29.01.2010

Cold comfort for Belvoir’s Mike and Stephanie Goddard

As Britain recovers from the big freeze, many of us dream of relaxing holidays and sunnier climes. Not so Belvoir’s Mike and Stephanie Goddard. Never ones to follow the crowd the couple headed off for a trip to the Arctic Circle where they experienced a night in Sweden’s famous ice hotel, followed by a lesson in igloo building, sledging, husky driving and night time temperatures of -30 degrees.

“The challenge of venturing 200km north of the Arctic Circle for a week’s winter survival holiday certainly lived up to our expectations,” says Mike. “It was something I’d always wanted to do and was completely exhilarating.”

The adventurous couple made the most of the five hours of daylight, with a packed schedule of snow-filled activities. As well as a night in the glamorous frozen ice hotel, they also stayed in a remote log cabin with no electricity or facilities. “It did have a sauna though,” says Mike, “but afterwards you had to jump out and run across a frozen lake to submerge into a hole in the icy water before a second sauna session and a roll in the snow! It was very invigorating.”

After a lesson in igloo building Mike and a fellow camp member braved the elements to sleep in their home made accommodation. “It was even colder than the ice hotel,” admits Mike. “We slept on reindeer skins and had a sleeping bag each, plus hot drinks and a few warming tots of whisky. The temperature outside was -30 and inside the igloo it was -17! It was a cold and somewhat frightening experience as the igloo was built on a frozen lake and throughout the night the ice shifted and cracked very loudly.”

Now safely back in the UK, Mike is busy preparing for his next great challenge of 2010 – a trip to Tanzania to climb Mount Meru, which at 15,000 feet is the fifth highest mountain in Africa. Meru was chosen because it offers the best ridge ascent, and dramatic cliff falls through Africa’s wildest remaining natural habitat area.

Belvoir was founded in June 1995 by Mike and Stephanie Goddard. Its central office is in Grantham, Lincolnshire. The company is recognised as one of the largest specialist letting franchise agencies in the UK with 140 franchises nationwide and it aims to have 300 franchises in the next ten years. (kbp)

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