Welcome to Elemental UK.
Make memories that last a lifetime
Exceptional adventures in the mountains and on the water
WHO ARE ELEMENTAL?
We have almost 20 years’ experience as a tour operator, running adventurous holidays that bring you face-to-face with the elements. From skiing to watersports, and from educational field trips to mountain adventures, every trip is tailored to your needs, with safety, fun and learning as our priorities.
What makes us special?
We have a distinct approach to life that we call “Elemental-ness”. It sets us apart in everything we do, and it influences every decision we make. But it’s more than a mindset – it’s a commitment to excellence at every turn.
Four core values sit at the heart of ElementalUK and guide us every step of the way:
Safety, Fun, and Learning
Sweat the Small Stuff
The Client is King
Respect 360
This is Elemental-ness. This is who we are.
WHAT ARE OUR CORE VALUES?
1. Safety, Fun, and Learning
Safety is the foundation of every great experience and ensures that everyone can fully engage and explore with confidence.
But safety alone isn’t enough. We make sure you have a great time too, creating moments of joy, laughter and connection.
Because we never miss an opportunity to inspire growth, every experience also teaches something new.
And when safety, fun and learning come together the result is unforgettable.
2. Sweat the Small Stuff
The littlest things often make the biggest difference, so we are obsessed with getting them right.
We aim for perfection, anticipating needs before they arise and solving problems before they occur. This relentless attention to detail ensures seamless experiences and sets us apart as a team that truly cares.
3. The Client is King
You are at the centre of everything we do.
Whether it’s customising experiences or responding to special requests, we will go the extra mile to make everyone feel valued and understood. We don’t just provide services; we build partnerships based on trust and a shared vision for success.
At ElementalUK, you’re not just a client – you’re royalty.
4. Respect 360
Respect is the cornerstone of our culture. We treat everyone – clients, colleagues, and partners – with kindness, fairness and understanding.
This extends to respect for the environment, the community and the resources we use.
“Respect 360” means seeing the bigger picture and behaving with integrity, gratitude and care for the world around us.
WHAT IS OUR INSPIRATION?
ElementalUK is the brainchild of Dany Duncan, who has more than 40 years’ experience working in outdoor pursuits in the UK and overseas.
He started out running watersports centres and children’s activity holidays every summer, then teaching skiing every winter – this included coaching paralympic skiers and competing in ski mountaineering. In 2006 he set up ElementalUK, a company devoted to adventurous activities in the mountains and on the water.
ElementalUK’s first base was at Swanpool Beach in Falmouth, Cornwall, a naturally sheltered bay that’s perfect for kayaking and sailing. In 2011 he branched out into beach centres in Newquay, on Cornwall’s north coast. And in 2022 he opened his first hotel, Elemental Lodge, with an on-site surf school so you can catch the waves at world-famous Fistral Beach. Winters still see Dany and the team heading to the Alps, running ski trips for all ages to France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria and beyond.
ElementalUK now has an established band of highly qualified staff, all fully DBS-checked, and the company has gained accreditation from governing bodies such as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA), the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (we are a LOtC Quality Badge Holder) and Paddle UK.ElementalUK is also bonded by ATOL and ABTA.
Over the years, ElementalUK has welcomed thousands of people to the beach and mountains, whatever their age and skill-level, nurturing their talents, building their confidence and motivating them to get immersed in the elements.
Meet the Team
Can’t live without:
My Leatherman multi tool - the most useful thing I own
Superpower:
Reading people and telling dad jokes in French
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
unemployed. Who else would have me?
Best-ever Elemental moment:
Seeing Tony cry with appreciation of how nice I am to him. (This has yet to happen.)
Can’t live without:
Something to float in, or on, the sea – it doesn’t really matter what
Superpower:
Holding my breath underwater
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
use my ability to breathe underwater to salvage shipwrecks and treasure
Best-ever Elemental moment:
Kayaking with basking sharks off Swanpool
Can’t live without:
My daily planner and my running shoes
Superpower:
I’d love the ability to be in two places at once
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
a chalet host
Best-ever Elemental moment:
Paddleboarding with Dany early one morning and seeing a squirrel swimming out at sea. No-one believed us but we have video evidence
Can’t live without:
My family (even though they drive me bonkers) and living by the sea – you can’t beat it!
Superpower:
Multi-tasking and overthinking
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
working in sport, getting everyone involved
Best-ever Elemental moment:
A week’s skiing with Dany and Tony, learning from the pros!
Can’t live without:
My diving equipment because I can fully relax and switch off under the water while foraging for seafood
Superpower:
My sense of direction. I can still happily navigate myself around places I visited decades ago
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
a light aircraft pilot – preferably flying a seaplane. It’s the coolest job in the world
Best-ever Elemental moment:
Skiing in France with some of my closest friends while repping for Elemental
Can’t live without:
Cheese – melted, crumbly, hard, blue, soft, smoked… I don’t discriminate
Superpower:
My ADHD. My brain is usually doing 17 things at once, but I thrive on the buzz of ideas, energy and constantly switching gears. It’s my built-in engine
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
a cheese sommelier on skis. Or running adventure trips including paddleboards, mountains, fondues and maybe llamas. Life is too short for boring jobs
Best-ever Elemental moment:
Sharing that moment when someone is learning to surf and stands up for the first time. When a big grin explodes across their face it’s pure magic
Can’t live without:
Theatre – especially musicals – and my eyelash curlers
Superpower:
I would love to be able to teleport anywhere in the world
If I didn’t work for Elemental I would be…
an interior designer buying houses and doing them up
Best-ever Elemental moment:
The day Dany offered me this job!
Best thing to do in Newquay:
I love bodyboarding and am learning to surf, so the water is my happy place. I also love star-gazing - the sky in Cornwall is huge!
Best food and drink in Newquay:
I love the vegan pizza and cocktails at Secret Garden, and the milkshakes at Kook. For coffee and cake it’s got to be Basket, which is virtually opposite Elemental Surf Lodge – handy!
Best thing to do in Newquay:
I love Newquay – it has the best nightlife, the people are friendly and the vibe is great. My favourite place is a bar called The Dead Famous.
Best food and drink in Newquay:
I head to Sushea for its exciting Asian-fusion menu including amazing Australian-style sushi.
Let’s Make It Happen
Whether you’re a teacher, a parent or a group leader, we will help you plan an adventure to remember.