You’ve stumbled upon the semi-secret headquarters of The Institute of Advanced Wandering.

While we officially list ourselves as outdoor adventure creators, we are actually a fellowship of puzzle obsessives and lore-hunters who believe the best way to uncover history is by getting mildly lost in proximity to a hedge. Records regarding our origin are unclear, and the archivist refuses to answer questions. Some say the Institute was founded in the late 1800s; others insist it was last Tuesday.

What we do know is that two intrepid explorers—Molly and Bernie—spent years in the outdoor industry across the Peak District, scaling cliffs and politely yelling “LEFT!” at people who were clearly going right. Their shared frustration with well-marked trails and historically accurate signage led to a radical idea: what if getting lost was the point? Thus, the Institute was born—allegedly in a damp tent during a thunderstorm, while trying to decipher a map that turned out to be a takeaway menu from 2003.

Our founding principles were simple:

• All maps are suspect.

• All lore is probably exaggerated.

• All geese are to be treated with caution.

Creating Interactive Outdoor Adventures (Because branding it as "Professional Confusion" worried our insurers)

We don’t just design routes—we seed trails with misdirection, half-truths, and the kind of riddles that make you question your compass. The terrain may be real, but the logic is suspect.

Scattered along your path are dormant signals—QR codes that flicker with fragments of a vanished system. Some offer guidance. Others offer warnings. A few seem to be written by someone who knew you were coming.

By the end, you’ll have stories you can’t quite explain and a growing suspicion that the goose in the car park is orchestrating something far larger than it lets on.

Those Responsible (More or Less)

Molly

Chief Cartographer of Chaos & Narrative Architect
Molly designs maps that lead somewhere confusing but narratively satisfying. She believes that "getting lost" is just an opportunity for character development. Known for writing backstories that make abandoned sheds feel emotionally charged, she hides clues based on vibes rather than logic—usually in places only a desperate person would look. While Bernie worries about GPS accuracy, Molly ensures every trail is part myth, part misdirection, and 100% intentional. She treats the Risk Assessment as "a list of fun suggestions."

Bernie

Director of System Integrity & Joy Regulation
Bernie is the reason the app works, and the reason the puzzles give you mild existential dread. A veteran of the outdoor industry who pivoted to code, he specializes in turning perfectly normal landscapes into cryptic logic gates. He ensures that every clue is placed with frustrating precision—just obscure enough to make you question whether you’re solving a mystery or being gently mocked by the terrain itself. He is currently worried about your battery life and whether you are wearing appropriate socks.

Title unknown. Role disputed. Blamed frequently.
No one remembers hiring them, yet they are cited as the primary cause of every app crash, server outage, and "misinterpreted" map. They specialize in moving landmarks when you aren’t looking and ensuring the mobile signal fails before crucial downloads. Whether a ghost in the code or just a convenient excuse for our own incompetence, if something goes wrong, it was definitely them.

The Third Founder