challenge Northumberland, who have vast experience with events – particularly walking this stretch of Hadrian’s Wall many times with groups of all ages and abilities.
Frequently asked questions
What kind and level of leader is this suitable for?
Say more here about the level and experience you expect of people – is this a first leadership job thing? Or CEO? Does it matter?
Tell me more about Hadrian's Wall and the walk
Hadrian’s Wall (Latin: Vallum Aelium) is a massive stone and turf fortification built by the Romans across northern Britain.
Built between AD128 and 130, it marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in Britain for nearly three centuries and remains one of the most impressive and best-preserved Roman monuments in Europe. The Wall was not purely defensive. It acted to control flow and taxation, as a military frontier and symbol of power, and as a communications route for troop movement.
Hiking along Hadrian’s Wall offers an incredibly varied experience — the terrain changes dramatically as you move from one end of northern England to the other, along the Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail (about 84 miles / 135 km from Wallsend near Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway near Carlisle).
The section we will be walking has spectacular views and visible remains of the wall snaking over the hills, along with what remains of the famous ‘Sycamore Gap’ tree.
Where is the base hotel we start from?
Our base venue will be The Grand Hotel, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
- The hotel is located at High Gosforth Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 5HN.
- It sits on approximately 12 acres of parkland just off the A1 motorway, which gives it a more suburban, spacious feel compared with staying right in the city centre.
- Nearby: Newcastle International Airport is around a 6-9 minute drive, while you’ll find Newcastle Racecourse, Gosforth Nature Reserve and green woodland spaces, and easy transport connections: several bus lines stop within a few minutes’ walk of the hotel.
- For city centre access: while not in the heart of Newcastle’s Quayside or central streets, it is still within reach by taxi, from the city centre if coming by train.
How challenging is the terrain?
The area is summarized as follows:
- Terrain: The most dramatic and scenic stretch – rugged hills and high ridgelines.
- Trail Type: Many grassy paths over open moorland, rocky crags, and short steep climbs and descents.
- Challenges: Uneven footing at times, exposure to wind and weather, and steep ups and downs. Note – many sections offer flat grassy alternative routes.
- Best for: Those used to walking and/or hiking and anyone seeking the classic ‘wild’ wall scenery.
- Navigation: The trail is well-marked with acorn waymarks, weather can change visibility.
What is included in the price?
Included in the price are:
- Both virtual group sessions.
- Dinner evening before at hotel (not drinks).
- Bed and Breakfast (1-night stay on Monday 27th April).
- All event transport from hotel to walk and back to hotel at end of 28th.
- The coaching of Steve and Neville in the group sessions and the walk.
Not included:
- Your own travel costs to get to the venue and return home.
- Any drinks or refreshments bought along the way at the hotel or along the walk.
- Personal protective clothing, appropriate walking attire and weather gear.
What equipment will I need?
Further details re weather and equipment etc will be given nearer the time, but happy to chat in advance to explore the most likely requirements.
What about risk assessment?
We will conduct an appropriate risk assessment with each participant before confirming a place.